Laboratory Inspections

In the Department of Chemical Engineering, we have mandatory annual inspections of all laboratories in the department. The purpose of this inspection is to assess the safety program - not to correct problems in the lab. Inspection of the laboratory on a day-to-day basis is the responsibility of the laboratory user. The results of the inspections are documented, signed by the department head, and distributed throughout the department.

If a laboratory has very serious safety problems, the laboratory may be shut and locked. The department chemical hygiene officer and laboratory manager may inspect a lab at any time, and recommend corrective action. Laboratory Inspections

Lab Inspections I do a laboratory inspection every time I walk into a lab (even if it is someone else’s lab). If I find a problem in my lab, I usually take immediate corrective action. Lab inspections require skills in hazard identification. Annual lab inspections in our department use an inspection form (which changes from year to year). I consider the inspection form to be a minimum requirement for safety, and we can all do much better. It is easier to keep the lab safe on a day-to-day basis than it is to “fix it up” once a year for the annual inspection.

Hazards Identification Best done with more than one person. Requires awareness, attention to detail, and technical understanding. There is always something that can be improved! Some Usual Places to Look: Look in every cabinet and drawer. Look at chemical storage. Look at a few chemical labels. Look at MSDS library for a few chemicals. Look at general housekeeping and organization.

Hazards Identification