Professional paper
https://doi.org/10.31306/s.65.2.6
Students safety in university laboratories
Rea Janda
; Škola narodnog zdravlja Andrija Štampar, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Matija Dvorski
; Škola narodnog zdravlja Andrija Štampar, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Ksenija Vitale
; Škola narodnog zdravlja Andrija Štampar, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Abstract
University laboratories are perceived as low-risk places. However, the probability rate of accidents in university laboratories, especially those using hazardous chemicals, is higher than in industrial laboratories and plants due to the more casual approach and inexperience of students. The aim of this paper is to determine the most common problems related to the safety of students in university laboratories, as well as methods of solving/preventing them, and to make recommendations that could be applied uniformly at all universities in the Republic of Croatia.
A systematic search of the literature was performed through the electronic databases WoSCC, MEDLINE, and Scopus, from January 1, 2017 to June 7, 2022. Only peer-reviewed articles in English investigating student safety in laboratories around the world were considered.
Most studies refer to laboratories where hazardous chemicals are used. Research shows that students have a problem recognising and understanding pictograms, do not know the properties of basic chemicals, and do not dispose of waste in the correct containers. Furthermore, research has shown that students' safety is affected by their psychophysical condition, that is, fear and concern for possible injuries, as well as socioeconomic status, specifically regarding inadequate protective equipment. Students should be educated about the regulations and practises of safe laboratory work and GHS pictograms beginning in high school. In addition, regulations on student protection should be drawn up, or student protection should be implemented in the existing legal framework. In addition, a record of injuries during laboratory practise should be created, as a basis for interventions.
Keywords
university students, laboratory safety, risk assessment, recommendations
Hrčak ID:
305265
URI
Publication date:
3.7.2023.
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