Laboratory Safety Inspection Checklist

Seton Hall Chemical Hygiene Program

This checklist is used to verify that the rules specified in the Chemical Hygiene Plan are being followed. This is a critical step in promoting safety and environmental stewardship. It is also a critical step in reducing the risk of injury or loss of property on the part of Students, Faculty and the University.

Follow-up inspections are conducted two weeks after the routine inspection. All deficiencies must be corrected before the follow-up inspection or a notice of violation will be issued.

DISTRIBUTION:

Intial: Lab Services, Principal Investigator, Dept. Chair, Deans Office

Follow-up: Lab Services, Principal Investigator, Dept. Chair, Deans Office

Violations: Those listed before plus the University Compliance Officer

Conducted By:

Date of Inspection:

Routine

Follow-up

Location (room # & building):

Principal Investigator/Supervisor-

SECTION I. Laboratory Work Practices

Yes

Comments

No smoking, food & beverages rules are observed.

Food and beverages are not stored in the laboratory areas, in

refrigerators or in glassware that is also used for laboratory operations.

Are refridgerators labeled as to which may contain edibles and which may not.

Pipetting is performed by mechanical means, not by mouth.

Laboratory surfaces are cleaned; disinfected or decontaminated after

work is performed.

Is training and safety assesment done before new techniques, procedures,

chemicals, or biological agents are used, to minimize risk of accidents?

Required PPE is being worn.

Are chemical containers capped and sealed when except when material is

being taken or withdrawn.

Used needles are stored in appropriate sharps containers

Syringes are needle locking..

Are shorts and open-toed shoes prohibited in lab

No recapping of needles is performed.

Hoods are not being used for storage.

SECTION II. Housekeeping

Yes

Comments

Laboratory and storage areas uncluttered and orderly (including

benchtop).

Aisles & exits are free from obstruction.

Is equipment with moving parts gaurdeed to prevent injury.

Are empty bottles and containers discarded promptly and appropriately.

Are multi-outled adapters fused?

Are ground fault interrupters used in wet areas.

Work surfaces are protected from contamination.

Electrical cords are in good condition and are UL listed.

Tools and equipment are in good repair and electrically grounded

Tops of cabinets and shelves are free from stored items.

Heavy objects are confined to lower shelves.

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

Broken glass containers are available and in use.

SECTION III. Personal Protective Equipment

Yes

Comments

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 available and in use.

Lab Coats are ONLY worn in the laboratory and are removed before

entering general use areas.

Appropriate protective clothing is available and in use when working with

radioactive materials.

Respirators are provided when necessary, and selected on the basis of

hazard present.

Respirators are used correctly. cleaned after every use and stored in a

convenient, clean and sanitary area.

SECTION IV. Hazard Communication

Yes

Comments

Is the chemical inventory complete, current and present in the lab?

Is the chemical hygiene plan available in the lab?

Are containers of solutions clearly labeled with the name of the contents.

Primary & secondary chemical containers are labeled with identity,

appropriate hazard warnings, and expiration dates for the materials inside

Signs on storage areas (e-g. Refrigerators) and laboratories are

consistent with hazards within.

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

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

SECTION V. Chemical Storage

Yes

Comments

Chemical storage refrigerators are explosion proof.

Chemicals are stored away from UV sources and sunlight.

Are incompatible materials are segregated.

Corrosives and flammables are stored below eye level.

Hazardous materials used/stored in the laboratory are limited to

small quantities,

Unnecessary, unused, or outdated materials are removed from

laboratories and chemical storage areas.

Safety carriers are available and in use while carrying chemicals

All lab carts have side-rails.

All containers are properly labeled with full Name, Date & Contents.

SECTION VI. Flammable Liquids Storage & Handling.

Yes

Comments

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

Bulk quantities of flammable liquids are stored in approved storage

cabinets.

Flammable liquid storage cabinets are properly labeled.

Flammable liquid storage cabinets close properly.

