Assess the procedure, not just the room
Initial information should describe what is done and how: receipt, preparation, analysis, storage, internal transport and disposal. Occasional activities and method changes must also be identified.
One room may contain tasks with different exposures. Linking each hazard to an operation is therefore more useful than producing a generic list of “laboratory risks”. Assessment must be reviewed before substantially different conditions are introduced.
Chemical and biological agents
The chemical inventory should connect products, quantities, incompatibilities and methods of use. The safety data sheet provides information, but this must be applied to the procedure’s specific conditions and necessary measures.
Where exposure to biological agents occurs, material, activity and contact routes are considered. Not all laboratories have the same risk or need identical measures. Laboratory classification does not replace assessment of actual tasks.
Equipment and other hazard sources
Centrifuges, autoclaves, electrical equipment, gases, extreme cold or radiation may require specific controls. Opening, cleaning and maintenance operations must form part of the analysis rather than being excluded because they are infrequent.
Use requires suitable instructions, training and checks. People must also know what to do when equipment shows an anomaly. Continuing work without clarifying a fault may turn a straightforward intervention into unanticipated exposure.
Work organisation and ergonomics
Repetitive pipetting, precision work, sustained postures or material handling may require ergonomic assessment. Workstation layout should support safe work and access to equipment and materials.
Useful organisation defines responsibilities, identifies tasks requiring authorisation and establishes how changes are communicated. Cleaners, maintenance personnel and external companies need information on the risks they will encounter during their work.
Waste, incidents and emergencies
Waste arrangements should be planned when the procedure is designed. Identification, containers, storage and removal must match waste characteristics and applicable requirements.
The emergency plan must cover relevant scenarios, including chemical spills where appropriate. A single response must not be improvised for every substance or exposure: the procedure should explain when to stop activity and request specialist assistance.
Hypothetical example: changing an analytical technique
A laboratory replaces a technique and introduces a new reagent and instrument. Before starting, it reviews exposure, storage, waste, training and maintenance. It also checks how the change will affect people cleaning the area.
Control is integrated into the working procedure. OSHA guides provide useful technical references, but their legal duties are American: each laboratory must apply its own jurisdiction’s rules.
