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“Laboratory is the temple of soul for the scientist’” 

            23^rd April 2024, is a day to acknowledge the contribution of laboratories and laboratory professionals society. This day was chosen to coincide with the birthday of one of the most famous scientist in history, Sir William Lawrence Bragg such as a British physicist and chemist who won Nobel Prize in physics in 1915.

A. World Laboratory Day Purpose?

1. To honor the hard work and dedication of laboratory professionals.
2. To promote the importance of laboratory safety, quality control, and reminder that laboratories must follow strict protocols.
3. To ensure that they produce accurate and reliable results maintain high standards of professionalism and integrity.

B. Risk  Identification on Laboratory

Prevention of potential hazards can be done by developing safety procedures to take in case of exposure, contamination or injury. Lacerations or scratches are the most common hazards experienced due to laboratory equipment dominated by glass that is prone to breakage. In addition, the risk of fire and electrical hazards also often occurs so that electricity or objects that have the potential to cause fires. 

Howard Hughes Medical Institute Office of Laboratory Safety (Source : Handbook Lab Quality Management System) 

In addition to physical hazards, exposure to toxic chemicals also poses a real threat to health and safety.  There are three main routes by which chemicals enter the body namely, inhalation, absorption through the skin, and accidental ingestion.

C. How About Safety in Chemical Engineering Laboratories?

To reduce the risk of accidents that can occur, laboratories in Chemical Engineering have work safety and security in laboratories that meet operational standards. Every laboratory has tool usage guide, MSDS data on each chemical, and tools to deal with accidents that occur such as fire extinguishers, showers, and first aid equipment. Beside that, there are also regulations for the use of personal protective equipment that laboratory users must comply with.

D. What They Say?

• Jovanca, K62:

“Laboratorium di Teknik Kimia sudah sangat lengkap dari alat dan bahannya. Karena alat-alat di laboratorium sudah memadai, kita bisa melakukan variasi variabel misalnya saat lab KO dapat mengecek kandungan gula pada minuman teh kemasan dengan alat di laboratorium. Untuk safety lab sudah disediakan beberapa alat di laboratorium seperti sarung tangan latex, masker ruang asam, dan helm untuk lab OTK. Namun ada beberapa yang dibawa praktikan sendiri seperti jaslab, masker, dan juga sepatu khusus lab untuk OTK. Pengalaman paling berkesan selama praktikum yaitu di Laboratorium TMP saat Double Pipe Heat Exchanger sih, karena itu pertama kali ngoperasiin HE jadi ada rasa excited karena melihat langsung proses pertukaran panas pada alat pabrik yang pastinya relate banget sama tekkim.”

• Nalen, 2023:

“Untuk lab tekkim safetynya udah bagus banget dan lengkap, ada stiker jalur evakuasi, fire extinguisher, dan sudah ada emergency shower juga. First impression buat lab tekkim itu keren banget tapi sedikit was-was, karena aku di SMA jarang ngelab. Waktu masuk lab pertama KA di tekkim ternyata keren banget, banyak alat-alat yang baru pertama diliat, dan sedikit was-was karna barang-barang di lab tidak ada yang murah. Pengalaman paling berkesan itu waktu modul titrasi, di situ harus bener-bener fokus biar ga salah dan kelewat titik akhirnya sehingga sama dengan perhitungan yang udah dibuat.

“Let's cherish the invaluable contributions of laboratories worldwide honoring dedication to scientific innovation and reaffirm our commitment to prioritize workplace safety”

-Happy World Laboratory Day-