Safety and Risk Management Office
Laboratory Safety Inspection Checklist
Conducted By:
Date of Inspection:
Location:
Principal
Investigator/Supervisor:
General Lab Housekeeping
A
Laboratory surfaces appear to be
cleaned; disinfected or decontaminated
after work is performed.
Laboratory and storage areas appear
uncluttered and orderly (including
benchtop)
No slip, trip or fall hazards are present
No glass containers are stored on the
floor.
Aisles and exits are free from
obstruction.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
A
Protective gloves are available and
matched to hazards involved
Eye protection is available and in use in
all laboratories
Lab coats, tyvek garments, etc. are
availalble.
PPE is not being worn outside of the lab.
Emergency Equipment
A
Eye wash and safety shower available, in
working order, covers in place, clearly
labeled, and unobstructed.
Fire extinguishers available, appropriate
for type of hazard, checked monthly, and
unobstructed.
Chemical Fume Hood (CFH) and Local
A
Exhaust Ventilation (LEV)
Certification within the last year (for CFH
and LEV)
Air foil and rear baffle unobstructed
Sash at or below minimum height. Kept
A= Acceptable/Meeting
Requirements
M=Minor Deficiency
M
S
NO
NA
Comments
M
S
NO
NA
Comments
M
S
NO
NA
Comments
NO NA
Comments
M
S
S=Significant Deficiency
NO= Not Observed
NA=Not applicable or not
required
Safety and Risk Management Office
closed when not in use.
CFH not being used as storage.
No blockage in front of CFH
Gas Cylinders
A
All cylinders are properly
chained/secured.
Cylinder caps are in place on reserve
cylinders.
Cylinders are properly marked with
contents and empty cylinders are
labeled “EMPTY”
Full and empty cylinders are stored
separately.
Chemical Storage and Hazard
A
Communication
Inventory and SDS binders are complete.
Primary and secondary chemical
containers are labeled with identity,
appropriate hazard warnings, and
expiration dates. Peroxide formers are
labeled with date opened.
Incompatible materials are segregated
properly.
No hazardous chemicals are stored
above eye level.
No chemicals are stored in the floor.
Chemical containers are kept tightly
closed.
Unnecessary, unused, or outdated
materials are removed from laboratories
and chemical storage areas.
Flammable liquid storage cabinets are
proper labeled, close properly, and have
no materials stored on top of them.
Waste Management
A
Hazardous waste containers are labeled
with contents, date, and generator name
and kept closed.
Hazardous wastes are not accumulated
for longer than 60 days in the laboratory.
Waste streams are separated as
necessary (Solid vs liquid, hazardous vs.
non-hazardous, halogenated vs. nonhalogenated, etc.)
A= Acceptable/Meeting
Requirements
M=Minor Deficiency
M
M
M
S
S
S
NO
NA
Comments
NO NA
Comments
NO
Comments
S=Significant Deficiency
NA
NO= Not Observed
NA=Not applicable or not
required
Safety and Risk Management Office
Syringes and other sharp waste is
disposed of in sharps container.
General Practice and Procedures
A M
Food for human consumption stored
outside the lab. Food products used in
the laboratory (baking soda, vinegar,
corn syrup, etc) must be labeled “Lab
Use Only”
No evidence of eating, drinking,
smoking, applying cosmetics, or mouth
pipetting.
Refrigerators, microwave oven(s), etc
labeled “Not for Food Use, Lab Use
Only.”
Proper signage – UV, Laser, Radioactive,
Biohazard, etc on door and laboratory
equipment.
Lab SOPs are present and signed off on
Fire Protection and Means of Egress
A M
Sprinkler heads are free and
unobstructed with 18 inch clear plane
below sprinkler heads.
All fire-doors are self-closing and kept
closed.
Fire pull stations are accessible and
unobstructed.
Emergency evacuation routes are posted
in common hallways.
Electrical
Yes
Equipment does not have frayed or
damaged wiring
Extension cords are not being used as
permanent wiring.
Power strips are suitable for the load
involved and are plugged directly into
the outlet (not “daisy-chained”).
Cold Room
Yes
Cold room has emergency release.
No cardboard storage
Asphyxiants and hazardous gases in
ventilated rooms only.
Special Hazards/Concerns
A= Acceptable/Meeting
Requirements
M=Minor Deficiency
S
NO
NA
Comments
S
NO
NA
Comments
No N/A
Comments
No N/A
Comments
S=Significant Deficiency
Registered w/ Safety Office
NO= Not Observed
NA=Not applicable or not
required
Y
N
Safety and Risk Management Office
Biosafety Level 2 Safety Checklist
Only complete this section for BSL-2 Laboratories
Yes No N/A
Comments
Access to laboratory: Appropriate
biohazard sign posted on laboratory door.
Information is accurate and current. Sign is
legible and not defaced.
Laboratory design: Laboratory has limited
access (locking door), non-porous
furniture, and a Handwashing sink near the
exit.
Decontamination: Decontaminate is
effective for organism(s) in use and work
surfaces decontaminated before and after
each procedure, daily, and after spills.
Waste: Double bags are used and
individually sealed. Boxes are not
overfilled (weigh <30 lbs). Boxes are
properly labeled and closed. Mixed waste
is biologically decontaminated prior to
disposal as chemical or radiological waste.
PPE: Gloves are worn when handling
infectious materials or contaminated
equipment. Hands are washed after
removing gloves, working with infectious
agent, and before leaving lab. Hand soap is
available at all times.
Biological safety cabinet (BSC):
Certification has been completed within
the last year, front grill and exhaust filters
are unobstructed, open flames not used in
cabinet. Vacuum lines have in-line filters
and disinfectant traps. Traps on floors
have secondary containment.
Practices: BSC used when potential for
creating infectious aerosols/splashes exists
(Centrifuge cups and rotors opened only in
BSC). Biosafety manual and SOP available
in the lab. Needle-locking syringes/single
use needles used with infectious agents.
Infectious materials transported outside
the lab in approved safety carriers.
A= Acceptable/Meeting
Requirements
M=Minor Deficiency
S=Significant Deficiency
NO= Not Observed
NA=Not applicable or not
required
Safety and Risk Management Office
Laser Safety Checklist
Only complete this section for laboratories that contain laser devices
Yes No N/A
Comments
SOP is kept with laser equipment and has
all authorized users and training dates
listed.
Laser (Class 3b or 4) has been registered
with the Safety Office
Protective housing is intact.
Access to laser controlled to prevent
persons from accidental exposure to laser
beams by posting/controlling entrance.
Laser controlled areas are posted with
appropriate signage.
Beam stops present at end of all beam
paths and non-combustible?
A= Acceptable/Meeting
Requirements
M=Minor Deficiency
S=Significant Deficiency
NO= Not Observed
NA=Not applicable or not
required