LABORATORY SAFETY CHECKLIST
This checklist may be used to determine if your laboratory
meets basic safety practices as outlined in the UW-Parkside
Chemical Hygiene Plan. All answers should be yes or n/a.
CHEMICALS
Question
Chemicals stored yes no n/a comments:
by compatability
Containers labeled yes no n/a comments:
properly
No Chemicals stored yes no n/a comments:
on the floor
No Hazardous liquids yes no n/a comments:
stored above eye level
Storage shelves have yes no n/a comments:
lips
No Polymerized or yes no n/a comments:
unstable chemicals
Peroxidizables yes no n/a comments:
dated/tested
Bottle carriers yes no n/a comments:
available
Flam liquids in yes no n/a comments:
approved carboy
Over 10 gal Flam yes no n/a comments:
liquids stored in
safety cabinet
Flammables stored in yes no n/a comments:
approved refrigerator
or freezer
Combustibles not yes no n/a comments:
adjacent to flammables
EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT
Safety Shower within yes no n/a comments:
100 ft of hazard
Safety shower yes no n/a comments:
unobstructed
Eyewash within 100 yes no n/a comments:
feet
Eyewash flushed weekly yes no n/a comments:
Spillkit for corrosives yes no n/a comments:
available
Spillkit for solvents yes no n/a comments:
available
Spillkit for biohazards yes no n/a comments:
available
Spillkit for mercury yes no n/a comments:
available
Fire extinguisher yes no n/a comments:
unobstructed
Fire extinguisher yes no n/a comments:
inspected
within one year
Emergency lighting yes no n/a comments:
adequate
First aid kit yes no n/a comments:
available
Emergency numbers yes no n/a comments:
posted
GENERAL SAFETY
Corridors unobstructed yes no n/a comments:
Aisles more than 3 ft. yes no n/a comments:
Bunsen burners have yes no n/a comments:
proper hoses
Electrical cords not yes no n/a comments:
frayed
Electrical cords yes no n/a comments:
grounded
Electrical circuits yes no n/a comments:
not overloaded
No extension cords yes no n/a comments:
used permanently
Electrical equipment yes no n/a comments:
UL listed
Good housekeeping yes no n/a comments:
No Trip hazards yes no n/a comments:
No Wall/ceiling yes no n/a comments:
penetrations (holes)
No Food or drink yes no n/a comments:
No Open-toed shoes yes no n/a comments:
Water maintained yes no n/a comments:
in traps
Sharps container yes no n/a comments:
not overfilled
Appropriate disposal yes no n/a comments:
of biohazards
HazWaste containers yes no n/a comments:
managed properly
Accumulation Point yes no n/a comments:
Manager assigned
Appropriate disposal yes no n/a comments:
of glass/sharps
Mercury devices in yes no n/a comments:
secondary containment
INFORMATION
CHP available yes no n/a comments:
Specific SOP's yes no n/a comments:
available
Safety training yes no n/a comments:
documented
MSDS locations known yes no n/a comments:
Chemical inventory yes no n/a comments:
available
Chemical inventory yes no n/a comments:
up-to-date
Chemicals labeled yes no n/a comments:
properly
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
Correct eye protection yes no n/a comments:
worn
Appropriate gloves worn yes no n/a comments:
Nitrile/butyl rubber yes no n/a comments:
gloves for spills
Appropriate lab coat yes no n/a comments:
or apron worn
Respirator available yes no n/a comments:
Respirator training yes no n/a comments:
documented
Medical evaluation yes no n/a comments:
for respirator use
performed
Fume hood without yes no n/a comments:
obstructions
Fume hood certified yes no n/a comments:
within one year
EQUIPMENT
Vacuum pumps properly yes no n/a comments:
maintained
Vacuum pumps filtered, yes no n/a comments:
trapped, or ventilated
Auto shutoffs for yes no n/a comments:
unattended operations
Guards and interlocks yes no n/a comments:
in place
TOXIC GASES
Lecture bottles yes no n/a comments:
properly secured
Leak test performed yes no n/a comments:
routinely with gas
Toxic gas stored yes no n/a comments:
in ventilated cabinet
Toxic gas has yes no n/a comments:
detection system
Toxic gas with yes no n/a comments:
respirator program
COMPRESSED GASES/CRYOGENS
No more than one yes no n/a comments:
spare tank stored in
room
Are tanks stored yes no n/a comments:
properly
Compressed gases yes no n/a comments:
properly secured
Compressed gases yes no n/a comments:
with regulator
or cap
Leak test routinely yes no n/a comments:
performed on cylinders
Are cryogenic materials yes no n/a comments:
stored in proper
containers
Is cryogenic PPE yes no n/a comments:
available
ELECTRICAL SAFETY
Are power cords in yes no n/a comments:
good condition
Are extension cords yes no n/a comments:
used only temporarily
Are electrical outlets yes no n/a comments:
secure
Are approved space yes no n/a comments:
heaters being used
Are power strips being yes no n/a comments:
used
FIRE SAFETY
Are corridors free of yes no n/a comments:
obstructions
Floor clean and dry yes no n/a comments:
(no loose carpet or
tiles)
No holes in yes no n/a comments:
corridor walls
Doors not blocked yes no n/a comments:
Do doors self close yes no n/a comments:
and latch
Is there free access yes no n/a comments:
to fire extinguisher
Are stairwells clear yes no n/a comments:
of storage and
obstructions
Is elevator lobby yes no n/a comments:
clear of storage
and obstacles
Is the ceiling intact yes no n/a comments:
Are illuminated exit yes no n/a comments:
signs visible in
corridor
VENTILATION SYSTEMS
Are fumehoods certified yes no n/a comments:
Fumehoods not blocked yes no n/a comments:
Are fumehoods working yes no n/a comments:
properly
Does sash move freely yes no n/a comments:
Traps filled with water yes no n/a comments:
Hood alarms operational yes no n/a comments:
Are Biosafety yes no n/a comments:
cabinets certified
Are Gloveboxes yes no n/a comments:
certified
SHARPS
Are sharps containers yes no n/a comments:
available
Are sharps containers yes no n/a comments:
leakproof and
punctureproof
Are sharps containers yes no n/a comments:
properly labeled
SIGNAGE
Are the appropriate yes no n/a comments:
hazard signs on the
door
Hazard signs yes no n/a comments:
on cabinets
No smoking signs yes no n/a comments:
present
SPECIALTY LABORATORIES*
Are animals being used yes no n/a comments:
Are human/primate yes no n/a comments:
tissues being used
Is recombinant DNA yes no n/a comments:
used
Are etiological/ yes no n/a comments:
pathogenic agents
being used
Are radioactive yes no n/a comments:
materials being used
Are lasers being used yes no n/a comments:
* A "yes" answer here indicates that the laboratory must be
in compliance with additional Federal, State, and Local
regulations and policies. i.e. CDC, NRC, HSS, etc.