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:
Setting Up a Safe Lab
In A Startup Guide for New Laboratories, we cover important new lab principles to consider, such as:
- Bench layout
- Workflow safety & layout planning (flows and hazards)
- Waste station design
- Hazmat Storage
- Emergency Preparedness
Laboratory Safety Inspections: Monthly Checklists, Annual Audits, and Common Violations
In Laboratory Safety Inspections Overview we detail how labs can perform regularly reviews and proper upkeep. Internal audit materials cover the following topics:
- Why Laboratory Safety Inspections Matter
- What Inspectors Actually Look For
- PPE: Personal Protective Equipment Standards
- Chemical Storage and Waste Disposal
- Avoid Common Violations
- Monthly vs Annual Inspections
- Internal Inspection Workflow
Printable Assets
- Printable EHS Lab Safety Inspection Checklist
- Printable Hazardous Waste Container Inspection Checklist
- Printable Lab Rats Safety Guidelines for students
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.
In our article detailing Closed vs Open Waste Container Systems we provide an deep dive on chemical vapor control:
- Exposure comparison in open and closed systems
- Vapor pathways and evaporation control
- Why "Open Containers" violate EPA/OSHA rules
- Designing the right waste container setup
- Creating closed HPLC & LC-MS systems
- Common failure points in liquid waste disposal
- ECO Funnel® for manual waste collection
Chemical Compatibility and Storage in Labs
We have many resources on our website for chemical compatibility and safe storage requirements for laboratories.
- Chemical Compatibility by Container Resin
- Chemical Compatibility by Material
- Drum Feed Clamps Compatibilty
- Glove Compatibility
- Safety Can Compatibility
- Temperature and Permeability Chart
- Waste Compatibility by Chemical Group
Chemical Labeling
It can be a challenge to ensure chemical containers are properly labeled, but it's essential for safety. We cover the following topics on our Chemical Labeling Requirements and Best Practices in the laboratory guide.
- 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
- Glove compatibility chart
- Eye/face protection decision tree
- PPE failure modes (penetration, degradation)
Spill Containment
Above you'll find core principles of lab safety and many resources you can use to ensure your lab stays safe and compliant. Feel free to reach out to us if you have questions or need help choosing the safest solutions for your processes.