Analysis of Safety Management Condition & Accident Type in Domestic and Foreign Laboratory

Abstract

Objective:The aim of this study is to identify the domestic and foreign laboratory safety management system and to suggest domestic laboratory safety management policy priority. Background: Various types of accidents are occurred in research laboratories according to a variety of laboratory safety risks. However, there are only lists of incidents without any precise accident analysis. Method: We analyzed statistically the survey on current status of laboratory safety management of universities, research institutes, and industrial research institutions carried out by Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning in Korea. We also investigated laboratory safety management systems and safety organization carried out mainly in overseas countries such as USA, Japan, Switzerland and France. In addition, we analyze the UCLA College laboratory explosion occurred in the US in 2010. Results: More than 75 percent of 2015 domestic laboratory accidents were occurred in the field of operation management and chemistry research. Also, approximately 55% of accidents took place due to careless use mechanical instruments & dangerous chemicals. In addition, common difficulties of lab safety act applicable organizations are overlapping and comprehensive application of legal requirements. Conclusion: There is a need for laboratory safety professional organizations. Also, the high frequency of use of hazardous substances in the high-risk, such as the chemical field must be strengthened the laboratory safety management. In addition, it is needed to minimize the problems of the research organizations through close cooperation between related ministries and government support policy such as professional development program. Application: The result of this analysis might help to present a differentiated safety management policy and advanced safety management system in laboratory.