Lab Safety

Laboratory Safety: A Guide to Risk Reduction in Modern Labs

Learn the basics of a safe and compliant lab with the following Laboratory Safety Guidelines and Information. We have resources available on the following topics:

Liquid Waste Handling Guide: Safe Handling of Liquid Chemical Waste in Laboratories

Liquid waste handling is one of the most underestimated risk points in laboratory operations. While solid waste is mostly self-contained, liquid chemical waste produces continuous vapor release, exposure, and  the potential for regulatory non-compliance. 

  • Closed vs open waste systems: exposure comparison
  • What defines a “closed system”
  • Vapor exposure pathways
  • Pressure vs venting considerations
  • Bench-top vs fume hood vs. HPLC & LC-SM feed systems
  • Designing the right waste container setup
  • Common failure points in liquid waste disposal: Overfill prevention / Evaporation control
  • Why open containers violate EPA/OSHA expectations

Chemical Compatibility : Chemical Compatibility and Risk Management in Labs

  • Incompatible chemical pairs (practical table)
  • Container material compatibility (HDPE vs glass vs PTFE)
  • Real incident scenarios (what went wrong)
  • Compatibility in waste vs storage (important distinction)

Cluster 3: Chemical Storage: Safe Chemical Storage Systems and Segregation

  • Container material compatibility: Material Chemical compatibility charts
  • Incompatible chemicals: Chemical Segregation Rules
  • Fire code considerations
  • Real incident scenarios (what went wrong)
  • Chemical Labeling Requirements and Best Practices
    • GHS vs secondary container labeling
    • Common labeling failures during inspections
    • Label durability and chemical resistance
    • Labeling in shared lab environments

Lab PPE: Selecting and Using PPE in Chemical Laboratories

Spill Containment

Setting Up a Safe Lab: Checklist

  • Bench layout
  • Workflow safety / Layout planning (flows and hazards)
  • Waste station design
  • Storage
  • Emergency Preparedness

Lab Safety Audit Checklist

  • Laboratory Safety Inspection Checklist (Downloadable)
  • Common violations
  • What inspectors actually look for
  • Common audit failures
  • Monthly vs annual inspections
  • Internal audit workflow