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In recent years, accidents in chemical and chemical engineering laboratories have occurred frequently. How can we ensure the safety of our laboratory staff? What issues should be considered in experiments? Let’s learn it together*. In December 2015, an explosion and fire occurred in a laboratory at Tsinghua University, resulting in the death of one postdoc ； An explosion occurred in a laboratory at Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine in November 2018 ； An explosion occurred at the Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences in March 2021, resulting in the immediate death of one graduate student ； In July 2021, explosions and fires occurred in laboratories at institutions such as Southern University of Science and Technology and Sun Yat-sen University, injuring several teachers and students ； On April 20, 2022, an explosion occurred in a laboratory at Central South University in Hunan, resulting in one doctoral student suffering severe burns as a result of the incident ； In particular, the flash explosion in a laboratory at Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics in October 2021 and the explosion in a laboratory at Beijing Jiaotong University in December 2018 caused severe losses of life and property as well as negative social impacts, severely undermining people’s sense of safety. Chemical and chemical engineering laboratories (hereinafter referred to as laboratories) deal with toxic, flammable, and explosive hazardous chemicals, and may generate toxic, harmful, flammable, and explosive gases, waste liquids, and waste residues; some of the operating conditions involve high temperatures, high pressures, and strong corrosivity ； There may also be issues such as the aging of instruments, equipment, and facilities, all of which pose threats to the surrounding environment as well as the health and safety of operators. The \"Five Understandings, Five Abilities, and Five Skills\" initiative currently promoted by chemical enterprises has received widespread attention and approval from employees; it significantly enhances their skills, safety knowledge, and ability to fulfill their duties. The author believes that the concept of “five understandings, five skills, and five capabilities” can also be applied in laboratories; without understanding, one cannot perform certain tasks, and without those skills, it becomes difficult to properly prevent accidents, avoid risks, and respond effectively to emergencies that may occur in laboratories. Common hazards in laboratories (I) Unsafe human behavior: Laboratory personnel lack a strong safety awareness as well as the necessary safety knowledge and skills. An analysis of laboratory accidents in recent years shows that laboratory personnel do not pay enough attention to safety; they underestimate the risks associated with small experimental doses and ignore the dangers of chemicals. For example, in the laboratory explosion at Beijing Jiaotong University in December 2018, the teacher in charge of the experiment ignored the highly reactive chemical properties of magnesium powder and stored it in the laboratory in violation of regulations. Some laboratory personnel lack the necessary theoretical knowledge and have insufficient experimental skills; in particular, lab supervisors in universities participate in experimental activities infrequently, with senior students usually guiding junior ones, resulting in a lack of systematic experimental thinking and risk identification abilities. It is mainly manifested in two aspects: first, the improper use of chemicals or the incorrect operation of instruments and equipment ； Second, the laboratory personnel did not wear protective gear correctly ； Third, in the event of an accident, it is unclear what emergency measures should be taken, which leads to an escalation of the consequences of the accident. (II) Unsafe conditions of objects 1. Improper management of chemicals and gas cylinders. There is a wide variety of laboratory chemicals, including ordinary reagents and hazardous chemicals. Due to the large number of laboratory staff, the consumption of these chemicals is high; reagents are taken freely, leading to chaotic storage and management, as well as gaps in reagent control ； Some chemical safety labels have fallen off ； Some chemicals have been stored for a long time, exceeding their expiration date. Furthermore, some laboratories have limited space; in particular, laboratories at “Double First-Class” universities face a shortage of land. In some cases, there are even setups where “student workstations are on the left, while high-pressure gas cylinders are on the right.” The storage locations for gas cylinders are not fixed; there are no dedicated areas designated for storing them. In some cases, they are simply placed next to equipment without any form of fixation. Moreover, these cylinders are not inspected or maintained on a regular basis. All these factors pose serious safety risks to the laboratory personnel. 2. Experimental equipment is poorly managed, and its integrity is inadequate. There is a wide variety of experimental equipment, which is difficult to maintain. 1) Inadequate safety protection measures. The safety protection factors of some experimental equipment are relatively low; this is especially true for pressure-bearing equipment. There are deficiencies in aspects such as routine maintenance and pressure relief measures, making accidents likely to occur in case of any misoperation. For example, in 2021, the explosion that occurred at the Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences on March 31 was caused by a high-temperature, high-pressure explosion in a reactor, resulting in the death of one student. 