Appleton says that although lab safety culture has improved since he was a student in the mid-2000s, fear of making mistakes or reporting accidents can still run deep.

Overall safety is increasing, but new safety hazards, such as repetitive stress injuries and potential toxicities from nanoparticles, are coming under closer scrutiny.

Although attitudes towards lab safety have grown more positive over the years, some academic researchers still believe that safe lab practices hamper research productivity. The idea is that time ...