Glassware primarily presents which safety concern in a lab?

• A. Electrical shock
• B. Breakage causing cuts
• C. Radiation exposure
• D. Chemical fumes

Answer: (B)

Glassware safety is mainly about breakage and the sharp edges that can result when it cracks or shatters. Beakers, flasks, and test tubes are strong when used correctly, but they can crack from impacts, thermal stress, or rapid cooling after heating. When glass breaks, the jagged edges can easily cut skin, and tiny shards can pierce fingers or contaminate samples. That’s why the standard precautions focus on inspecting glassware for cracks, never using damaged pieces, handling hot glass with tume forceps or gloves, and cleaning up broken glass with a brush and a designated container. The other hazards—electrical shock, radiation exposure, and chemical fumes—are more about the equipment or substances involved, not the glassware itself, so they aren’t the primary concern with ordinary glassware use.