1. Laboratory Safety Orientation (Lab. Standard 29 CFR 1910
Laboratory Safety Orientation (Lab. Standard 29 CFR ) Prepared by: Mahjoub Labyad, MIS Public Health Specialist
Environmental Health & Safety Office

2. Lab Standard US Code, Title 29 CFR 1910.1450
Occupational Exposures to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories
Enforced by OSHA
In Minnesota, by Inspectors from the Dept. of Labor and Industry (MNOSHA)

3. Lab Standard Key Components
Maintain Airborne Exposures Below Recognized Exposure Limits.
Prevent exposure through skin absorption or ingestion
Maintain fume hoods and other control devices.
Employee information and training

4. Lab Standard Key Components (Cont.)
SOP’s for certain hazardous chemicals
Required approval for extremely hazardous chemicals
Medical consultation and exam of exposed workers

5. Recognized Airborne Chemical Exposure Limits
OSHA (Legally Enforceable)
Action Level
PEL’s (Permissible Exposure Limit)
8 hr TWA
15 min STEL
Ceiling

6. Control of Airborne Chemicals
Chemical Substitution of highly toxics
Use small quantities of chemicals
Careful work procedures
Work inside fume hoods (Volatile substances)
Use of glove boxes (Highly toxic, carcinogens, or pyrophoric)
Use of PPE (Respiratory protection) As a last resort – (too many special requirements)

7. Prevention of Skin Absorption
Substitution hazardous for less hazardous chemical
Careful work procedures
Use of appropriate PPE gloves
Use of other PPE (lab coat, face & eye protection, etc)

8. Prevention of Inadvertent Ingestion
Personal hygiene (wash hands and face)
Proper use of gloves
No eating or drinking in labs
Proper labeling of all containers
Use a lab coat to protect personal clothing

9. (check out Fume hood SOP handout)
Fume Hoods Management
Checked annually by EHS Office
Maintained by Facilities Management
Magnehelic gauges
Vertical and horizontal sashes
Sash locks
Limit clutter, do not block vent openings
(check out Fume hood SOP handout)

11. SOP’s Requirements
Safety and health considerations when working withHazardous chemicals
Toxic hazard
Fire or explosion hazard
Reactivity hazard
When working with hazardous equipment
Safety precautions should be written into SOP protocol

12. Information and Training
Contents and availability of lab Safety Plan (LSP)
Signs and symptoms of exposure to chemicals
Location of MSDS file and how to access individual MSDS’s

13. Information and Training
How to detect presence or release of chemicals in lab,
Physical and health hazards of chemicals
Measure to take to protect from exposure to chemicals in the lab,
General and research specific safety procedures and SOP’s for working in the lab.

14. Additional Protection
Required when working with:
Select carcinogens, reproductive toxins, substances with high degree of acute toxicity
Provisions required:
Designated area
Containment devices (fume hood, glove box)
Procedures for safe removal of waste
Decontamination procedures

15. Medical Consultation & Examination
Required whenever:
Worker develops signs or symptoms of exposure to a hazardous chemical
Spill, leak, or explosion results in likely worker exposure
Exposure monitoring routinely above action level for an OSHA regulated substance requiring medical monitoring

16. Medical Consultation & Examination
Info to Physician
Identity of chemical (include MSDS)
Description of conditions of exposure
Signs and symptoms being experienced
Physician’ s Written Opinion
Recommendation for medical follow-up
Results of medical exam and tests
Employee informed of results of exam

17. Key Information on MSDS’s
Identification of substance & manufacturer
Physical and chemical properties
Acute and chronic health hazards including any exposure limits
Signs and symptoms of exposure
Fire, explosion, and reactivity hazards
Safety precautions when using or storing chemicals

18. Review of Specific Chemical Hazards in Laboratory
Type of Hazard
Health, Fire, Explosive, Corrosive
Chemical, Physical, Biological, Radiological
Methods of exposure & hazard control
Emergency response actions

19. Physical Hazards in Laboratories
Glassware and sharps
Tripping hazards
Pressure/vacuum generating processes
Hot processes
Electrical hazards

20. Other Hazards Biological Radioactive
Viral/bacterial agents,Mold spores
Blood products
Needles & Syringes
Radioactive
Radio-isotopes, Sealed radiation sources
X-rays
Lasers

21. Review of Laboratory Layout
Location & operation of fume hoods
Chemical storage plan/area
Location of personal protective equipment
Location & operation of emergency response equipment

22. Operation of Fume Hoods
Magnehelic gauges and how to check if hood is operating properly,
Use of vertical and horizontal hood sashes & locks,
Work 8” to 10” inside hood to contain airborne contaminants,
Do not block exhaust vents or clutter inside of hood with excess stored chemicals.

23. Chemical Storage Plan Flammable storage cabinets
Other designated flammable and combustible liquid storage
Acid storage
Oxidizer storage
Chemical waste storage
Radio-isotope stock and waste storage

24. Chemical Container Labeling
Original container labels should not be defaced,
Required label information:
Complete name of chemical s(no abbreviations)
Date of preparation
Initials of preparer
Hazard warnings, Assume dilutions have same hazards as concentrated material.