2) Insufficient equipment integrity. Laboratory equipment is mostly imported from abroad; once there are defects in such equipment, the maintenance costs are high. Moreover, there is a shortage of skilled technicians in China who can carry out repairs, which affects the equipment’s lifespan ； Even some laboratory personnel do not know how to operate the experimental equipment; they try to use the instruments based on their own understanding, which accelerates the wear and tear of the equipment. There is a lack of proper management throughout the equipment’s life cycle, resulting in insufficient equipment integrity. Therefore, strengthening the management of laboratory equipment and ensuring proper daily maintenance are particularly important for conducting experiments safely. (III) Management deficiencies: The safety management system and mechanisms in the laboratory are inadequate. This is manifested in a severe shortage of full-time personnel responsible for laboratory safety in universities, as well as a lack of professional competence; such individuals do not know how to carry out safety management tasks ； The role of laboratory safety management agencies is not effectively fulfilled; in chemistry and chemical engineering laboratories, there is an emphasis on research activities at the expense of safety considerations. Most researchers focus on achieving research outcomes and ignore safety management, with routine laboratory safety inspections remaining merely on paper without being translated into actual actions ； The safety responsibility system is imperfect; responsibilities are not clear or specific, and in particular, there is some overlap in the duties of various departments, resulting in gaps in safety management ； The safety operating procedures for chemical and chemical engineering laboratories are not specific enough and lack practicality; some laboratory personnel do not know how to operate the equipment, safety training is inadequate, risk identification is insufficient, control measures are not implemented, and the risk factors present in these laboratories are ignored. Safety management requirements for chemical and chemical engineering laboratories 1. The \"Safety requirements for laboratories conducting physical and chemical tests on chemicals and assessing their hazards\" (GB/T 24777-2009) specify the procedures for handling hazardous chemicals and waste in laboratories. 2. The \"Safety Management Specifications for Chemical and Chemical Engineering Laboratories\" (T-CCSAS 005-2019) sets out specific requirements regarding laboratory personnel management, chemical management, instrument/equipment management, facility management, environmental management, safety risk identification, assessment, and control, as well as emergency management. 3. The \"Guidelines for Safety Assessment of Chemical and Chemical Engineering Laboratories\" specify the procedural rules to be followed by those involved in the safety assessment of such laboratories, covering aspects such as the assessment criteria for safety management systems, the assessment process, assessment standards, as well as rights and obligations. 4. \"Safety in Testing Laboratories – Part 1: General Principles\" (GB/T 27476.1-2014) establishes safety standard requirements for the various hazard factors present in laboratories, such as electrical, mechanical, chemical, ionizing radiation, and non-ionizing radiation. 5. The \"Design Code for Automatic Analyzer Rooms\" (HG/T20516-2014) specifies the design requirements for automatic analyzer rooms in chemical processing plants, covering aspects such as the location of these rooms, their structure and layout, lighting, heating, ventilation and explosion protection, utility systems, as well as the installation of pipelines and cables. 6. \"Technical requirements for the design and construction of inspection and testing laboratories – Part 1: General requirements\" (GB/T 32146.1-2015) specifies the classification of inspection and testing laboratories, the design concepts, the design process, planning and design, system design, and requirements for detailed design. 7. Some regions have introduced local standards regarding the safety of chemical and chemical engineering laboratories. For example, in April 2018, the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision issued the local standard \"Specifications for the Safe Management of Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories – Part 2: Institutions of Higher Education\" (DB11/T 1191.2—2018). Some provinces and cities have introduced local regulations for the management of laboratory safety in higher education institutions. For example, in 2013, Zhejiang Province issued the \"Regulations on Laboratory Safety Management in Higher Education Institutions\" ； In 2014, the Anhui Provincial Department of Education issued the \"Regulations on Laboratory Safety Management in Higher Education Institutions in Anhui Province\" ； In January 2021, the Education Bureau of Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, together with five other departments including the Guangzhou Public Security Bureau, issued the \"Guiding Opinions on Comprehensively Strengthening the Safety Management of School Laboratories in Guangzhou City\". Improvement measure 01: The “five understandings” constitute the theoretical foundation for enhancing laboratory safety. These five understandings include understanding the principles of experiments and the reaction processes involved, being aware of the hazardous properties of dangerous chemicals, knowing the functioning of laboratory instruments and equipment, understanding the relevant policies and regulations applicable to laboratories, and being familiar with the laboratory’s safety management systems. Understanding the principles of