Current challenges of university laboratory: Characteristics of human factors and safety management system deficiencies based on accident statistics

• Published in: Journal of safety research Vol. 86; pp. 318 - 335
• Main Authors: Xu, Chao, Guo, Lin, Wang, Kai, Yang, Tong, Feng, Yufeng, Wang, Haiyan, Li, Dan, Fu, Gui
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2023
• Subjects: Accident cause model; Prevention countermeasures; Safety management; Statistical analysis; University laboratory safety; University laboratory safety; Statistical analysis; Prevention countermeasures; Accident cause model; Safety management
• ISSN: 0022-4375; 1879-1247
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsr.2023.07.010

•24Model-WBA accident analysis program is proposed to clarify the accident evolution path.•Quantitative analysis and statistics of 64 typical university laboratory accidents.•Effectively identify the common problems in colleges and universities at this stage, and put forward preventive measures. Introduction: In recent years, with the rapid development of university laboratory construction, frequent laboratory accidents have aroused widespread concern. There is an urgent need to improve laboratory safety management's effectiveness further, enhance laboratory accident prevention ability, and reduce the occurrence of accidents. Method: Based on the accident causation theory, this paper uses the accident analysis path of 24Model and the logical idea of WBA (Why-Because-Analysis) to statistically analyze the causative factors of 64 typical college laboratory fire and explosion accidents and find out the defects of current college laboratory management. Results: The study showed that unsafe human actions at the individual level were the most critical factors affecting laboratory safety management, with a high frequency of violations of experimental procedures (105 times) and managers' failure to perform their supervisory duties (98 times); low safety awareness and insufficient safety knowledge among laboratory personnel were key factors triggering unsafe actions. At the organizational level, the lack of training programs (92 times) and the lack of systematic procedures (106 times) are the weaknesses of the laboratory safety management system in general in all universities; the lack of safety culture construction is the root cause of laboratory management deficiencies. Conclusions: Based on the above statistical results, and taking into account the characteristics of university laboratories themselves, the root causes of poor safety are specifically analyzed and preventive measures are proposed in six areas to address the key causes of accidents. Practical Applications: The results of this study are essential for improving the ability to prevent accidents in flammable and explosive laboratories in universities.