This topic covers OSHA’s requirements for laboratory safety.
Because laboratories differ from industrial operations, particularly in their use and handling of hazardous chemicals, OSHA has a different set of requirements for laboratories than other facilities. The most important piece of OSHA’s Occupational Exposure to Chemicals in Laboratories standard is a requirement for laboratories to produce a chemical hygiene plan that establishes standard operating procedures for handling hazardous chemicals.
Components of a chemical hygiene plan include procedures for reducing employee exposure to hazardous chemicals (e.g., engineering controls, ventilation, and use of PPE), employee training, emergency measures, provisions for medical consultation and examination of workers, requirements for approval of new lab activities, and special precautions for working with particularly hazardous substances.
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For related resources and training materials, refer to the following topics: