You’ve probably heard that the Fantastic Four are coming back to theaters—again. Marvel is set to release yet another reboot of the beloved superhero team. This will actually be the fifth time this group gets a chance to shine on the big screen (counting the legendary low-budget 1994 Roger Corman version that was never officially released). With each iteration, there’s hope for something better—a truer version, something more polished, more faithful to the source material, and more exciting. That same sense of optimism can and should exist when it comes to giving your laboratory safety program a much-needed reboot. Just like a superhero franchise that never quite landed, a safety program may have launched with good intentions but ended up lost in the noise of daily operations, ineffective habits, or even complete neglect. But a fresh start is always possible.
A reboot doesn’t mean tearing everything down. It means stepping back, taking stock, and relaunching your lab’s safety culture with clear intention and renewed energy. Maybe your program has been around for years. Maybe it started strong but fizzled over time. Maybe people know there are safety policies but couldn’t tell you what they are or why they matter. That’s when you know it’s time to roll out the red carpet and debut the reboot—something finally fantastic.
Start with awareness. Ask your team: what is the current perception of safety in our lab? You might not like the answer, but you need to hear it. If safety is viewed as a burden, an afterthought, or worse—an irrelevant set of rules for someone else—then it’s time to rewrite the script. Meet with staff, leaders, and stakeholders. Ask what concerns them. Ask what they think the safety program is supposed to be doing. Those honest answers are the trailer to the full-length feature you’re about to roll out. Don’t skip this step—if you launch a reboot that no one asked for, you’ll lose your audience faster than an opening weekend box office flop.
Once you know what’s broken—or just stale—it’s time to build your team. A reboot can’t be carried by one star. The best safety programs are ensemble efforts. Designate a safety committee that represents multiple shifts, roles, and experience levels. New staff often bring sharp eyes to longstanding hazards, while seasoned staff can offer insight on what has worked (or what hasn’t) over the years. Empower this group to be a creative force, not just a policy review panel. Let them own a piece of the relaunch. Ask them to think about new ways to communicate, train, and lead safety efforts. Safety doesn’t improve through policy alone; it improves when people care and feel they are part of something that matters.
Part of rebooting a safety program is looking at the training experience. If your safety training looks the same as it did ten years ago—or even last year—it’s time to revamp. Don’t rely solely on slide decks and sign-in sheets. Use interactive content, real-life stories, safety scenarios, and even short quizzes that focus on lab-specific risks. Think of orientation and ongoing education as the origin story—this is where people learn why safety is crucial to their success. Make it relevant, make it relatable, and most importantly, make it stick. A powerful reboot pays off when your audience walks away engaged, not just informed.
Culture doesn’t change overnight. Rebooting a program means creating new rhythms. Consider launching monthly safety themes, having a rotating “safety spotlight” where staff highlight issues or solutions, or using short weekly safety reminders during huddles. Visibility matters. Just like the buzz before a movie release, your reboot needs marketing. Use colorful posters, QR codes linking to safety resources, fun contests, and visible support from leadership. Let the message be clear: safety is not just important, it’s exciting, it’s everyone’s responsibility, and this time, we’re doing it right.
Accountability is the third act in any good reboot. Once you’ve communicated and trained, you need to follow through. That means supervisors modeling safe behaviors, staff speaking up without fear, and leadership reinforcing safety expectations through action, not just words. Set clear goals. Review incident trends. Celebrate progress. And when setbacks happen (and they will), address them directly. A rebooted culture is not afraid of failure. It learns from it and keeps going.
Now, as we await the next big-screen version of the Fantastic Four, think about your own safety origin story. Has your program fizzled out? Does it need better effects, sharper direction, or a whole new cast of champions? Just like a franchise gets another shot to do things better, your lab has the same opportunity. Don’t just relaunch the same tired storyline, build something bold, something that truly reflects who you are and what your team deserves.
This time, make it fantastic.
–Dan Scungio, MT(ASCP), SLS, CQA (ASQ) has over 25 years experience as a certified medical technologist. Today he is the Laboratory Safety Officer for Sentara Healthcare, a system of seven hospitals and over 20 laboratories and draw sites in the Tidewater area of Virginia. He is also known as Dan the Lab Safety Man, a lab safety consultant, educator, and trainer.
