Many collecting institutions including museums, historical societies, libraries, and archives house medical history artifacts, which are one of the most precarious categories of hazardous collections. Some medical artifacts are not only a hazard to the health and safety of staff and visitors, but are also harmful to the environment and to other collection materials. This article intends to raise awareness among museum, library, and archives professionals of hazards present in medical history collections. It provides guidance on identification of hazardous materials and the risks associated with them. It also identifies proper protection and mitigation measures to help museum professionals protect themselves and others from these threats in order to prevent accidents and injuries and to safeguard institutions against unnecessary risks and liabilities. Finally, the article presents ways to balance the protection of human life against the preservation of the artifact.
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