experiments and the process reactions means knowing the principles behind reaction equations and the sequence of reactions. A laboratory is a place where researchers conduct scientific experiments; most scientific activities involve exploring unknown fields based on scientific principles. It is precisely because of the unpredictability that it is even more necessary to be familiar with the reaction process and operational steps, to accurately control the parameters related to the reactants such as pressure, temperature, flow rate, concentration, and other experimental parameters, as well as to determine whether it is an endothermic or exothermic reaction. Understanding the experimental principles and process reactions is the basis for correctly analyzing experimental results and controlling risks. Understanding the hazardous properties of chemicals means that laboratory personnel need to be aware of the hazard labels, physical and chemical properties, first aid measures, fire-fighting procedures, health hazards, as well as the requirements for handling and storage of these chemicals in the laboratory. The laboratory contains explosives, oxidizing gases, gases under pressure (gas cylinders), flammable liquids, flammable solids, self-igniting liquids, substances that release flammable gases when in contact with water, metal corrosives, toxic and hazardous substances, etc. Each reagent and chemical should come with a safety data sheet, and laboratory personnel must be aware of their hazards, storage requirements, and emergency response procedures. Chemicals that can cause combustion, explosion, or chemical reactions that produce toxic gases in the presence of fire, heat, or moisture should be protected from fire, heat, moisture, and water ； **It should be handled with care to prevent explosions caused by friction, vibration, or impact ； Cylinders in the laboratory building should be stored centrally in a cylinder room, with flammable gases, oxidizing gases, and non-flammable gases kept separate from each other. The cylinders must be equipped with safety relief devices, pressure gauges, emergency shut-off devices, and other safety accessories; they also require regular inspection, and overfilling is strictly prohibited ； Corrosive substances must be tightly packaged to prevent leakage, and must not be stored together with liquefied gases. For the specific procedures regarding the disposal of waste, refer to the \"Technical Specifications for the Collection of Waste Chemicals in Laboratories\" (GB/T 31190-2014). Understanding the hazardous properties of the substances involved in experimental processes is crucial for accurate operation and emergency response, and it helps prevent laboratory safety accidents. Understanding the principles of experimental instruments and equipment means mastering the skills for starting and stopping them. There is a wide variety of equipment in the laboratory, including pressure-bearing devices, reactors, separation equipment, heating devices, etc. Pressure-bearing devices operate at high pressures, while separation instruments rotate at high speeds; even a single mistake by the laboratory staff can lead to unimaginable consequences. Experimenters must be familiar with the safe operating procedures for the equipment and avoid violating these procedures, in order to effectively prevent any abnormalities in the equipment from posing a threat to them. Understanding the relevant policies and regulations for laboratories means mastering the rules related to laboratory management. Although there are currently no **standards specifically addressing the safety aspects of university laboratories, there are industry-specific group standards for chemical and biochemical laboratories, namely the \"Safety Management Specifications for Chemical and Biochemical Laboratories\" (T-CCSAS 005-2019), as well as various standard requirements for testing laboratories and analysis labs, which can be used as a reference. The personnel involved in the experiment, based on their review of the standards, master the safety management requirements related to this experiment and implement them. Understanding the safety management system in a laboratory means formulating management systems that meet regulatory standards and are suitable for laboratory safety management, and ensuring their effective implementation. A safety management system is the fundamental framework that regulates the work processes and requirements of laboratory personnel; therefore, such a system must be practical and enforceable. At the school level, laboratory safety management systems should be established focusing on three aspects: management systems, inspection systems, and responsibility systems ； At the departmental level, attention should be paid to management systems, self-inspection, and admission protocols ； At the laboratory level, attention should be paid to the establishment of management systems, inspections, and operating procedures for laboratory equipment, such as the management of hazardous chemicals, gas cylinders, waste disposal, and facilities and equipment management systems. 