25. Personal Protective Equipment
Laboratory coats or aprons
Chemical resistant gloves
Chemical splash goggles & face shields
Disposable face masks & respirators
Ear plugs or muffs for noisy environment

26. Emergency Use Equipment
Fire Extinguisher
Eye Wash/Deluge Shower
First Aid Supplies
Chemical Spill Cleanup Supplies
Emergency Call List

27. Emergency Procedures Fire or fire alarm Chemical spill
Biological or radiological spill
Chemical exposure incident
Personal Injury

28. Fire or Fire Alarm Fire Alarm
Leave building immediately via nearest exit
Fire in lab
Remove/relocate anyone in danger,
Activate building fire alarm,
Confine/contain fire by shutting door,
Extinguish fire only if small and trained to use extinguisher, otherwise evacuate.

29. Chemical Spill Leave spill area, Alert neighbors,
Block off entrances to lab, prevent anyone from entering,
Report to EHS office at 7273
For more detailed information, consult the chemical spill response guide at

30. Radioactive Material Spill
Inform others and restrict from area,
Use GM instrument to survey self and others who may be contaminated,
Remove all contaminated clothing,
Call EHS office at 7273
Do not attempt to clean up spill, wait for EHS personnel,
Consult the Radiation protection page at for more detailed information.

31. Biohazard Material Spill
Notify all other lab workers,
Restrict access to spill area,
Remove contaminated clothing, place in autoclave bag,
Call EHS office at 7273
Consult the Biological safety page at for more detailed information.

32. Chemical Exposure Incident
Immediately flush affected area with eyewash or deluge shower,
Flush affected area for 15 minutes,
Remove clothing splashed by spill,
Relocate to fresh air and check for breathing and pulse,
Transport to emergency services with copy of MSDS for treating physician.

33. Personal Injury Administer first aid, Transport to emergency services,
Call 911 for serious injuries,
Complete “Employee Incident Report” form within 24 hours,
Supervisors must complete a “Supervisor Incident Investigation Report” within 48 hours.

34. Experiment Planning Risk Assessment
What are the potential hazards?
What could go wrong?
What will you do if it does?
How can risk be minimized?

35. Potential Hazards? Chemical exposures Acute and chronic health effects
Exposure limits, volatility, particle size
Amounts used, how handled
Process flow
Skin and eye contact hazard
Corrosive/caustic, pH, water reactive
Absorbs through skin

36. Potential Hazards (Cont.)
Physical Energy Hazards
Noise (>85 dBA)
Heat stress (physical demand, humidity, dry bulb temp, solar gain)
Cold (Wind, dampness, dry bulb temp)
Radiation hazard
Ionizing
Non-ionizing

37. Potential Hazards (Cont.)
Fire & Explosion Hazards
Flammable vs combustible liquid
Reactive with air, water, other chems
Chemical and physical properties
Flash point, vapor pressure, LEL & UEL
Boiling point

38. Potential Hazards (Cont.)
Physical Hazards
Vacuum/Pressure
Heat producing reactions
Heating elements
Electrical hazards
Tripping hazards
Lifting hazards
Pinch points
Others

39. What Could go Wrong? Fire or explosion Chemical spill Runaway reaction
Personal injury
Chemical exposure
Rad or bio exposure

40. Emergency Preparedness
Trained in use of fire extinguisher and fire emergency response procedures,
Trained in 1st aid and/or CPR,
Trained in response to chemical, biological and radiological spills
Trained in response to chemical exposure incidents.

41. Risk Minimization Micro scale experiments,
Substitution of hazardous substances,
Use of containment devices (fume hood, glovebox, designated area),
Safe work practices and procedures,
Safety SOP’s,
Trained workers,
Use of appropriate ppe.

42. Observe General Lab Safety Rules
No food or drink in labs,
No shorts or open toed shoes,
Never throw broken glass or sharps in regular trash,
Never throw any chemical down a drain,
Do not touch areas marked “radioactive”,
Never clean up or touch a puddle on floor unless it is obviously water.

43. General Lab Safety Rules
Do not touch items on lab benches or in fume hood. Ask the person who works with them to move them to a safe location,
Always read and observe signs/labels
“Danger-high voltage”, “poison”, “flammable”, “oxidizer”, “corrosive”, “Radioactive”.

44. General Lab Safety Rules
If an item is knocked over or there seems to be a problem with materials or equipment (noise, smell, heat, odd odor, etc) report it to your supervisor, Lab Safety Officer, or the EHS office. Use 911 as necessary.

45. Avoidance of Routine Exposures
Develop safe habits,
Avoid unnecessary exposure to chemicals by any route,
Do not smell or taste chemicals,
Inspect gloves and make sure they are correct polymer for the chemical being used,
Eliminate or minimize release of toxic substances into air.

46. Working Alone
Avoid working alone in labs when using hazardous chemicals or processes,
Use a buddy system or,
Notify someone in the facility if you must work alone.

47. Hazardous Waste
Follow procedures the Hazardous Waste Management website,
Label all containers appropriately, use start/end dates,
Keep all containers closed,
Properly store and separate containers,
Package by hazardous class,
Prepare and sign waste disposal form.

48. End
Please Work Safely!