Question: Are there any risk factors in your job? What are they?

Sarah O'Sullivan answered on 5 Mar 2019:

Hazards that I face in my day to day work are similar to a lot of lab work- chemical exposures, cuts from broken pieces of equipment, lifting heavy things. I also have some specific risks from the use of ammonia gas, because it will cause chemical burns to you as well as stop you from breathing if it leaks. The radiation also poses a small risk. We limit this by only using small amounts of radioactive compounds and this has to be in dedicated areas with proper protective equipment like safety goggles and gloves. We monitor everything so I know I’m not contaminated. There’s also risks with some of the machines I use for my measurements. These use x-rays and lasers which can cause injuries if not used properly.