When the inspector issued Julia the report with all of the safety citations in her lab, Julia reacted with surprise. She had been the lab manager (and safety officer) there for six years. Sure, she’d been busy recently with designing the new lab space they would soon move to, but how had she not noticed these lab safety issues? People were wearing lab coats, but they weren’t buttoned or their sleeves were rolled up. Several staff members were noted as having mesh sneakers on. Most techs were handling open specimens with no face protection. How could she be the lab manager and not notice these serious issues?
If you’ve been in the lab field for a while, you’ve seen how labs are expected to do more work with less people. We are busier, and it has become difficult to pay attention to everything we used to notice. That’s especially true, unfortunately, with lab safety as well. As a manager and/or a lab safety professional, using visual cues to notice problems is a crucial skill. Everyone has “Safety Eyes,” but for many, the ability is undeveloped or underused.
On my first day of the job as a Lab Safety Officer, I had orientation with the person who previously held the role. She pointed out safety issues to me while correcting them. I never saw them. Over time I realized it is a “power” that must be honed with practice. Years later, I often deal with lab leaders who are surprised when incidents occur or when they are cited for safety concerns during an inspection. Everyone is responsible for safety, and lab managers should lead the charge when it comes to noticing and correcting issues. When a manager walks through the lab and pays no attention to safety violations, it may be because they weren’t noticed. Staff will observe this inattention to safety and severe damage will be done to the lab safety culture. Leaders can and should cure this inability to see problems.
The best method to hone Safety Eyes is practice. Focus on a particular issue for a week at a time and notice how quickly your eyes will recognize those issues over time without consciously having to look for them. Start with a topic such as chemical hygiene or bloodborne pathogens, or narrow the focus and look only at PPE use and footwear. Next week observe chemical labeling and storage, then seek out electrical issues. There is a long line of lab safety subjects to use for practice, but it is important to make the effort. Having Safety Eyes and using them to correct problems before incidents occur goes a long way toward setting a good example and improving your overall lab safety culture.