Is the total volume of flammable liquids in an unsprinklered lab

<4 gal/100 sq. ft.?

Is the total volume of flammable liquids outside of the cabinet in an

unsprinklered lab<2 gal/100 sq. ft.?

Flammabies stored on open shelves in glass or plastic containers are

within permissible quantities (limit = 2 gallons)

Safety cans used to handle small quantities of flammable liquids are

properly labeled.

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

Nothing is stored on top of flammable cabinets

SECTION VIl. Compressed Gas Cylinders

Yes

Comments

Gas cylinders are properly chained/secured.

Cylinder caps are in place when cylinders are not in use or being

moved.

Gas cylinders are transported on a cart with chains.

Gas cylinders are stored away from excessive heat.

Fuel gas cylinders are at least 20 feet away from oxygen cylinders.

Gas cylinders are properly marked as to their contents.

Empty gas cylinders are labeled "EMPTY".

Gas lines, piping, manifold, etc. are labeled with the identity of their

contents.

Hoses, tubing and regulators are in good working condition.

SECTION VIII. Waste Handling: Hazardous, Non-Hazardous & Biological

Yes

Comments

No liquid waste is disposed of in the sinks or the sewer.

Chemical waste containers are always closed except when adding waste.

Hazardous wastes are not accumulated for longer than one month in

the laboratory

Waste streams are separated as necessary: ex- Solid vs. liquid.

hazardous vs. non-hazardous, halogenated vs. non-halogenated, etc..

Waste containers compatable with the waste and are appropriately labeled

before adding any waste material.

Containers of hazardous waste are labeled properly with the date and

name of person discarding waste

Biological waste is appropriately marked with the biohazard label

Syringes and other sharp waste are disposed of into a sharps container.

Waste material is not allowed to accumulate on the floors, in corners or

under shelves/tables in laboratories

Are chemicals not allowed to evaporate in the hood.

Radioactive waste is properly marked with radiation symbol.

SECTION IX. Means of Egress and Emergency Exits

Yes

Comments

Exits are clearly marked.

Exits are free from obstruction.

All fire doors are self closing.

All fire doors are kept closed.

Fire alarms are provided.

Telephones are labeled with emergency numbers.

Emergency evacuation routes are clearly posted.

Emergency evacuation routes are posted in common hallways.

Emergency exit lights are working and clear of obstruction.

SECTION X. Safety Equipment

Yes

Comments

Safety showers and eye wash stations are located within 75'of all

laboratories.

Safety showers and eye wash stations are clearly labeled, and

these areas are clear from obstruction.

All showers and eye wash stations are clean, covers are replaced

and they in good working condition.

Are spill clean-up kits accessable?

Are emergency phone numbers posted next to all emergency phones.

Fire extinguishers are available and easily accessible.

Fire extinguishers are the appropriate type for the hazard in the

work area.

Have the fire extinguishers been pressure tested in the last 7-10 years.

Is a fire blanket available and are the personnel trained in the use of it.

Fire detection devices, smoke alarms, sprinkler systems, lighted

Exit signs are in good working condition.

First aid supplies are readily available and clearly visible.

Spill team list is clearly posted in laboratories.

SECTION XI. Other Labeling & Posting

Yes

Comments

Warning signs and labels are present whenever required (e.g.

carcinogen, mutagen) where chemicals are stored.

"No Smoking" signs are posted in prohibited areas.

"Caution- Radioactive Material" signs are posted on doors

authorized laboratories, and on refrigerators/freezers where

materials are stored.

Biohazard symbols are posted on access doors to biohazard

laboratories and animal rooms and on potentially contaminated

equipment.

SECTION XII. Annual testing and Certifications

Yes

Comments

Fire extinguishers are checked annualy. Date of last check.

Have the eyewashes and safety showers been inspected within the past year

Have the fume hoods been inspected within the past year

Have the Biological safety cabinets been checked annually. Date of last check

SECTION XII. Miscellaneous & Notes

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