Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Improving laboratory safety takes more than buying protective equipment or updating a manual. It requires a facility-specific assessment of hazards, effective controls, maintained equipment, practical training, clear responsibility, and regular review as work changes. In the United States, covered laboratories that use hazardous chemicals and where employees may be exposed must implement a written Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP); the precise rules depend on the work and applicable jurisdiction.
Start by defining the work and the rules that apply
Map the laboratory’s actual activities before choosing controls. Include routine procedures, equipment use, cleaning, storage, maintenance, waste handling, and other nonroutine work. Consider chemical hazards alongside biological materials, physical conditions, and specialized equipment; chemical-safety requirements alone do not cover every laboratory risk.
OSHA’s Laboratory Standard applies to covered laboratory use of hazardous chemicals where employee exposure is possible. OSHA identifies commercial production and quality-control testing as examples outside that standard’s scope, but other OSHA requirements may still apply. State-plan rules and requirements outside the United States can differ. Check the current rules for the work, rather than assuming that every workplace called a laboratory is covered in the same way. See OSHA’s Laboratory Standard eTool and the text of 29 CFR 1910.1450.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Assess hazards task by task
A useful assessment follows the work from start to finish: what hazards are present, who could be exposed, and how could exposure or injury occur? Consider changes during the procedure, not only the material’s label or its starting state. A process may involve different hazards during transfer, heating, mixing, cleanup, or equipment failure.
#1 Best Overall
Involve the people who perform the work, along with colleagues familiar with the procedure. They can identify practical steps, foreseeable deviations, and failure scenarios that a written protocol may not capture. OSHA’s nonmandatory Appendix A recommendations for chemical hygiene in laboratories describe habitual risk assessment and experiment planning, including consideration of worst-case possibilities.
- List materials, equipment, processes, and people who could be affected.
- Identify exposure routes and foreseeable spills, releases, equipment failures, or other deviations.
- Consider how the hazard changes during the procedure and during cleanup or disposal.
- Record the controls already in place and whether they are suitable for the task.
- Ask affected workers to review the assessment and flag steps that are difficult to follow reliably.
Choose controls in order of effectiveness
Use the hierarchy of controls to reduce the hazard at its source before relying on individual behavior. For toxic chemical exposures, OSHA says engineering and work-practice controls should be the primary means of reducing exposure as far as feasible. Administrative procedures and personal protective equipment (PPE) can support those controls, but they should not automatically replace feasible higher-level measures. See OSHA’s guidance on controlling exposure.
| Control level | What it means | How to consider it |
|---|---|---|
| Elimination | Remove the hazardous material or step from the work. | First ask whether the task or hazard can be removed without creating a different risk. |
| Substitution | Replace a hazardous material or process with a less hazardous alternative. | Assess the substitute and the changed process; a replacement is not automatically safer in every use. |
| Engineering controls | Use equipment or design features to isolate people from the hazard or reduce exposure. | Choose controls suited to the task and ensure protective equipment is functioning as intended. |
| Administrative and work-practice controls | Change how work is organized or performed through procedures, limits, or other practices. | Make the required steps clear and workable, and check that they are followed in real conditions. |
| PPE | Protect the worker with equipment selected for the assessed hazard, such as appropriate chemical splash goggles. | Treat PPE as a protective layer, not a substitute for feasible elimination or engineering controls. |
Compare possible controls by how well they address the hazard, whether they are feasible for the task, how durable they are, and whether they introduce new hazards. The best choice is specific to the procedure; a control that works for one task may not suit another.
Make the Chemical Hygiene Plan specific and usable
For laboratories covered by OSHA’s Laboratory Standard, the CHP must be written and implemented, not merely kept on file. It should reflect the facility’s procedures and hazards and be accessible to employees. Under 29 CFR 1910.1450, the plan addresses:
Rank #3
- Specially designed chem goggles for laboratories.
- It is a very effective splash proof lab goggles for chemistry
- Indirect ventilation goggles have some anti fogging effects
- Scientific experiment class goggles can effectively protect the user's eyes
- Our chemistry goggles have no odor
- Standard operating procedures relevant to safety and health.
- Criteria for selecting control measures, including engineering controls, PPE, and hygiene practices.
- Measures to ensure protective equipment functions properly.
- Employee information and training.
- Circumstances requiring prior approval for specified laboratory operations.
- Medical consultation and examinations when required by the standard.
- The designation of personnel responsible for implementing the plan, including a Chemical Hygiene Officer where required.
- Additional protections for work with particularly hazardous substances.
The employer must review and evaluate the CHP’s effectiveness at least annually and update it as needed. A useful plan connects its requirements to the work people actually do: who is responsible, what triggers a review or approval, what controls apply, and how equipment and procedures are kept effective.
Assign ownership and involve workers
Safety responsibilities should be explicit. OSHA’s Appendix A describes Chemical Hygiene Officer responsibilities that can include maintaining the CHP, administering safety rules and chemical practices, conducting inspections, and maintaining records. Assigning a role is not enough on its own: supervisors and workers also need clear responsibilities for following procedures, reporting problems, and addressing control failures.
Rank #4
- Essential Workplace Safety Guide – Educates employees on proper PPE usage, reducing injury risks in construction sites, factories, warehouses, and laboratories, ensuring a safer work environment.
- OSHA-Compliant PPE & Hazard Prevention – Follows OSHA safety regulations, providing clear instructions on selecting and using the right protective gear, including gloves, goggles, respirators, and hard hats.
- Clear & Easy-to-Read Design – Features bold text, detailed illustrations, and color-coded sections, making it an effective quick-reference PPE compliance poster for all industrial and workplace environments.
- Durable, Waterproof & Tear-Resistant – Made from high-quality, heavy-duty material, this safety poster withstands harsh industrial conditions and outdoor environments, ensuring long-term visibility.
- Ideal for All Workplaces & Industries – Perfect for construction sites, warehouses, factories, healthcare facilities, and laboratories, reinforcing safety awareness and reducing workplace accidents.
OSHA describes a strong safety culture as one in which leadership supports safety, workers participate, goals are measurable, people receive training to recognize hazards, and safety is integrated into everyday work. These features make safety a continuing operating practice rather than a compliance document. See OSHA’s laboratory safety culture guidance.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteTrain, check controls, and learn from failures
Training should prepare people to recognize the hazards in their work and use the controls and procedures that apply to it. Keep it connected to the actual tasks and equipment, and revisit it when work changes or a problem reveals a gap. Workers should have a clear way to raise concerns about hazards, near misses, or equipment that is not working as intended.
Regularly inspect controls and evaluate whether they remain effective under real working conditions. Investigate near misses and control failures to identify what needs to change, rather than treating them only as individual mistakes. OSHA’s hazard prevention and control guidance emphasizes worker input, evaluation of controls, emergency planning, and review of effectiveness. Use those findings to revise procedures, training, equipment maintenance, or the CHP where appropriate.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
