When it comes to chemicals, establishing a safe work environment is a must. Every laboratory has its unique challenges; however there are some basic safety precautions every lab must take. Putting the following five measures in place will help you minimize chemical exposure and create a safe workspace.

1. Ensure The Work Area Has Proper Air Flow

Airflow is an essential part of establishing a safe work environment when chemicals are involved. With dangerous chemicals, it’s easy for the air quality to become quickly comprised. Ventilation is essential for minimizing exposure. Your exhaust system needs to be able to achieve at least 8-10 changeouts per hour.

It’s also a good idea to have quality exhaust hoods in the work environment. If your team works directly with chemicals, you should use exhaust hoods to maintain consistent air quality. It’s also worth equipping your exhaust hoods with a monitoring device to ensure its working correctly.

2. Make Cleaning The Environment A Priority

Keeping the workstations clean is an essential part of creating a safe area to handle chemicals. Your employees should be familiar with what’s expected of them to maintain the area as well as any liquid waste disposal techniques. Simply keeping your floors clear of debris will prevent injuries. Slip and fall injuries are the third most common cause for lost work time.

In case a spill happens, make sure your employees have the proper tools to clean the area. You also need to include a sealed receptacle for used cleanup materials. Keeping the work environment clean helps a lot of spills from occurring in the first place. Avoid storing excess chemicals, paperwork and other items around the workstations.

3. Ensure Your Inventory Is Well Organized

Staying organized has a huge impact on safety. A disorganized stockroom causes delays and mistakes with your inventory. When you’re disorganized, it’s easy to place duplicate orders and store expired chemicals by accident. It’s worth assigning 2 or 3 people to stay in charge of the stockroom.

An important part of organizing your inventory is ensuring you’re not storing incompatible chemicals with each other. Your shelves also need to be contained to avoid chemicals falling on the floor. It’s not a bad idea to have a liquid waste disposal company visit your lab every quarter to eliminate any expired or volatile chemicals.

4. Enforce Using Only High-Quality Tools

When working with dangerous chemicals, using subpar tools can be just as dangerous as the chemical itself. All it takes is a simple hairline crack in your glassware to cause a hazardous chemical spill. With proper training, your employees should know what to do if they come across any damaged equipment.

Before your employees start working, they need to examine the equipment. Your lab also needs to invest in containment trays and other safety items to contain accidents. Avoiding spills in the first place by using quality equipment will save you time and money.

5. Train Your Staff On What To Do In Case Of A Spill

Your staff needs to have a solid understanding of how to avoid exposure to hazardous chemicals in case of a spill. Your employees need to be familiar with chemical wash stations, the location of safety literature and how to use safety equipment properly. They also need training on how to read labels correctly and take the appropriate safety precautions.

It’s also worth getting your staff comfortable with the idea of working in pairs. Working with a partner minimizes mistakes and gives support in case of an emergency. Your employees should also thoroughly analyze the task before any work begins to minimize accidents.