More than 500,000 workers are employed in laboratories in the United States. These workers are regularly exposed to numerous potential hazards, including chemical, biological, physical and radioactive hazards, as well as musculoskeletal stresses
FEATURE
More than 500,000 workers are employed in laboratories in the United States. These workers are regularly exposed to numerous potential hazards, including chemical, biological, physical and radioactive hazards, as well as musculoskeletal stresses
from repetitive motions and actions. While laboratory safety itself is governed by numerous local, state and federal regulations, it has often been the responsibility of each individual laboratory to educate its staff on laboratory safety practices.
For public health laboratories, who perform testing on both human and environmental samples, keeping all staff members safe is critical. Development of a culture of safety— with
accountability up and down the administrative and scientific fields— has resulted in facilities that are, in fact, safe and healthy environments in which to teach, learn and work. However, funding cuts and staffing shortages are a harsh reality on a regular basis requiring public health laboratories to use a variety of practices to ensure their readiness to respond to natural and manmade threats are available to keep staff members safe.
PublicHealthLabs |
@ APHL. org |
APHL. org |
Fall 2025 LAB MATTERS 15 |