| dc.description | Introduction: Laboratories are inextricably dangerous work environments, as fatal incidents are reported in both academic and non-academic environments worldwide, where poor safety culture has been recognized as the major accident contributor. Workers can be exposed to
chemical, biological, physical, or radioactive hazards, in addition to musculoskeletal stresses. In Brazil, hundreds of thousands of workers are
employed in laboratories, either in private or public institutions. Although laboratory safety can be governed by local, state, or federal regulations, learning how to identify common laboratory hazards is the first
step to preventing accidents in the lab environment.
Methods: The study aimed to assess the degree level of safety culture in
an academic population of research laboratories, located in the largest
city in Brazil, and their compliance with occupational safety regulations
during the COVID-19 outbreak. This study was carried out between October and November 2020. The results were obtained from the standardized questionnaire used to assess 98 researchers working in laboratories
during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Results: The majority of respondents (95%) reported being exposed to
more than two risks, simultaneously. About two-thirds (66%) of them
were not fully aware of the laboratory's risk map. About half of the researchers (50%) were lacking in safety culture, and 57%and 43% were
preoccupied with chemical and non-chemical hazards, respectively. Personal protective equipment (PPE) during laboratory work was used by
most researchers, but 75% of researchers claim that security awareness
learning should be a high priority for admission to laboratories. About
39% of researchers agreed that awareness of security must be improved
in their laboratories
Conclusion: The survey proves the lack of information and attitudes
about chemical safety, especially among less experienced researchers,
even if they use personal protective equipment when necessary. | |
