Electrical Safety in the Laboratory

What is Electrical Safety in the Laboratory?

Laboratory environments present unique electrical hazards due to the combination of specialized equipment, chemicals, and moisture. The Electrical Safety in the Laboratory course equips employees with the knowledge to understand how electricity works, recognize common hazards, and operate lab equipment safely. Learners explore safe practices for using and maintaining electrical instruments, understand the role of grounding and protective devices, and review emergency procedures for electrical incidents. By fostering awareness and proper habits, this training helps reduce the risk of shocks, burns, fires, and other accidents in laboratory settings.

Course Overview

The Electrical Safety in the Laboratory course provides employees with essential knowledge to safely work with the wide range of electrically powered equipment found in modern laboratory environments. Labs depend on microscopes, centrifuges, heaters, refrigerators, analytical instruments, and other electrically driven devices—creating increased potential for shock, fire, and explosion risks if used improperly.

This course highlights the importance of understanding how electricity works, recognizing unsafe conditions, and following safe operating procedures. Learners explore the hazards associated with malfunctioning equipment, overloaded circuits, damaged cords, improper grounding, and poor housekeeping practices. The training also reviews emergency procedures to follow when electrical incidents occur and best practices for preventing them in the first place.

By improving hazard awareness and promoting safe behavior, this course helps laboratory workers reduce the likelihood of electrical accidents and maintain a safer working environment.

TOPIC OVERVIEW

Laboratory settings present unique electrical hazards due to the combination of equipment, chemicals, moisture, and specialized tools. Workers must understand how to properly maintain and operate electrical devices, respond to emergencies, and prevent unsafe conditions. This course provides the foundational knowledge needed to protect both people and property in laboratory environments.

COURSE TOPICS

How Electricity Works

Basic principles of electrical flow
How electrical energy interacts with laboratory conditions

Common Electrical Hazards

Shock, burn, and fire risks
Overloaded circuits, damaged cords, and unsafe environments

Fuses, Circuit Breakers & Grounding

Learn how protective devices reduce risk
Understand proper grounding and why it matters in labs

Using & Maintaining Electrical Equipment

Safe operation of laboratory instruments
Inspection, cleaning, and maintenance expectations

Accidents & Emergency Procedures

Immediate steps to take during electrical incidents
Protocols for reporting, responding, and minimizing damage

And More

Additional safe-work practices for laboratory environments

COURSE DURATION

This online Electrical Safety in the Laboratory course takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. Learners may start, pause, and resume the training as needed.

PASS MARK

A minimum score of 80% is required to pass the course. Participants may repeat the course up to three times to reach the required mark. A downloadable student manual is included to reinforce learning and support long-term knowledge retention.

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION

Upon successful completion, learners can download and print a digital certificate of completion, confirming their understanding of electrical safety best practices in laboratory environments.