Characteristics of Laboratory Safety Problems in Academic Laboratory Facilities in a Thai University

Abstract

This study aims at providing general characteristics of safety problems and current mitigation plans in academic laboratories in Thailand. This empirical study utilizes the “Enhancement of Safety Practice in Research Laboratory in Thailand” (ESPReL) checklists to identify safety problems focusing on three aspects: the chemical management system; the waste disposal system; and laboratories, equipment, and tools. The experiment gathers safety evaluation reports from 17 educational buildings with laboratories located on a university campus. The methodology includes various procedures, including walk-through observations, documentation, user interview, specialist evaluation, and stakeholders’ data verification. Finally, all the analyzed data identified common safety problems and reviewed existing mitigation plans. The finding shows common laboratory safety problems in laboratories, equipment, and tool components, where both specialists’ and laboratory users’ assessments indicate significant concerns that indicate the need for urgent improvement. In addition, the difference in results between the two parties’ evaluation occurs in some aspects, suggesting the enhancement in integrating the laboratory safety rules and guidelines into safer user habits. In conclusion, the study highlights the necessity to improve laboratories’ physical attributes and facility design, as well as refurbish the building engineering systems and safety equipment to the current building standards. Moreover, the safety awareness gap is another issue that should not be overlooked. Further study suggests investigating facility management or user-behavior effects to narrow down the gaps to improve safety in academic laboratories.

Building Adaptations and Laboratory Safety Concerns: A Case Study of High-Rise Academic Laboratories in a Thai University

“…In Thailand, the Enhancement of Safety Practice in Research Laboratory (ESPReL) inspection checklist has been established and enforced as the National Standard (Thai Industrial Standard Institute TIS 2677) for laboratory safety inspection since 2015 (Phanngam & Panyakapo, 2021;Wiriyakraikul, 2015;Wiriyakraikul et al, 2022a). The ESPReL inspection serves as a comprehensive tool to assess laboratory safety conditions and enhance awareness regarding general laboratory safety practices.…”

“…A review of academic laboratory safety research suggests that further studies be undertaken on academic lab safety, including the occurrence of lab accidents, factors contributing to lab accidents, safety training, and cultural barriers to implementing safer lab practices (Ménard & Trant, 2020;Yang et al, 2019). In particular, there is a need for further investigation into safety issues related to the physical features of laboratory facilities (Kim et al, 2005;Wiriyakraikul et al, 2022a), highlighting the significance of adequate design and maintenance (Abbas et al, 2016;Lavy, 2008) to ensure a safe working environment.…”

“…Furthermore, the natural progression of the building life cycle assumes the deterioration of building elements and utilities over time, necessitating maintenance, refurbishment, and building adaptations (Douglas, 2006). The continuous changes in building conditions, occupancy, and laboratory safety regulations further exacerbate issues related to outdated facilities or inadequate building engineering systems, underscoring the importance of flexibility and adaptability in laboratory facilities (Kamara et al, 2020;Palluzi, 2021;Wiriyakraikul et al, 2022a;2022b). While research on building adaptations has been extensively conducted for various building types, further investigation is required, specifically in the context of academic laboratory facilities.…”