Lab Safety Inspection Checklist Guide

Office of Environmental Health and Safety
The University of Texas at Austin

Service Building, Suite 202
Austin, Texas 78712
(512) 471-3511; Fax: (512) 471-6918
Lab Safety Inspection Checklist Guide

Chemical Storage
1. Chemicals segregated by hazard class

¥ flammables are away from oxidizers
¥ acids and flammables are separated
¥ bases and acids are separated
¥ nitric is separated from other acids
(PP, part of Chapter 3, Section 4.E starts on p.72, pg. 104 Section 5.G.7
and NFPA 45, 7-2.3.4)
2. Chemical containers in good condition

¥ unacceptable conditions include: rusty containers including cylinders, bulging containers,
leaking containers, and broken caps
(OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1450, Appendix A, D, 2, (b))
3. Chemical containers properly labeled

¥ primary original containers need to have label on and the label must be readable
¥ lab people need to tape labels on if they are falling off or make a new label that includes
chemical name, hazards, and manufacturer (if this information is known)
¥ secondary containers that are used for storage e.g., squeeze bottles, need to be labeled
with the contents
(OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1450, (h) (1) (i) and PP, p.71-72 and NFPA 45, 10-3.1)
4. Glass chemical containers are not stored on the floor

¥ glass containers holding liquid chemicals (even water) or hazardous solid chemicals can
not be stored on the floor unless they are positioned in such a way (pushed way under a
table) that they can't get broken
5. Lab safe refrigerator used for cold flammable storage

¥ there can be no flammables stored in a refrigerator, cooler, or cold room, that is not lab
safe
(PP, p.95, Section 5.F, p. 113, Section 6.C.3, NFPA 45, A-9-2.2.2 and Lab Safety
Manual Section E.1 (c)(1))
6. Flammables storage cabinets used for flammable storage > 10 gallons

¥ any amount of flammables over 10 gallons per lab has to be in a flammables storage
cabinet
(PP, p.73 and NFPA 45, A-7-2.3)
7. Unstable chemicals are not past their expiration date

¥ check for expiration dates of chemicals listed:
° Dioxane
° Ethers
° Furans (e.g. tetrahydrofuran a.d.a. THF)
° Picric Acid
° Perchloric Acid
° Sodium Amide
8. Acids stored in acid cabinet or secondary containment

¥ acids must be stored in an acids cabinet OR in a regular cabinet or shelf but in a plastic
tub, with the cabinet labeled ÒacidsÓ
¥ nitric should be physically separated from other acids, e.g. in its own plastic tub, in a
separate cabinet, or in a separate part of the acids cabinet
(PP, p.53, p. 73, Section 4.E.2)
9. Gas cylinders properly secured

¥ all cylinders should be secured snugly with a strap or chain that is above the middle of the
cylinder (a single chain can be used to secure several cylinders as long as each cylinder is
secured on at least three sides). Exempt: lecture bottles
(PP, p.74, Section 4.E.4 and NFPA 55, 6-6 and NFPA 45, 8-2.5)
10. Gas cylinder safety caps in place

¥ all cylindersÑwithout a regulatorÑneed to have a safety cap on. Exempt: lecture bottles
(PP, p.74, Section 4.E.4 and NFPA 55, 6-4)
11. Toxic and hazardous gas cylinders properly ventilated

¥ cylindersÑif on the gas listÑneed to be in a ventilated cabinet or enclosure that is
sprinkled, if the cabinet or enclosure is present
¥ small cylinders, e.g., lecture bottlesÑif on the listÑcan be stored in a fumehood or
glovebox, but not more than 2 cylinders per hood
¥ if a gas cylinder cabinet is not available and is needed, this is recorded on the Facility
Inspection checklist
(NFPA 45, 8-2.4)
12. Fumehood sash at or below 18"

¥ the sash must be pulled down approximately one foot so that the opening is no greater
than 18"
(Chemical Fume Hood Procedure)
Ignition Sources
13. Vacuum pumps and other ignition sources are segregated from flammables/combustibles
¥ vacuum pumps and other significant sources of ignition, e.g., a Bunsen burner, can not be
stored near flammable chemicals or combustible material like paper or cardboard
14. Electrical cords are in good condition

¥ all electrical cords (that can reasonably be checked) should be in good condition, i.e., the
insulation should not be worn, split, or frayed; the plug should not be separated from the
cord; and the cord should not be pinched in a door or in any other way
Chemical Waste
15. Less than 55 gallons of chemical waste in area
¥ less than 55 gallons total for each lab, liquids and solids are both included
(RCRA)
16. Chemical waste containers properly labeled

¥ labeled to indicate that the material is waste and ALL the contents have to be indicated
¥ using the waste tag to identify it as waste without writing the word ÒwasteÓ is fine
¥ the original contents label MUST be defaced or removed
¥ the word "hazardous" can not be written on the label
¥ a list on a clipboard can be used for indicating the contents as long as it is near the waste
container and it's very clear which list goes with which container (the container itself still
needs to be labeled as "waste")
(OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1450 Appendix A, E, 1 (p) and PP, p.84, Section, 5.C.6 and
RCRA)
17. Chemical waste containers closed

¥ always kept closed if not being added to
¥ no funnels allowed (unless they are actively pouring waste in)
(PP, p.84, Section, 5.C.6 and RCRA)
Special and Biohazard Waste
18. Sharps containers properly used

