It seems everybody these days has an opinion about the billionaire singer/songwriter (including “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT” Donald Trump), but this article is about lab safety.
The Most Unpredictable Factor: Human Behavior
Real life is also unpredictable. Swift has said she wrote “Teardrops on My Guitar” after her high school crush, Drew Hardwick (pictured), repeatedly ignored her. Two years after the song’s crossover success, Hardwick showed up in Swift’s driveway unannounced to say “hi.” Swift responded with the last laugh: “Wow, you’re late!” In a separate incident in 2015, Hardwick was arrested and charged with aggravated child abuse. Photo: Hendersonville, Tenn. Police Department
While the scene in Swift’s music video was clearly dramatized for effect, it’s a great reminder that the root of many lab accidents is not the chemicals, the equipment, or the procedures themselves, but human behavior. Whether it’s caused by a crush walking by, a phone notification going off, or simply being tired at the end of a long day, people can and do make mistakes in the lab. This unpredictability is something that every safety protocol must account for.
Planning for the Unplanned
To anticipate and prepare for human behaviors that may lead to errors, the Laboratory Safety Institute recommends the following:
- Design Flexible Safety Protocols
Procedures should be built with the assumption that mistakes may happen. For example, labeling all containers clearly and having spill kits readily available can help mitigate issues when someone gets distracted or forgets a step. - Implement "Pause and Check" Practices
Encouraging lab workers to pause and double-check their work can reduce accidents caused by hasty decisions or lapses in concentration. - Training for Real-World Scenarios
Lab training should go beyond textbook safety protocols and address real-life scenarios where distractions, stress, or unexpected events can cause mishaps. Training staff to recognize when they’re distracted or fatigued can help them avoid errors before they happen. - Create a Culture of Accountability
It’s important for lab teams to encourage communication and accountability. If someone is distracted or unsure, they should feel comfortable about saying so. Everyone should about asking questions or seeking assistance. Accountability isn’t about blame—it’s about creating an environment where safety is always the priority. - Practice Emergency Responses
No matter how careful we are, accidents can still happen. Having a clear, well-practiced emergency plan in place ensures that, even when unexpected human behaviors occur, everyone knows exactly how to respond.
Swift’s Teachable Moment
As the video illustrates, the experiment may be predictable, but human behavior often isn’t. Anticipating the unpredictability of human behavior is one of the most effective ways to maintain lab safety.
Swift's Safety Score
Photo: Still from "Teardrops on My Guitar" Taylor Swift © 2007 Big Machine Records
For making sure the students in the video wore PPE, Swift and her music video team deserve an "A" for effort. But overall, we have to give the video a 70% safety score. Swift and her heartthrob wearing thick lab aprons and goggles: +100%. Both occasionally seen with goggles on their foreheads: -15%. No gloves when cleaning up an unknown chemical spill: -15%.