Who is responsible for laboratory safety? 

Every person working in the laboratory is responsible for their own personal safety and the safety of others working around them. On a day-to-day basis, the laboratory manager is responsible for ensuring all laboratory users adhere to all health and safety procedures applicable to the laboratory. The PI(s) is responsible for identifying the safety measures that should be in place and that the laboratory manager is correctly enforcing these measures.

 

 

 

What safety measures must be present in a laboratory? 

What safety measures must be present in a laboratory?

Training

Training Every person working in the laboratory should have completed a safety induction and be competent to carry out the activity they are undertaking. See Safety training.

Training records

The safety training history of every person working in the laboratory must be recorded.

What safety measures must be present in a laboratory? 2

Risk assessment

All activities and equipment in the laboratory must be risk assessed. See Risk assessments.

Control of substances hazardous to health

Any hazardous materials in the laboratory, such as chemical, should be risk assessed and stored correctly. See Risk assessments.

What safety measures must be present in a laboratory? 3

Equipment maintenance

All equipment and safety equipment must be regularly maintained and inspected. This includes fume hoods, eye wash stations etc

Permit to work control

Engineers and support staff must be provided a permit to work prior to accessing the laboratory. This will list any risks the staff member may face while working in the laboratory. Permit to work form

What safety measures must be present in a laboratory? 4

Access control

Only authorised persons should be allowed in the laboratory. See access control.

Correct disposal of waste materials

Any waste material created in the laboratory should be risk assessed and disposed of correctly. See waste disposal. See chemical waste disposal.

What safety measures must be present in a laboratory? 5

Personal protective equipment

All laboratory users should be provided with and use all necessary personal protective equipment (PPE). See Personal protective equipment All laboratory users should be provided with and use all necessary personal protective equipment (PPE). See personal protective equipment.

Any other necessary safety measures

The safety measures on this page are not exhaustive. Risk assessments may identify mitigation strategies that are required but are not described here.