Environmental Health & Safety

Laboratory Hazard Assessments

Optimizing safety in the research or instructional setting requires an accurate assessment of hazards associated with laboratory activities and implementation of measures that effectively manage the risks posed by these hazards. The assessment and management of risk is an ongoing process and must be continually evaluated to reflect changes in the materials involved, equipment used, activities performed, scope of work and location where work is conducted. Hazard assessments must be performed for all research and instructional activities.

Before beginning a new laboratory procedure, use this guide to determine what hazard assessment or documentation is required. It covers all activity types that must be documented and maintained in your Safety Records and Resources binder.

The Principal Investigator or Laboratory Supervisor is ultimately responsible for safety in their laboratory and for making sure that hazard assessments are accurate and current, safety controls are adequate, and personnel are appropriately trained. Laboratory Hazard Assessments must be readily available to workers and should be included in lab specific training.

Laboratory staff and students should complete a hazard assessment prior to starting any new experimental procedures. Staff and students should review the hazard assessment with their supervisor and obtain approval from their supervisor for any work involving particularly hazardous substances.

EHS assists laboratories in identifying those hazards and activities that require a lab hazard assessment, and works with laboratories to characterize risks associated with their work and evaluate safety controls and risk mitigation strategies to optimize safety in the laboratory.