Laboratories and Workshops
Overview
A wide range of hazards are typically found in laboratory and workshop areas. It is essential that these hazards are properly managed to ensure the ongoing safe operation of the facility.
Systems, Tools and Procedures
Hazard Information Posters
Most laboratories and workshosp are considered high-risk areas and thus should display a Hazard Information Poster at the entrance of the facility. This is to inform anyone entering the area of the hazards present and the safety precautions required to enter and work in the area safely.
Laboratory, Workshop and Chemical Stores Safety Inspection Checklist
Conducting an inspection of all laboratories and workshops at least annually is a mandatory feature of faculty/unit EHS Plans. The Laboratory, Workshop and Chemical Stores Safety Inspection Checklist is a useful resource for accomplishing this task, as it aids hazard identification, and also suggests a course of action to address most of the hazards you may find.
The EHS Plan for your Faculty or Unit lists the staff member/s allocated the responsibility for helping to co-ordinate and conduct this annual inspection.
Risk Assessment Tools and Procedure
Where there are hazards that have the potential to cause harm to health and safety in the workplace, it is a legal requirement to assess the health and safety risk arising from those hazards. This is called an EHS Risk Assessment.
An EHS Risk Assessment must be conducted on all work activities within laboratories and workshops that possess any hazards listed in this Hazard Table. Note that these are the same laboratories that will have a Hazard Information Poster.
| Hazard or source of risk | Examples |
|---|---|
| Physical | Noise, hazardous plant/equipment, lasers, ionising radiation source or apparatus, extreme temperature, compressed gases, pressure vessels, lifts/hoists/cranes, electrical equipment, lifting or moving awkward or heavy objects, repetitive or awkward movements |
| Work Environment | Outdoor work, work in confined space, work in isolation, work at a height, potentially volatile or violent clients/interviewees |
| Genetically Modified Organisms | Any dealings with GMOs, genetic manipulation |
| Pathogenic Micro-organisms | Pathogenic bacteria, parasites, fungi or viruses, human blood or bodily fluids. |
| Imported Biological Material | Imported: cell lines, culture media, laboratory animals, microorganisms, reagents of biological origin, animal serum, animal tissue extracts |
| Ionising Radiation | Radioactive substances |
| Chemical | Dangerous goods, hazardous substances, dust, fumes, vapours and gases |
| Cytotoxins | Carcinogens, mutagens, teratogens |
Laboratory/workshop supervisors can record risk assessment directly on the Online Risk Register (ORR), an application that allows actions taken on risk assessments to be followed up. It also facilitates review and modification of risk assessments whenever activities change. Alternatively, risk assessments can be documented on the form, "EHS Risk Assessment - For Facility Activities" (Word document, 102 Kb). In order to make this as easy as possible for the user, both methods lead the assessor carefully through the risk assessment process.
Hardcopies of risk assessments produced by either method must be kept easily accessible in the laboratory or workshop.
Where the risk is found to be high, a Safe Work Method Statement (Word document, 47 Kb) must also be documented.
Where dangerous goods or hazardous substances are used, a chemical risk assessment must be recorded online using the Online Chemical Inventory Database (OCID). This application takes the assessor through a stepwise process specifically for the use of chemical substances and is linked to that facility's chemical inventory.
EHS Risk Management in Facilities and Work Areas
Accreditation Programs
Persons working in high-risk facilities should be accredited. This means they are provided with the necessary information, supervision and training to conduct work safely and that a record of this is kept. The Accreditation Programs for Laboratories and Workshops page provides detail.
Chemwatch
Chemwatch is a database of chemical safety information that is accessible through a web-browser to all UTS staff and students.
Classes of Dangerous Goods
Our web page, Classes of Dangerous Goods, lists information on all Dangerous Goods classes listed in the Australian Dangerous Goods Code.
Personal Protective Equipment
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) includes gloves, lab coat, respirator, face shield and hearing protection. PPE is used to control exposure to various hazards. It is important that the correct type of PPE is selected and that the PPE is maintained in good condition.
Hazardous Waste Disposal
If your laboratory or workshop produces hazardous waste then you should be familiar with, and implement, the UTS Hazardous Waste Disposal procedures.
Related hazard guidelines
Listed below are links to pages within this website that describe in detail how to manage specific hazards in a laboratory or workshop environment.
- Microbiological Safety
- Chemical Safety
- Electrical Safety
- Plant & Equipment
- Radiation Safety
- Sharps & Needlestick Injuries
- Manual Handling
- Communicable Diseases
- Noise
External Resources
- Laboratory Safety Manual
- ISBN 1 86264 439 X
- CCH Australia Ltd.
- Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Regulation 2002
- Code of Practice for the Control of Workplace Hazardous Substances
- WorkCover Authority of NSW
- Standard for the uniform scheduling of drugs and poisons (SUSDP)
- Therapeutic Goods Administration
- Department of Health and Ageing
- Guidelines for laboratory personnel working with carcinogenic or highly toxic chemicals
- National Health and Medical Research Council. 1990.
- Australian code of practice for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes
- National Health and Medical Research Council
- 7th Ed. 2004.
- AS 2243 series of Australian Standards - Safety in laboratories
- AS 2567 Cytotoxic drug safety cabinets
- AS 1940 The storage and handling of flammable and combustible materials
- AS 2982-1997 Laboratory construction
- AS 3780 - The storage and handling of corrosive substances
- AS 2161 series of Australian Standards - Occupational protective gloves
- AS1940 Storage and handling of flammable and combustible goods
- AS 2252 series of Australian Standards - Biological safety cabinets
- AS 2647 Biologiocal Safety Cabinets - Installation and use
- AS2243.8 Safety in laboratories - Fume cupboards
- AS 2243.1 Safety in laboratories - Part 1: General for more detailed information.
- National Standard for Plant
- (PDF document, 260 Kb)
- NOHSC:1010 (1994)
- Australian Safety and Compensation Council (formerly the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission)
- National Code of Practice for the Control of Workplace Hazardous Substances
- (PDF document, 142 Kb)
- Australian Safety and Compensation Council (formerly the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission)
- NOHSC:2007 (1994)