Laboratory Safety Checklist

Administrative Plans & Materials 

• Are processes that release and or discharge vapours, gasses, or fumes appropriately captured by Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) (hoods, snorkel)?
• Are fume hoods intact uncluttered and properly house kept and are rear ventilation slots within the hood not blocked or covered?

Hazardous Waste and Disposal

• Are chemical waste containers in stable state and compatible with their contents?
• Are chemical waste containers closed?
• Are incompatible chemical wastes segregated by hazard class?
• Are all chemical waste containers labelled with a completed organization’s hazardous waste label?
• Are extreme hazardous chemicals that are treated for disposal via sewer recorded in a log?

Chemical Storage/Process

• Are flammable liquids or chemicals stored outside of flammable liquid storage cabinets limited to 10 gallons in quantity, and are they stored in approved safety containers properly?
• Are hazardous material quantities within limits allowed by the National Fire Code (NFC)?
• If flammable liquids are stored in a refrigerator, are they in a refrigerator approved for flammable (or explosive) liquids?
• Are all containers intended for chemical utilization in good condition?
• Are all chemical containers closed?
• Are unsuitable chemicals segregated properly when they are being stored?
• Are hazardous materials storage cabinets properly labelled, and in good condition?
• Are chemical containers being stored away from sinks?
• Are corrosive chemicals stored below eye level?
• Are opened peroxide forming compounds labelled with the date they were opened and expiration date?
• Is the laboratory free of hazardous chemicals that are old and no longer required?

Compressed Gas Cylinders/Cryogen and LPG

• Are extreme toxic gas cylinders stored in a gas cabinet, properly ventilated enclosure, or fume hood?
• Are incompatible compressed gas cylinders in storage isolated and segregated?
• Are gas cylinder valve protection caps in place securely for Gas Cylinders (GC) not in active use?
• Are compressed gas cylinders secured appropriately to prevent them from falling or tipping hazards?

Biological Safety

• If the laboratory employees with biohazards involving recombinant DNA, human or non-human primate material, or pathogenic agents, does it have a Biological Use Authorization?
• Are biohazardous blades, needles, and other sharps edges promptly disposed of in a sharp’s container?
• Is biohazardous waste autoclaved hastily?

Pressure Vessel

• If pressure vessels are in use, are they approved for their operating pressure and mitigated to prevent fatal injury?

Housekeeping

• Is the laboratory free of severe slip and trip hazards?
• Is the laboratory properly organized, orderly and clean to provide sufficient workspace for operations without spills, accidents and other preventable incidents?
• Is there minimal glassware stored in the sink or on the benchtop?
• Are lab coats regularly laundered by Consolidated Laundry or similar Industrial laundry service?

Electrical Safety

• Are building electrical panels accessible?
• Are extension cords being free from damage?
• Exposed electrical cords in poor condition are not in use?
• Are ground fault circuit interrupters employed in wet locations?
• Is equipment or device with motors, heaters, and other high amperage requires plugged directly into a wall receptacle?

Radiation Safety

• Are radioactive stock solutions secured in a locked cabinet when not in use?
• Are all Class 4 lasers enumerated with EHS Radiation Safety?

Fire Safety/Prevention

• Are there 18-eighteen inches of clearance between stored items and fire sprinklers system?
• Do false ceilings have all of their ceiling tiles in place?
• Are laboratory doors kept closed when unoccupied?
• Are Fire Extinguishers (FE) available, easily accessible, and free of blockage?

Exit Access/Corridors

• Are aisles and exits within the laboratory space free of clutter and blockages?
• Are corridors and exits free of obstruction and hazardous materials/processed in accordance with company’s Corridor Policy?

Seismic Safety

• Are chemical containers are stored safely on shelves with a closed cabinet to prevent them from falling in an earthquake disaster?

Machinery

• Are all hazardous pieces of machinery secured to prevent movement or tipping hazards?
• Are all points of operation, rotating components, and other moving parts of machinery appropriately guarded to prevent physical injury?
• Is laboratory equipment with potential hazards routinely inspected and maintained or serviced as recommended?

Download File

Laboratory Safety Checklist