Implementation of workstations in laboratories: risk prevention

The desire to integrate risk prevention into workspace design requires us to question the relevance of the issue.

In France, architectural and engineering schools have shown little interest in the subject. While the influence and role of architects and engineers is clear, they are not the only players concerned, and cannot act alone.

We have to start from the very object of the problem, "the prevention of occupational risks in the design of workspaces", and consider the whole process of carrying out a project: from the definition of needs through to use. This naturally leads to an interest in the process by which workspaces are defined and implemented.

Prevention of the most common risks, including occupational hazards, is not seen as a function, but rather as a supply. This is the case with electrical installations, which are subject to standards and regulations governing both products and their installation.

Are workspace design and risk prevention linked? Yes, we're tempted to say, but not in an obvious way, we're forced to admit.

Beyond the obvious, workstation design must also be an opportunity to look at the overall concept of task division, with a view to restoring flexibility to the production system.

In this dossier, after studying risk prevention in a project and presenting the principles of implementation, we look at two examples of application in biological analysis and pharmaceutical analysis laboratories.