02 The “five skills” represent the capability requirements for enhancing laboratory safety. These five skills are abilities that laboratory personnel need to master. The five skills refer to experimental operation, fault troubleshooting, equipment inspection, risk analysis, and emergency response. Being able to perform experiments means being able to accurately control the entire process of the reaction. In particular, it is essential to be clear about the order of adding reactants, the amounts of materials used, to accurately determine the timing and duration of the reaction, as well as the precise experimental conditions (high temperature, high pressure, etc.). Before the experiment, the procedure must be carefully written in a clear and straightforward manner. It involves troubleshooting, that is, dealing with unexpected situations that arise during the experiment as well as equipment failures. The experimenters are aware of the consequences resulting from the interruption of water, electricity, gas, etc., during the experiment, and take prompt action to address them. There should also be procedures for dealing with sudden interruptions during experiments, as well as safety measures for handling unexpected equipment failures (such as abnormal noises or sudden increases in temperature). Furthermore, the experimenters possess the ability to conduct a proper analysis of the products, as well as to explain cases where the expected experimental results are not achieved and to identify the underlying causes. The equipment will be checked, that is, the experimental equipment will be inspected. Laboratory equipment is complex, and each type of equipment comes with corresponding operating procedures. In daily management, it is necessary to strengthen the inspection of experimental equipment, conduct regular inspections and maintenance in accordance with the key points and requirements for such inspections, and keep records of the specific contents, locations, and inspection criteria. Risk analysis involves using appropriate risk assessment methods to analyze the hazard sources in the laboratory and the risks associated with the experimental process. During the experimental process, there may be hazards such as mechanical issues, electrical problems, extreme temperatures, fires and explosions, noise, vibration, and poisoning. It is necessary to conduct a systematic identification of risk sources in terms of personnel, equipment, materials, and the environment, and to use appropriate risk analysis methods for risk assessment, in order to ensure the safety of the experimental process. Risk assessment shall cover all operations, facilities, and areas in the laboratory; for guidelines on conducting such assessments, reference can be made to Clause 5.1.3 of \"Safety in Testing Laboratories – Part 1: General Principles\" (GB/T27476.1-2014). Capable of emergency handling, meaning able to address any abnormal situations that occur during the experiment. The experimenters handle any dangerous incidents that occur during the experiments in accordance with the relevant plans, knowing emergency evacuation methods, first aid procedures for injured persons, as well as how to use emergency equipment such as fire extinguishers and gas protection devices. The laboratory should be equipped with safety devices such as fire extinguishers, fire hydrants, eyewash stations, and emergency spray systems, as well as first-aid kits, all of which must be in good condition. Since ordinary laboratories are at risk of fire or explosion, automatic alarm systems should also be installed, along with fire extinguishing equipment and fire extinguishers of the appropriate type. Whenever any automatic, manual fire or gas monitoring, protection, or alarm device is activated, the mechanical ventilation system shall exhaust air to prevent circulation. The ventilation capacity of the laboratory should be appropriate to its current operating conditions and shall meet the requirements of GB50736. Regularly, emergency training and drills should also be strengthened to ensure that abnormal situations can be handled promptly. 03 The “five capabilities” are behavioral requirements for enhancing laboratory safety. These five capabilities include the ability to abide by process and reaction protocols, the ability to comply with safety rules, the ability to follow labor discipline, the ability to stop others from performing illegal operations, and the ability to resist giving instructions that violate regulations. It is necessary to adhere to the procedural requirements for experiments, which means that laboratory personnel must follow the experimental steps strictly and must not alter the experimental parameter values or reaction conditions arbitrarily. At the same time, certain basic behavioral guidelines must be followed to ensure the safe conduct of the experiment. Being able to abide by safety regulations means following the basic safety management systems, such as those related to the handling of hazardous chemicals, gas cylinders, waste disposal, and facility and equipment management. It also involves taking proper precautions during experiments by wearing appropriate personal protective equipment. Be able to abide by work discipline, that is, avoid doing anything unrelated to the experiment during the testing process, such as using a smartphone or dozing off. Being able to stop others from performing illegal operations means being able to halt the experimenter’s unlawful actions. For example, adding reagents and chemicals with hands, or eating and drinking in the laboratory. Be able to resist unlawful orders, and firmly refuse to carry out any actions that violate the laboratory’s safety management regulations and operational requirements. Some chemistry and chemical engineering laboratories, in an effort to improve experimental efficiency, carry out operations in violation of regulations without controlling safety risks; laboratory personnel must resolutely oppose such behavior. Finally, on the basis of having the necessary knowledge and skills, specialized safety management departments for chemical and chemical engineering laboratories should be established to ensure that these departments can fulfill their roles effectively. Greater emphasis should be placed on educating and training the personnel working in such laboratories, thereby improving the level of safety management and ensuring the safe operation of these laboratories.