General Laboratory Safety Rules

A standard list of basic laboratory safety rules are given below, and must be followed in every laboratory
that uses hazardous materials or processes. These basic rules provide behavior, hygiene, and safety
information to avoid accidents in the laboratory. Laboratory specific safety rules may be required for
specific processes, equipment, and materials, which should be addressed by laboratory specific SOPs.

Basic Safety Rules

Basic safety rules for laboratory conduct should be observed whenever working in a laboratory. Many of
the most common safety rules are listed below.

Know locations of laboratory safety showers, eyewashstations, and fire extinguishers. The safety
equipment may be located in the hallway near the laboratory entrance.

Know emergency exit routes.

Avoid skin and eye contact with all chemicals.

Minimize all chemical exposures.

No horseplay will be tolerated.

Assume that all chemicals of unknown toxicity are highly toxic.

Post warning signs when unusual hazards, hazardous materials, hazardous equipment, or other special
conditions are present.

Avoid distracting or startling persons working in the laboratory.

Use equipment only for its designated purpose.

Combine reagents in their appropriate order, such as adding acid to water.

Avoid adding solids to hot liquids.

All laboratory personnel should place emphasis on safety and chemical hygiene at all times.

Never leave containersof chemicals open.

All containersmust have appropriate labels. Unlabeled chemicals should never be used.

Do not taste or intentionally sniff chemicals.

Do not use mouth suction for pipetting or starting a siphon.

Wash exposed areas of the skin prior to leaving the laboratory.

Long hair and loose clothing must be pulled back and secured from entanglement or potential capture.

No contact lenses should be worn around hazardous chemicals – even when wearing safety glasses.

Laboratory safety glasses or goggles should be worn in any area where chemicals are used or stored.
They should also be worn any time there is a chance of splashes or particulates to enter the eye. Closed
toe shoes will be worn at all times in the laboratory. Perforated shoes or sandals are not appropriate.

Determine the potential hazards and appropriate safety precautions before beginning any work.

Procedures should be developed that minimize the formation and dispersion of aerosols.

If an unknown chemical is produced in the laboratory, the material should be considered hazardous.

Do not pour chemicals down drains. Do NOT utilize the sewer for chemical waste disposal.

Keep all sink traps (including cup sink traps and floor drains) filled with water by running water down the
drain at least monthly.

Do not utilize fume hoods for evaporations and disposal of volatile solvents.

Perform work with hazardous chemicalsin a properly working fume hoodto reduce potential exposures.

Avoid working alone in a building. Do not work alone in a laboratory if the procedures being conducted
are hazardous.

The PEL and the Threshold Limit Values (TLV) will be observed in all areas. If exposure above a PEL/TLV is
suspected for an ongoing process, please contact EHS immediately.

Laboratory employees should have access to a chemical inventory list, applicable SDSs, Department
Laboratory Safety Manual, and relevant SOPs.

Access to laboratories and support areas such as stockrooms, specialized laboratories, etc. should be
limited to approved personnel only.

All equipment should be regularly inspected for wear or deterioration.

Equipment should be maintained according to the manufacturer’s requirements and records of

Designated and well-marked waste storage locations are necessary.

Clothing made of synthetic fibers should not be worn while working with flammable liquids or when a
fire hazard is present as these materials tend to melt and stick to exposed skin.

Laboratory coats should not be stored in offices or break rooms as this spreads contaminates to other
areas.

Computers and instrumentation should be labeled to indicate whether gloves should be worn or not.
Inconsistent glove use around keyboards/keypads is a source of potential contamination.

Avoid wearing jewelry in the lab as this can pose multiple safety hazards.

