Why Lab Design is Critical to the Safety of Personnel
Safeguarding personnel is the number one priority in any laboratory environment. Proper lab design is critical to delivering on this and should both minimize the risk of accidents and support productivity. Key factors to consider are the type of work the lab will be used for, how many operatives will be sharing the workspace, and how much space is required. Importantly, the appropriate positioning of large, free-standing items of equipment such as biological safety cabinets (BSCs), CO2 incubators, and ultralow temperature (ULT) freezers helps prevent collisions or potentially harmful spills. This article shares some suggestions for lab design and includes insights from Matthew Decker, AIA, Architect, Lab Designer, and Group Lead at CRB.
