• Question: Is there any possibility that you could get sick due to working in the laboratory? For example, if something went wrong in an experiment could you get “contaminated”?

    Asked by anon-170057 to Ben, Lizzie, Francis, Max, Sian on 12 Mar 2018.
    • Photo: Francis Man

      Francis Man answered on 12 Mar 2018:

      Yes, it is a possibility. We work with may different chemicals, some quite toxic, and also sharp objects (blades, pipettes, needles), electrical equipment, etc.
      The first thing we learn about working in a lab is how to work safely, so as not to injure yourself or anyone else. We also have to learn what to do in case there is an accident.
      One of the important points is also to design experiments in way that reduces the risk of accidents (by using safer reagents for example, using safe techniques…).
      A lot of chemistry and biology work is done in fume hoods, and we use protective equipment (goggles, gloves, labcoats, masks).

      With good training and by keeping labs organised (which is a lot of work), we can ensure accidents are rare and usually not serious.

    • Photo: Max Jamilly

      Max Jamilly answered on 12 Mar 2018:

      Depending on what we work with, we do have to be careful about contamination!

      I make viruses and use them to add DNA to human cells in the lab as part of my normal research. The risk is quite low, but if I exposed these viruses to my own cells then I could become infected as well. So we wear special protection like masks, gloves and coats, and we do all our work in a special ‘safety cabinet’ which keeps all the contamination inside. Everything is in a special room and I wash my hands very carefully when I am finished with work. I have never heard of anyone getting sick in my laboratory, but we have to be very careful to avoid it!

    • Photo: Sian Richardson

      Sian Richardson answered on 12 Mar 2018:

      Yes. The toxin I work with can cause paralysis/death if I became contaminated with it. However it has never happened in the companies history as so many checks are in place to make sure it doesnt happen. We have finger-print access to the labs, so only trained personal are allowed to work with the toxin. We then have isolators which separate the user and the toxin. We then have decontamination showers if we were contaminated. Also our local hospital stocks the anti-toxin for our product if we every needed it. So we have a lot of fail safes to keep all of us safe.

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