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Electronic Safety Precautions in a Lab

A laboratory is used to help control the variables of the environment during an experiment so that the experimenter can study a single effect or single chain of effects. In order to perform experiments safely, though, several safety precautions need to be followed, depending on the equipment being used. When some of that equipment runs on electricity, it makes safety all the more important.

  1. Plugs and Wires

    • One of the biggest dangers in a laboratory is the wall outlets when you're using electronics. Make sure that all of the power cords and wires are properly insulated and that there's no fraying or separation of the outer coating. Also, when plugging any electronic lab equipment into the wall make sure that you hold it by the rubber plug and not by the wire. The same goes for unplugging electronics. Pulling on the cord can cause damage to the power cord. You should always pull on the actual plug.

    Safety Equipment

    • Always wear the proper safety equipment. Safety goggles are one of the most important pieces of laboratory equipment because they protect your eyes. If the glasses are tinted, they may protect your eyes from bright light as well as from debris or chemicals. According to teched101.com, it isn't unheard of for electronic components to explode during a lab, so it's always wise to protect your eyes. Other pieces of safety equipment might be a lab coat to cover your clothing, and insulated gloves that will protect against possible shock.

    Power

    • If you are working with electronic components (such as troubleshooting a broken piece of equipment, building an electrical circuit, etc.) then it's important that you always check the power. Before you do any work, or even touch the electronic equipment, make sure that it's switched off and that it isn't plugged into a power source. Once that's done, make sure that you ground the equipment and yourself so that there's no electrical charge present. This will stop the equipment from shocking you, and it will stop any static electricity from damaging the equipment.

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