¥ sharps containers should not be more than 3/4 full
¥ sharps containers should not have bottles, beakers, etc. in them unless that glassware is
INFECTIOUS
¥ sharps cannot be discarded anywhere other than sharps containers
(TDH & TNRCC, 25 TAC and 30 TAC; OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1030 (d) (4) (iii) (A) (2)
(iii))
19. Records kept for autoclaved waste

¥ a log should be kept for autoclaved bio waste (recommend standard OEHS log if it is not
being used)
¥ the log should include: date of treatment, amount of waste treated, method/conditions of
treatment, name (printed) and initials of person(s) performing treatment
(TDH & TNRCC, 25 TAC and 30 TAC)
20. Biohazard waste disposed of properly

¥ minimum autoclave parameters are 121 degrees C, 15 psi, and 30 minutes
¥ unpreserved animals must be double bagged and kept frozen until pick-up
¥ preserved animals must be separated from the preservative and be double bagged and kept
frozen until pick-up
¥ bulk blood should be given to OEHS for disposal
¥ blood contaminated non-sharp items are either autoclaved or placed into biohazard bags
and given to OEHS for disposal
¥ solid "microbiological waste" is autoclaved or chemically disinfected, labeled with an
OEHS "treated" label, secured in a black trash bag, and placed in the regular trash
¥ liquid "microbiological waste" is either autoclaved or treated with a chemical disinfectant
then drain disposed
¥ minimum autoclave parameters are 121 degrees C, 15 psi, and 30 minutes
(TDH & TNRCC, 25 TAC and 30 TAC; OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1030 (d) (4) (iii) (C))
Emergency Equipment and Egress
21. Exits and aisles clear of obstruction

¥ walkways should not be clutteredÑneed at least 3 feet of clearance in aisles
¥ up to two exits in each lab need to be free from obstructions and be usable
(OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1450 Appendix A, D, 4 (d) and PP, p.83, Section 5.C.3 and NFPA
45, 3-5)
22. Emergency equipment clear of obstruction

¥ emergency equipment, e.g., showers, eyewashes, spill supplies, and fire extinguishers
need to be unobstructed
23. Chemical spill supplies available

¥ one chemical spill kit is needed per lab group (if contiguous)
¥ if work with infectious agents is conducted, then biological spill supplies are needed
(OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1450 Appendix A, E, 1 (a) and PP, p.88, Section 5.C.11.5, p.133
Section 6.F.2.1)
Emergency Preparedness
24. Current chemical inventories posted near door

¥ a current OEHS inventory poster must be on or near the door outside of the lab
¥ if there is an inner room(s) then an inventory must also be posted on the inner door with a
copy posted at the outer door
¥ for now, there is only one OEHS inventory, in the future, new inventory forms will be
available that have the year printed on them
(PP, p.69-70, p.72, Section 4.D.6 and NFPA 45, 10-1)
25. Lab safety self evaluation performed within past year

¥ you must complete an actual evaluation form, available as Appendix II of the Lab Safety
Manual and/or PDF form at http://www.utexas.edu/business/oehs/forms/labselfeval.pdf
26. Lab personnel have attended HazCom training

¥ all required lab personnel must have attended our HazCom training or be in the process of
signing up for it
(OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1450, (h) (1) (ii) and PP. p.31 and Laboratory Training
Guide
27. Lab personnel know how to get MSDS

¥ lab personnel need to know how to get MSDS; either paper copies in the lab, our office,
or the computer
¥ regardless of the system used, MSDS must be available at all times
(OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1450, (h) (1) (ii) and PP. p.31)
28. Lab personnel have protective clothing available

¥ the clothing must be available and the lab staff must have the ability to obtain additional
clothing as needed
29. Lab personnel wear/use proper protective equipment (gloves, glasses, etc.) while in lab
¥ if working with chemicals, at a minimum, lab staff need to be wearing eye protection,
gloves, and a buttoned lab coat if shorts are worn
¥ open toed shoes, e.g., sandals, are not allowed, if working with chemicals
(OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1450 Appendix A, D, 6, (a) and E, 1, (i) and (k) and PP, p.82-84,
Section 5.C.2, p.131-133, Section 6.F.1 and OSHA 29 CFR 1910.132 (a))
8/31/98

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Office of Environmental Health and Safety

The University of Texas at Austin

Lab Safety Inspection Checklist Guide

1. Chemicals segregated by hazard class

2. Chemical containers in good condition

3. Chemical containers properly labeled

4. Glass chemical containers are not stored on the floor

5. Lab safe refrigerator used for cold flammable storage

6. Flammables storage cabinets used for flammable storage > 10 gallons

7. Unstable chemicals are not past their expiration date

8. Acids stored in acid cabinet or secondary containment

9. Gas cylinders properly secured

10. Gas cylinder safety caps in place

11. Toxic and hazardous gas cylinders properly ventilated

12. Fumehood sash at or below 18"

14. Electrical cords are in good condition

16. Chemical waste containers properly labeled

17. Chemical waste containers closed

Special and Biohazard Waste

18. Sharps containers properly used

19. Records kept for autoclaved waste

20. Biohazard waste disposed of properly

Emergency Equipment and Egress

21. Exits and aisles clear of obstruction

22. Emergency equipment clear of obstruction

23. Chemical spill supplies available

24. Current chemical inventories posted near door

25. Lab safety self evaluation performed within past year

26. Lab personnel have attended HazCom training

27. Lab personnel know how to get MSDS

28. Lab personnel have protective clothing available

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