Laboratory Safety Inspection Checklist

 

Conducted By:                                                                           Date of Inspection:_________________

                                                                                               

                                                                                               

                                                                                               

                                                                                               

 

Location (room # & building):       ____________________________

 

Principal Investigator/Supervisor: ____________________________

 

I.   Laboratory Work Practices

 

 

 

Yes/No

Comments

ü        No smoking, food & beverages rules are observed.

ü        Food and beverages are not stored in the laboratory areas, refrigerators or in glassware that is also used for laboratory operations.

Yes/No

 

ü        Pipetting is performed by mechanical means.

Yes/No

 

ü        Laboratory surfaces are cleaned; disinfected or decontaminated after work is performed.

Yes/No

 

ü        Required PPE is being worn.

Yes/No

 

ü        Used needles are stored in appropriate sharps containers

 

 

ü        Syringes are needle locking..

Yes/No

 

ü        No recapping of needles is performed.

Yes/No

 

ü        Hoods are not being used for storage.

Yes/No

 

 

II. Housekeeping

 

 

 

Yes/No

Comments

ü        Laboratory and storage areas uncluttered and orderly (including benchtop).

Yes/No

 

ü        Aisles & exits are free from obstruction.

Yes/No

 

ü        Work surfaces are protected from contamination.

Yes/No

 

ü        Electrical cords are in good condition and are UL listed.

Yes/No

 

ü        Tools and equipment are in good repair and electrically grounded.

Yes/No

 

ü        Tops of cabinets and shelves are free from stored items.

Yes/No

 

ü        Heavy objects are confined to lower shelves.

Yes/No

 

ü        Glassware is free from cracks, chips, sharp edges and other defects.

Yes/No

 

ü        Broken glass containers are available and in use.

Yes/No

 

 


III. Personal Protective Equipment

 

 

 

Yes/No

Comments

ü        Protective gloves are available and matched to hazards involved.

Yes/No

 

ü        Eye protection is available and in use in all laboratories.

Yes/No

 

ü        Lab coats, tyvek garments etc. are available and in use.

Yes/No

 

ü        Lab coats are only worn in the laboratory and are removed before entering offices, lunchrooms, rest rooms, conference rooms and other non-laboratory general use areas. (This includes disposable protective clothing).

Yes/No

 

ü        Dirty lab coats/uniforms are stored in a covered container until removed for laundering.

Yes/No

 

ü        Appropriate protective clothing is available and in use when working with radioactive materials.

Yes/No

 

ü        Respirators are provided when necessary, and selected on the basis of hazard present.

Yes/No

 

ü        Respirators are used correctly, cleaned after every use and stored in a convenient, clean and sanitary area.

Yes/No

 

 

IV. Hazard Communication

 

 

 

Yes/No

Comments

ü        Primary & secondary chemical containers are labeled with identity, appropriate hazard warnings, and expiration dates.

Yes/No

 

ü        Signs on storage areas (e.g. Refrigerators) and laboratories are consistent with hazards within.

Yes/No

 

ü        MSDS binders are available for chemicals used and stored in area.

Yes/No

 

ü        Employees know the location of the MSDS binders for their work area.

Yes/No

 

ü        Satellite MSDS collections are complete and readily available at all times to labs.

Yes/No

 

 

V. Chemical Storage

 

 

 

Yes/No

Comments

ü       Incompatible materials are segregated.

Yes/No

 

ü        Corrosives and flammables are stored below eye level.

Yes/No

 

ü        Hazardous materials used/stored in the laboratory are limited to small quantities.

Yes/No

 

ü        Unnecessary, unused, or outdated materials are removed from laboratories and chemical storage areas.

Yes/No

 

ü        Safety carriers are available and in use while transporting chemicals.

Yes/No

 

ü        All lab carts have side-rails.

Yes/No

 

ü        All containers are properly labeled with: Name, Date, Contents, Lab #

Yes/No

 

 


VI. Flammable Liquids Storage & Handling

 

 

 

Yes/No

Comments

ü        Flammable liquids are stored and used away from ignition sources.

Yes/No

 

ü        Bulk quantities of flammable liquids are stored in approved storage cabinets.

Yes/No

 

ü        Flammable liquid storage cabinets are properly labeled.

Yes/No

 

ü        Flammable liquid storage cabinets close properly.

Yes/No

 

ü        Flammables stored on open shelves in glass or plastic containers are within permissible quantities (limit =           )

Yes/No

 

ü        Safety cans used to handle small quantities of flammable liquids are properly labeled.

Yes/No

 

ü        Solvent waste cans are labeled properly with: Name, Contents, Lab #.

Yes/No

 

ü        Nothing is stored on top of flammable cabinets.

Yes/No

 

 

VII. Compressed Gas Cylinders

 

 

 

Yes/No

Comments

ü        Gas cylinders are properly chained/secured.

Yes/No

 

ü        Cylinder caps are in place when cylinders are not in use or being moved.

Yes/No

 

ü        Gas cylinders are transported on a cart with chains.

Yes/No

 

ü        Gas cylinders are stored away from excessive heat.