Laboratory Specific Safety Rules

Safety rules for laboratory specific operations will be provided in appropriate laboratory SOPs.

https://ehs.okstate.edu/general-laboratory-safety-rules.html

TYPES OF HAZARDS:

A common way to classify hazards is by category:

Biological – bacteria, viruses, insects, plants, birds, animals, and humans, etc.,

Chemical – depends on the physical, chemical and toxic properties of the chemical,

Ergonomic – repetitive movements, improper set up of workstation, poor design of equipment,

Physical – Slippery floors, objects in walkways, unsafe or misused machinery, excessive noise, poor
lighting, fire. radiation, magnetic fields, pressure extremes (high pressure or vacuum), noise, etc.,

Psychological – Shift work, workload, dealing with the public, harassment, discrimination, threat of
danger, constant low-level noise, stress.stress, violence, etc.,

Safety – slipping/tripping hazards, inappropriate machine guarding, equipment malfunctions or

BIOLOGICAL HAZARD:
Wastes from hospitals and research facilities may contain disease-causing organisms that could infect
site personnel. Like chemical hazards, etiologic agents may be dispersed in the environment via water
and wind. Other biologic hazards that may be present at a hazardous waste site include poisonous
plants, insects, animals, and indigenous pathogens. Protective clothing and respiratory equipment can
help reduce the chances of exposure. Thorough washing of any exposed body parts and equipment will
help protect against infection.

Types of things you may be exposed to include:

Blood and other body fluids

Fungi/mold

Bacteria and viruses

Plants

Insect bites

Animal and bird droppings

PHYSICAL HAZARD:

Are factors within the environment that can harm the body without necessarily touching it.

Physical Hazards Include:

Radiation: including ionising, nonionizing (EMF’s, microwaves, radio waves, etc.)

High exposure to sunlight/ultraviolet rays

Temperature extremes – hot and cold

Constant loud noise

ERGONOMICS HAZARDS:

Occur when the type of work, body positions and working conditions put strain on your body. They are
the hardest to spot since you don’t always immediately notice the strain on your body or the harm that
these hazards pose. Short term exposure may result in “sore muscles” the next day or in the days
following exposure, but long-term exposure can result in serious long-term illnesses.
 Ergonomic Hazards Include:

Improperly adjusted workstations and chairs

Frequent lifting

Poor posture

Awkward movements, especially if they are repetitive

Repeating the same movements over and over

Having to use too much force, especially if you have to do it frequently

Vibration

CHEMICAL HAZARDS:

Are present when a worker is exposed to any chemical preparation in the workplace in any form (solid,
liquid or gas). Some are safer than others, but to some workers who are more sensitive to chemicals,
even common solutions can cause illness, skin irritation, or breathing problems.

Beware of:

Liquids like cleaning products, paints, acids, solvents – ESPECIALLY if chemicals are in an unlabelled
container!

Vapours and fumes that come from welding or exposure to solvents

Gases like acetylene, propane, carbon monoxide and helium

Flammable materials like gasoline, solvents, and explosive chemicals.

Pesticides

SAFETY HAZARDS:

These are the most common and will be present in most workplaces at one time or another. They
include unsafe conditions that can cause injury, illness and death.
Safety Hazards Include:

Spills on floors or tripping hazards, such as blocked aisles or cords running across the floor

Working from heights, including ladders, scaffolds, roofs, or any raised work area

Unguarded machinery and moving machinery parts; guards removed or moving parts that a worker can
accidentally touch

Electrical hazards like frayed cords, missing ground pins, improper wiring

Confined spaces

Machinery-related hazards (lockout/tag out, boiler safety, forklifts, etc

Some safety hazards are a function of the work itself. For example, heavy equipment creates an
additional hazard for workers in the vicinity of the operating equipment. Protective equipment can
impair a worker’s agility, hearing, and vision, which can result in an increased risk of an accident.
Accidents involving physical hazards can directly injure workers and can create additional hazards, for
example, increased chemical exposure due to damaged protective equipment, or danger of explosion
caused by the mixing of chemicals. Site personnel should constantly look out for potential safety
hazards, and should immediately inform their supervisors of any new hazards so that mitigate action can
be taken.

https://naspweb.com/types-of-hazards/