working conditions

Working in a lab, we are often reminded to make sure we put safety as our first priority. And of course, that makes sense with plenty of broken glassware to cut yourself on and cabinets of acid awaits your every slip on the wet and dirty floor. However, do you think WorkCover would worry about this?


First day back and the first thing I found on my desk was the excrement of a non-specific rodent, littered across my desk. Upon closer inspection, I found what appears to be nibbled-on edges of my papers with a dash of rodent pee. Fortunately, the papers were not important and were quickly thrown away. Latex gloves were worn, in the removal of the rodent excrement...one of the perks of working in a laboratory. Gloves that is, not the excrement removal.

Throughout the past summer, my desk was leased to summer students using this time to work on projects within the department. I'm not angry that they used up all my post-its, but I wish they would continue with the general up-keeping of my desk...