It is a good idea to keep a basic housekeeping checklist for the laboratory to remind staff of which duties need to be taken care of on a daily basis, such as clearing and cleaning countertops, sweeping floors, and sanitising the most common touchpoints of the lab.

The condition and quality of PPE before beginning any project must be maintained, so it’s essential to stress this. Have your staff regularly check eye and face protection, gloves, footwear, and hearing conservation equipment for any wear and tear.

Handwashing sinks must be kept clean, while disinfectant soap dispensers and towels should be within easy reach. If the sink becomes clogged, then the issue must be immediately dealt with to reduce the risk of backup and contamination.

Maintain emergency eyewash and shower stations according to the given regulations and take the time to activate components in all stations several times a week to ensure proper operation. Arrange for regular station inspection by qualified technicians.

Before beginning a project, be sure to check the required equipment for their cleanliness. Upon finishing the project, equipment must be cleaned according to established standards.

It’s important to maintain an inventory of any items that require storage in refrigerators and freezers and include important information on the contents’ origin and expiration dates. Regular rotation makes inventory maintenance and timely disposal of expired items a lot easier.

A lab washer-disinfector that has hot-air drying capabilities will be able to take on routine glassware cleaning. Additionally, ensure your staff is up to speed on the different manual techniques and products for properly washing glassware items such as beakers, flasks, pipettes, and funnels.

Designate a rubbish bin for broken glass and materials with sharp edges and keep it in a location all staff can easily reach. Don’t allow the bin to reach capacity; when the bin is half-full, dispose of its contents.

Schedule regular inspections of your lab’s fire safety and sprinkler systems. First aids kits should be kept in easily reachable areas, while fire extinguishers need to be regularly checked to ensure they’re fully charged and properly stored.

 LABORATORY SAFETY SYMBOLS AND WARNINGS

 General Warning

The sign is a broad reminder that the area you’re working in is likely to contain hazards and risks and you should work accordingly.

This sign commonly occurs in labs and means that flammable materials are likely to be present.

You’ll find this sign-in area where substances are held that could prove harmful to humans if they are inhaled, ingested, or come into contact with skin.

The symbol denotes low temperature or cryogenic hazards.

Items in this area have likely been in contact with biohazardous materials and therefore run the risk of being contaminated.

materials such as bromine, chlorates, nitrates, perchloric acid, and peroxides.

Ionising radiation (in other words, radiation that has enough energy to liberate electrons from atoms or molecules and ionise them) is present.

The sign denotes the presence of laser beams.

Ultraviolet light is present.

The symbol denotes that chemicals with explosive properties are present in the area including unstable explosives that can cause dangerous chemical reactions.