For standards related to exposure, refer to NRC Rules and Regulations Title 10, Chapter 1, Part 20. Radioactive waste should never be stored on the bench top for long periods of time and should be disposed of properly. Broken Glass Glass has been the lab equipment material of choice for years because of its optical clarity and barrier properties. However, it is not very durable, and broken glass and spilled samples can pose serious threats. Plastic labware can equal or surpass glass in strength, durability, chemical resistance, break resistance, nontoxicity, noncontamination, and environmental compatibility.
Plastics also handle a broader range of applications than does glass.
The safety issue on most people s minds today is the risk of exposure to infectious agents from contact with blood, other body fluids, or other potentially infectious material. According to OSHA, more than 5.6 million workers in health care and public safety occupations face potential exposure to HIV and HBV viruses. As a result, the federal government and other regulatory organizations have imposed stricter guidelines for handling potentially hazardous specimens. Until recently, the primary focus of existing guidelines was on preventing physical contact with potentially infectious materials through touch, needle stick, or inhalation of undetected aerosols. The OSHA and NIH regulations have far-reaching consequences because they make compliance a condition of funding.