4. The Human Factor

The primary cause of laboratory accidents is still the worker. He or she is the one who operates the equipment, handles the animals, and unfortunately is the one who becomes infected. As in road accidents, the major cause of laboratory accidents is human error.

Behavioral factors can result in accidents; one way to minimize, if not eliminate, them is to modify unsafe behavior patterns.

Men are involved in seven times more accidents than women (normalized to working hours). There is a difference in the accident rate between age groups as well. The rate in the 17-24-year-old group is about twice that of the 45-64-year-old group. This finding can be accounted for by the changing character or attitude with age, and also by the experience and know-how that accumulates over the years.