Analysis of troubles during experiments in order to develop suitable risk assessment methods for experimental work in university laboratories

Abstract

Although accidents involving serious injuries seldom occur during experiments in university laboratories, certain similar types of minor incidents occur repeatedly. Applying conventional Risk Assessment (RA) methods developed for routine industry research activities (undertaken at the same time and place) to university laboratories is difficult because university research typically involves multiple experimenters performing non-routine work on different research subjects. In this study, in order to develop new RA methods suitable for experimental work in university laboratories, we focused on the “inventory sheets” that record the number of experimental instrument replenishments undertaken during experiments, and analyzed the relationship between the frequency of non-injury incidents and experimental works. These results are expected to contribute as quantitative information for not only actual experimental operations but also the development of probabilistic risk evaluation for hand work in university laboratories.