Page 42 - FoodFocusThailand No.226 January 2025

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Laboratory Safety Towards

Sustainable Development Goals

Laboratory safety is essential for both scientific progress and operational integrity. It minimizes the risk
of accidents, chemical spills, and toxic exposures that could harm personnel and disrupt workflows.
By maintaining high safety standards, laboratories also safeguard the environment and ensure the quality
of research results. Failure to address safety risks can lead to significant consequences, such as physical
injuries, contamination, and even the loss of valuable research data. Such incidents not only endanger
lives but also undermine an organization’s credibility and incur high financial costs.

International Safety Standards and Their 1. Smart Sensors: Intelligent sensors that detect chemical leaks or
Implementation toxic gas emissions are becoming standard in modern laboratories.
Adopting internationally recognized standards enhances These devices provide real-time alerts through connected applications,
safety and operational excellence. Laboratory accidents enabling rapid responses to potential hazards. Coupled with smart
can lead to injuries, chemical contamination, loss of ventilation systems, these technologies continuously monitor air quality,
research data, and compromised personnel safety and filter harmful substances, and regulate environmental conditions
organizational credibility, resulting in significant financial such as temperature and humidity.
losses. There are three key frameworks discussed: 2. Innovative Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Smart PPE
• Good Laboratory Practice (GLP): GLP is a quality is revolutionizing workplace safety by incorporating advanced features
assurance system that governs the planning, execution, like chemical-detection goggles, auto-adjusting filtration masks, and
and reporting of research studies, particularly in health color-changing gloves that signal chemical exposure. These innovations
and environmental sciences. It establishes clear guidelines not only enhance user safety but also reduce the likelihood of exposure
for every stage of the research process and ensures to harmful substances.
consistency, accuracy, and reliability. 3. Automated Hazardous Waste Management: Robotic systems
• ISO/IEC 17025: This standard ensures the are increasingly used for sorting and treating hazardous waste.
competence of testing and calibration laboratories. Jointly Automation reduces human exposure to dangerous materials while
developed by ISO and IEC, it requires laboratories to increasing efficiency. For example, robotic arms can segregate waste
demonstrate precise measurements and reliable data types for appropriate treatment or recycling. Advanced recycling
reporting. ISO/IEC 17025 builds trust among clients and technologies further support sustainability by converting waste into
regulatory bodies by confirming that laboratory processes reusable resources.
meet global benchmarks for accuracy and quality. 4. AI-Driven Risk Management: Artificial intelligence and big data
• ISO 45001: This standard focuses on occupational analytics are being employed to forecast and prevent accidents.
health and safety management. AI platforms can analyze historical data to identify trends, assess ongoing
To implement these standards, laboratories must risks, and recommend safety improvements. This proactive approach
consider both physical and procedural elements. minimizes the likelihood of incidents and enhances overall safety
The physical design of laboratory spaces should include performance.
proper ventilation, sufficient lighting, and easily cleanable 5. Green Technologies: Laboratories are adopting eco-friendly
surfaces. Essential safety measures include fire prevention solutions such as renewable energy systems, sustainable materials, and
systems, emergency exits, personal protective equipment waste-reduction strategies. Initiatives include using recyclable materials,
(PPE), and chemical waste management systems. Beyond minimizing greenhouse gas emissions, and implementing energy-efficient
infrastructure, safety training programs, risk assessments, practices. These measures align with broader environmental goals and
and emergency response drills are critical to embedding reduce the ecological footprint of laboratory operations.
a safety culture within laboratory teams. Innovations in laboratory safety focus on integrating smart technologies
with green technologies to achieve sustainable laboratory safety. These
Leveraging Technology for Sustainable Safety innovations not only enhance safety but also improve operational efficiency
Advancements in technology are transforming laboratory and reduce long-term costs. Investing in technology and safety innovations
safety, enabling more sustainable and efficient practices. is a critical strategy for modern laboratories. It helps protect personnel,
The integration of smart systems and green technologies creates an efficient work environment, promotes the quality of research,
not only enhances safety but also supports long-term and builds trust among organizations and society.
environmental goals. The article identifies five key areas
where innovation is driving progress:

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