![]() Although these chemicals are found in the lab, their use does not meet the criteria for laboratory use. ![]() The first is the Hazard Communication standard (29CFR1910.1200) that deals with requirements for employers to inform and train employees on non-laboratory use of chemicals.2 This would apply to things in the lab such as pump oil, Chromerge, or liquid nitrogen used in dewars. OSHA has developed two important standards to help mitigate these potential problems. The use of chemicals in research laboratories is inevitable, and the potential for harm or injury could be significant if they are misused or mishandled. Ignoring these can have potentially serious consequences. Other physical hazards often unnoticed are electrical, mechanical, acoustic, or thermal in nature. The most obvious are slips and falls from working in wet locations and the ergonomic hazards of lifting, pushing, pulling, and repetitive tasks. The final category contains the physical hazards associated with research facilities. Allergens, ubiquitous in animal research facilities, are one of the most important health hazards, yet they are frequently overlooked. Potential exposures to chemical hazards can occur both during use and with poor storage.īiological hazards include potential exposures to allergens, infectious zoonotics (animal diseases transmissible to humans), and experimental agents such as viral vectors. ![]() Cleaning agents and disinfectants, drugs, anesthetic gases, solvents, paints, and compressed gases are examples of chemical hazards. Most hazards encountered fall into three main categories: chemical, biological, or physical. Different types of hazardsĪn important first step in protecting worker health and safety is recognizing workplace hazards. In addition, there is a “general duty clause” (Section 5(a)(1) that covers all other recognized hazards for which specific standards may not exist, such as ergonomics and exposures to anesthetic gases or experimental drugs.īy subscribing, you agree to receive email related to Lab Manager content and products. Most notable is 29CFR1910.1450, “Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories,” also known as the OSHA Lab Standard.1 Other standards include hazard communication, respiratory protection, and electrical and fire safety. OSHA tells employers that we must provide a workplace “free from recognized hazards.” There are many specific OSHA standards that may apply to research laboratories. Our hope is that one or more topics might strike a nerve and motivate you to dig deeper to ensure a safe work environment. We present an overview of the most common hazards encountered in typical research labs. This Safety Guys column will assist your navigation of the health and safety maze. Understanding the required Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) programs and recognizing hazards will help you to identify and minimize many of the common safety and health hazards associated with running a research laboratory. In all the hustle of loading the autosampler, pipetting, pouring, and mixing for research experiments, worker health and safety can be overlooked, inadvertently pushed aside or forgotten-sometimes with dire consequences. ![]() We know that running a research lab is a challenge, to say the least. ![]()
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