Upon successful completion of this course, the delegates will be able to:

• Get certified as a “Certified Laboratory Safety Officers”
• Apply proper safety and health techniques for modern laboratory and explain the recent OSHA regulations applying to the laboratory environment.
• Explain the OSHA formaldehyde standards applicable to analytical laboratories and how to work safely with formaldehyde.
• Identify the requirements, guidelines and procedures in planning for laboratory emergencies and acquire knowledge on the various types of emergencies, alarms, warning systems, fires, explosions and chemical spills.
• Discuss how contamination occurs and how it can be prevented and carryout safe work practices
• Analyze Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), what information can be found in them and how they shall be used.
• Implement laboratory ergonomics and discuss how ergonomic problems can occur as well as how to avoid them.
• Use a system approach in handling compressed gas cylinders safely, list the different hazards of compressed gases, work safely with flammables and explosives and demonstrate how to transport and store flammables and explosives.
• Employ safe handling of laboratory glassware and emphasize how to use and maintain laboratory glassware safely.
• Describe the function, proper use and importance of laboratory hoods and explain the operations of safety showers and eye washes and when and how they shall be used
• Discuss electrical safety in the laboratory, how electricity functions and how to work with it safely.

Introduction Course

• Overview 
• Analytical Laboratories – Size & Types 
• Analytical Laboratories – Classification 
• Analytical Laboratories – Divisions 
• Safety & Safety Management

Orientation to Laboratory Safety

• Recent OSHA Regulations Applying to the Laboratory Environment 
• Material Safety Data Sheets 
• Planning Experiments 
• Personal Protective Equipment 
• Safe Handling of Glassware 
• Housekeeping 
• Ventilation Controls 
• Chemical Storage 
• Handling Compressed Gases 
• Labeling 
• Waste Disposal 
• Accidents and Emergencies 
• Safety Showers and Eye Washes

Toxic Chemicals- Flammable Chemicals

• Hazard Recognition 
• Types of Toxic Chemicals 
• Hazard Assessment 
• Risk Assessment of Carcinogens 
• Risk Control 
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health 
• Specific Precautions 
• Ignition & Propagation of a Fame Front 
• Control Measures 
• Fire Extinguishment 
• Fire Precautions

Reactive Chemicals

• Water-Sensitive Chemicals 
• Toxic Hazards From Mixtures 
• Reactive Hazards
• from Mixtures 
• Oxidizing Agents 
• Explosive Chemicals 
• General Principles for Storage 
• Hazards Arising in Chemicals Processing

Compressed Gases- Cryogens

• Acetylene 
• Air 
• Ammonia 
• Carbon Dioxide 
• Carbon Monoxide 
• Chlorine
• Hydrogen 
• Hydrogen Chloride 
• Hydrogen Sulphide 
• Liquefied Petroleum Gases
• Methane 
• Nitrogen 
• Nitrogen Oxides 
• Oxygen 
• Ozone 
• Sulphur Dioxide
• Liquid Oxygen 
• Liquid Nitrogen and Argon 
• Liquid Carbon Dioxide 
• Liquefied
• Natural Gas

Material Safety Data Sheets

• The Purpose of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS’s) 
• Sections of the MSDS
• Information Found in each Section 
• How MSDS information can Help Employees Work Safely

Planning for Laboratory Emergencies The Emergency Plan 

• Types of Emergencies 
• Alarms and Warning Systems 
• Contacting Outside Agencies 
• Evacuation 
• Fires, Explosions and Chemical Spills

Safety by Design

• Design Procedures 
• Layout 
• Storage 
• Equipment Design 
• Piping Arrangements 
• Fire Protection 
• Installation & Operation

Operating Procedures

• Commissioning 
• Operation 
• Maintenance 
• Pressure Systems 
• Emergency Procedures 
• Spillage 
• First Aid 
• Personal Protection 
• Medical Screening
• Monitoring Standards 
• Training

Preventing Contamination

• How Contamination Occurs 
• General Preventative Measures 
• Engineering Controls 
• Safe Work Practices 
• Personal Protective Equipment

Laboratory Ergonomics

• The Parts of the Body Most Susceptible to Ergonomics Problems 
• Arranging Work Areas to Minimize Muscle Stress and Strain 
• Working from “Neutral” Positions 
• The Most and Least Stressful Types of Body Movements 
• Proper Lifting Techniques 
• Effective Stretching Exercises

Flammables & Explosives

• Definitions of Flammables and Explosives (Including Flashpoint, Limits of Flammability, Ignition Temperature, etc) 
• Conditions that can Create
• Flammable/Explosive Hazards 
• The Role of Ventilation in Preventing Flammable/Explosive Hazards 
• Transporting Flammables and Explosives
• Storing Flammables and Explosives 
• Using Compressed Gases 
• Information Sources (Such as Labeling and Material Safety Data Sheets) Regarding Flammable/Explosive Hazards 
• Protections that can be Used When Working with Flammables/Explosives 
• Emergency Planning 
• Disposing of Flammables/Explosives

Safe Handling of Laboratory Glassware

• Inspecting Glassware Before Use 
• “Compatibility” Factors 
• Effects of Extreme
• Temperatures and Pressures 
• Matching Glassware to the Situation 
• Using Personal Protective Equipment 
• Storage and Handling 
• Washing and Cleanup 
• Working with Glass Tubing 
• Assembling Apparatus

Laboratory Hoods

• Why Laboratory Hoods are Needed 
• Protections Afforded by Hoods 
• Why Laboratory Hoods are Needed 
• Protections Afforded by Hoods 
• How Hoods Function Mechanically 
• Proper Use of Laboratory Hoods

Safety Showers & Eye Washes

• How Safety Showers and Eye Washes Operate 
• Precautions to Take When
• Working with Hazardous Materials 
• Exposure to Corrosive Substances
• Locating Safety Shower and Eye Wash Equipment

Electrical Safety in the Laboratory

• How Electricity Works 
• Common Electrical Hazards 
• Fuses, Circuit Breakers and Grounding 
• Using and Maintaining Equipment 
• Accidents and Emergency Procedures

This course provides an overview of all significant aspects and considerations of laboratory safety for those who are dealing with hazardous materials and chemicals in the workplace such as managers, engineers, chemists and other technical staff. This course is also suitable for health, safety and environmental (HSE) personnel.