Laboratory Standard

The OSHA General Duty requires employers to provide their employees with a workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm.  The “Laboratory Standard” was created by OSHA to ensure a safe work environment in laboratories, and  to ensure the correct handling of small amounts of hazardous materials.  OSHA created this standard in 1990 and it is known as 29 CFR 1910.1450.  The laboratory standard is meant to target the relatively small amounts of hazardous chemicals used in a non-production biased.  However the standard does not apply to all laboratories.  It mainly only affects laboratories that conduct research and development.  For example, the standard does not pertain to laboratories that perform tasks like quality assurance.  These labs usually are conducting repetitive procedures to ensure product reliability.  The standard aims to ensure workers know the danger of the hazardous materials they are working with.  The standard makes sure that worker exposure to chemicals being handled or used does not exceed existing OEL’s/PEL’s.   Laboratories under this standard are required to have a Chemical Hygiene Plan in existence as well.  The Chemical Hygiene Plan lists the procedures and equipment used when working in an environment were hazardous chemicals are present. 

Workers should be informed and trained when using potentially harmful substance.  Materials known to be hazardous must be identified as such.  There should also be a system of record keeping pertaining to hazardous chemical use in the lab.  When using chemicals that stand as a respiratory risk, employees must use proper respiratory protection.  All employees should also be informed on the locations of SDS (safety data sheets).  Eye protection should always be used in a laboratory.  Very unsuspecting dangers are everywhere in a lab and goggles are often removed to improve comfort.  The only way to insure constant eye protection is to always wear your eye protection.   Lab coats should also be used in a lab environment all the time.  The lab coat puts a barrier between you and a spill or any other hazard, and can prevent some adverse health risks.  Proper closed toe footwear is also a must have in the lab.  This means no flip-flops or sandals. While a lab coat and eye protection are the basic personal protective equipment(PPE) in the lab, they are not the only PPE’s that may be required.  Additional personal protective equipment may be required as well such as gloves, respirators, splash shields, etc.   Different types of labs will require different types of safety equipment, and will have different was to use them.  This is why it is so important for employees to be educated on the chemicals and equipment they are using.  Most accidents in the lab are do to lack of training or proper education.   Training must include the following.  Methods of observation used to detect the presence or release of a hazardous chemical.  Knowledge of a physical or health hazards of chemicals in the laboratory work area.  Knowledge of the measures a worker must take to prevent themselves from injury.  Useful details in the workers chemical hygiene plan.  And finally keeping up to date on retraining if need be.