Working safely with equipment
Lab Edu3
Balance the centrifuge
Load opposite tubes with equal mass.
Step 3 / 6VOICE · ON
IN ONE LINE
Inspect before you power on, follow the SOP, and never bypass a guard or interlock.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
Inspect and prepare equipment before each use.
Operate common lab equipment within its safe limits.
Apply lockout/tagout and report faults correctly.
READ THE LESSON
A glance can prevent a failure
Frayed cords, cracked seals, an unbalanced rotor — most equipment failures announce themselves. A ten-second inspection before power-on catches them.
Centrifuges punish imbalance
An unbalanced rotor at thousands of rpm can shatter and become shrapnel. Always pair tubes by mass, opposite each other, and let it spin down on its own.
Guards are not optional
Interlocks that cut power when a lid opens, and shields that block flying parts, are the difference between a near miss and an injury. Never defeat them to save time.
Lockout/Tagout
Before you service or clear a jam, isolate the energy source and tag it so no one can switch it on.
QUICK CHECK
1 / 5Before powering on equipment, you should…
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CORE · 09
KEY POINTS
Inspect cords, seals and balance before use.
Only operate equipment you're trained on.
Balance centrifuge loads by mass.
Never bypass guards or interlocks.
REFERENCES
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.147 — Lockout/Tagout
Manufacturer operating manuals
IEC 61010 — Lab equipment safety
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