by Ann Withanee — November 9, 2011—Laboratory workers are subjected to occupational hazards that can range from chemical to physical, and some can be life-threatening. Over the past several years, there have been a number of laboratory incidents resulting in debilitating injuries and death that were caused by fires, explosions and faulty equipment. Within these highly specialized facilities, safety is of prime importance.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has addressed the safety issue with the publication of new educational materials for laboratory managers, providing them with guidelines to protect their workers from exposure to chemical, biological and physical hazards. The publications will help employees identify hazards and the measures to ensure safe and healthful conditions.
The new materials include the Laboratory Safety Guidance document, which describes how electrical, fire, explosions and falls, among other hazards, can be minimized or eliminated if employers use safety plans, worker training, engineering controls and personal protective equipment. New laboratory safety materials also include fact sheets, each focusing on a specific hazard related to laboratory environments. Practices and precautions to protect laboratory personnel include safety guidance for using autoclaves, use of chemical fume hoods, labeling and transferring chemicals, and latex exposure.
OSHA is collaborating with the National Academies on resources to help improve the safety of laboratory workers. OSHA used the original edition of the National Academies’ Prudent Practices in the Laboratory manual, the authoritative source on the handling of chemical hazards, as the foundation for the agency’s laboratory standard. The manual has since been revised, and the agencies are working together to update the non-mandatory appendices in OSHA’s Laboratory Standard (29 CFR 1910.1450) to assure it is consistent with the guidance given in the revised manual.
Publications on this topic and many safety and health issues can be ordered through the OSHA Publications Web page.
