"I pursued a career as a lab technician because I love science. I started university in the science department but wasn't sure what direction I wanted to take. After having a few tutorials in the lab, I realised that I really enjoyed working in a labouratory setting. I talked to a guidance counsellor, and they suggested pursuing a career as a lab technician, so I did."

"If I noticed a colleague wasn't following safety protocols, I would let them know. They may not know all the regulations, so informing them could be helpful. If they continue to ignore protocols, I would escalate the issue to my supervisor. Safety protocols are in place to keep everyone safe, so it's important that every person working in the lab follows them."

"I work safely in the labouratory by wearing the necessary PPE, such as gloves, goggles, covered shoes and lab coats. I don't bring any food or drinks into the lab to minimize cross-contamination. I also avoid standing around and talking to my colleagues while in the lab so I don't cause any distractions or collisions."

"I would first identify the chemical spill as major or minor. If it was major and posed an immediate risk to me and my colleagues, I would get everyone to evacuate. If it was minor, I would contain the spill and area by making a barrier around it. I would then clean up the spill with the appropriate spill kit and dispose of the waste in a hazardous waste bin. Finally, I would decontaminate the area and write an incident report if necessary."

"As the science and technology industries are always changing, I am constantly learning new trends and techniques. I stay updated by reading online magazines, such as Canadian Geographic and The Scientist Magazine. I also enjoy listening to podcasts on my way to work, such as Radiolab and Science Friday. Reading magazines and listening to podcasts keeps me updated in a way that I enjoy, so it doesn't feel like work."

"I have been working in a labouratory for over three years in a professional setting and for four years while at school. This means I have experience working with common equipment, such as burners, clamps, and microscopes. I also have experience with more high-tech equipment, such as incubators, test chambers, lab ovens, centrifuges, and nitrogen generators."

"I think my greatest skills are my analytical skills and ability to learn how to use any lab equipment quickly. My analytical skills make me a good lab technician as I can easily identify issues or come up with hypotheses that seem plausible. Lab equipment is always being updated and created, so being able to learn how to use new equipment easily is a huge advantage. I am often the person who trains employees on how to use our new equipment."

"My favourite type of lab work is anything that produces results for patients, such as blood tests or genetic testing. I like knowing that my work is helping someone understand their body better and get the treatment they need. I also enjoy seeing the direct results of my work. However, I'm happy to do any kind of lab work, even cleaning!"

"We were completing an experiment to test how much bacteria was on a surface after a person sneezed with and without a mask on. We had a control sample and two samples for each scenario. After a few days, I noticed that the control sample was developing much more bacteria than the sample from the surface a person sneezed on without a mask. This went against our hypothesis and I realised that someone labelled the samples wrongly. We had to start the experiment over again to get the right results."

"Lab technicians have a wide range of responsibilities, such as completing tests, examining samples with a microscope, maintaining a safe work environment, and managing equipment. Lab technicians usually work as a team under a labouratory supervisor, so they must work well together."

"GLP stands for good labouratory practise, which are rules or principles people working in a non-clinical labouratory must follow. GLP standards are important as they minimize human errors, create a safe work environment, and ensure all lab activity is legal and ethical."

"I've seen a lot of lab technicians work too quickly when handling a pipette which can lead to errors as using a pipette requires precision. Many lab technicians also forget to pre-wet the pipette tip, leading to inaccurate results. Another common error is using the incorrect pipette tips for a task, so I always double-check my tips before starting any task."

"There are five main methods of sterilization in a labouratory: using dry heat, wet heat, filtration, radiation, or solvents. With dry heat or wet heat, high temperatures kill bacteria or microbes. Filtration sterilization uses a small filter. Radiation uses UV light, X-rays or gamma rays to sterilise. Solvents like isopropanol or ethanol are used to kill microbial cells."

"Cross-contamination is a bad thing, especially in lab work, as it can alter results. To limit cross-contamination, lab technicians must sterilise equipment, store chemicals properly, and keep a clean work environment."

"I did have a disagreement with a colleague once about where to store our samples. He wanted to store them in the freezer, but I told him the samples didn't need to be frozen, so we could store them in the refrigerator. We went back and forth for a bit, as we were both sure we were right. We asked our supervisor just to be sure, and he told us to put the samples in the refrigerator. My colleague apologised and used the disagreement as a learning experience."