During the first week of this year’s Biosafety Month, we shared an article about close calls and invited members of our research community to share their safety moments.
As 2025’s Biosafety Month comes to a close, we are highlighting additional close call examples, including those submitted by you. Consider using stories like these when training personnel to encourage safe practices in the laboratory.
- During a laboratory activity, a hollow bacterial glass spreader became filled with alcohol and lit on fire when the worker flamed the tool to sterilize it. The alcohol burned off after the spreader was dropped, and no injury occurred. Now, the worker uses solid glass tools only for this procedure.
- A worker transporting a closed tube of material tripped and nearly fell. They caught the tube before it hit the floor, and no injury occurred. The worker realized they were not following the appropriate transport procedure, and they now transport materials with appropriate secondary and outer containers.
- While demonstrating a worker brought the needle too close to an individual observing the technique for training the worker now tells trainees where to stand to avoid close calls and injury.
- A worker was flash-freezing samples in liquid nitrogen when a sticker label on a tube came off and flew toward their face. Since the experience, the worker has been adamant about wearing eye protection in the lab and chooses to label tubes with permanent marker instead of using stickers.
- A worker dropped a sealed sample vial while working. It rolled off the bench, and the worker caught the vial before it hit the floor. At that time, another lab member was working at a computer at an adjacent bench. Fortunately, a spill and potential exposures were avoided, and both workers were wearing lab coats. The worker who dropped the flask has since been more careful to avoid rushing. The lab continues to be strict about following PPE procedures, even for individuals not currently doing benchwork.
Thank you again to everyone who shared your close calls and learning experiences, fostering a culture of safety. After a close call, you may consider filling out a First Report of Biological Exposure or Release Event form. The Office of Biological Safety can follow up on many types of events, ranging from close calls to confirmed exposures. This is an opportunity to interact with a safety professional who can offer advice on training, equipment placement, workflows, ergonomics, occupational health, etc. As needed, our office can help connect you with other EH&S units.
by Megan Dixon
Megan Dixon is a Biosafety Specialist on the IBC and Laboratory Operations team. She joined EH&S in 2024 and supports the research community through reviewing biosafety protocols, conducting risk assessments, and visiting laboratories.
It’s Biosafety and Biosecurity Month 2025! Look out for more biosafety topics each week in October.
This year’s Biosafety Month theme is Safety from Start to Finish.
Learn about the latest biological safety updates that impact labs like yours on the UW–Madison campus, and print the flyer to help spread the word.
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