Title Page

  • Audit Title

  • Conducted on

  • Location
  • Personnel

Administrative and Miscellaneous

  • Are laboratory safety behaviours consistent with organisational expectations?

  • Are SOPs or safe working rules specific to the laboratory developed and implemented?

  • Are risk assessment completed for all equipment?

  • Are all risk assessments on the schools WHS sharepoint or on Myosh?

  • Are staff trained or instructed on the SOPs and lab safety rules?

  • Are records kept of personnel trained or instructed, maintenance & servicing, and testing of equipment?

  • Is the signage on the laboratory door or entrance correct, adequate and up to date.

  • Have all current staff/students working in this lab undertaken the specific lab induction.

  • Are floors clean, dry, and free from slip/trip hazards?

Housekeeping

  • Is shelving stable, free of extraneous material and not too high?

  • Is the workplace free from accumulation of equipment, redundant chemicals, contaminated waste or rubbish?

  • Are chemical storage facilities in good condition?

  • Are walkways free of obstruction?

Fire

  • Are all fire extinguishers/equipment suitable, appropriately located, mounted and identified?

  • Are fire hose reels regularly checked?

  • Are all fire extinguishers regularly checked?

  • Visually, do the fire sprinklers and/or detector heads appear free from damage?

  • Are there an adequate number of trained emergency evacuation officers?

Entry and Exits

  • Are exits and corridors free from obstruction?

  • Are exit signs illuminated and clearly visible?

  • Is there an adequate number of exits?

  • Are all exit doors unlocked?

  • Is emergency lighting installed?

Environmental

  • Are users aware of waste disposal procedures of chemicals and regular collection of chemical waste?

  • Are staff trained in environmentally sound waste disposal procedures?

  • Are all waste containers appropriately labelled with Class Diamonds?

  • Is waste segregated and stored correctly bunded away from drains?

  • Is there evident that waste is not tipped down the sink? (unless approved method)

  • Are all lights working & lighting levels suitable for tasks?

  • Is ventilation adequate?

  • Are there acceptable atmospheric contamination levels (fumes, dust, vapours)?

  • Are emergency spill and clean-up kits/bins readily available, stocked properly, correct for the type of spills anticipated?

Chemical Safety

  • Are all hazardous chemicals in the lab entered into GoldFFX?

  • Are refrigerators in laboratory environments free of any foods, drinks or other human consumables?

  • Are chemical registers printed and posted from GoldFFX as appropriate?

  • Do all laboratory personnel have ready access to Safety Data Sheets through GoldFFX (or hardcopy if necessary)?

  • Are all chemicals and containers correctly labelled?

  • Are chemicals stored in compatible containers?

  • Are chemicals compatible in storage areas? (FFX can assist)

  • Are stored chemicals bunded and not near drains?

  • Is WHS12 completed for all laboratory processes involving hazardous chemicals?

  • Is the area free of any leakage of hazardous chemicals?

  • Is storage of chemicals in fume cupboards avoided?

Flammable liquids

  • Are solvents stored in appropriate containers?

  • Are solvents separated from corrosives?

  • Are appropriate warning signs on small quantities cabinet?

  • Are flammables in small quantities stored in a flammables cabinet?

  • Are dry powder fire extinguishers accessible?

  • Are flammables, if kept in refrigeration, only stored in suitable purpose-built laboratory fridges or freezers (not in domestic fridges)?

Compressed Gas Cyclinders

  • Gas name/label on shoulder of each cylinder clearly legible?

  • Are fuel cylinders separated from oxidising cylinders?

  • Are cylinders secured by brackets or chains?

  • Are empty cylinders separate from full cylinders & clearly identified?

  • Are acetylene cylinders that are not in use stored outside of building?

  • Are all gas cylinders stored in a well ventilated area?

  • Are cylinder valves closed when not in use?

  • Does testing for gas leaks occur?

Fume Cupboards

  • Are electrical services located outside of chamber?

  • Are emergency isolators accessible for electrical & gas and are they clearly marked?

  • Are there warning signs indicating a maximum of 2.5 litres of flammable liquid in chamber at any given time?

  • Are fume scrubbers installed where appropriate?

  • Are fire sprinklers/thermal detector heads fitted where applicable?

  • Are fire extinguishers located within 4 metres of fume cupboard?

  • Are the fume cupboards regularly tested by FMU, including for a face velocity of 0.5 metres per second?

  • Are fume cupboards and surrounds kept tidy with no disturbances to airflow?

Electrical Installations

  • Are power leads in good condition, no trip hazards?

  • Is in-service inspection, testing & tagging of portable electrical equipment done in accordance with the procedure for Electrical Equipment Inspection and Testing?

  • Are adequate power points available & unobstructed?

  • Are switches & power points in good condition (no cracks, loose face plates)?

  • Are double adaptors or piggy back adaptors avoided?

  • Are circuit breakers & main isolators clearly marked?

  • Is excessive use of extension cords avoided?

  • Is temporary wiring avoided?

  • Have electrical ignition sources been controlled in flammable environments (eg intrinsically safe fittings/equipment)?

  • Are excessive power boards being avoided?

  • Is an appropriate fire extinguisher i.e., CO2 or dry powder available adjacent to any electrical switchboard?

Machinery and Equipment

  • Are operating instructions/safety signs adequate & clear?

  • Are safety glasses areas clearly sign posted?

  • Are emergency stop switches accessible, red in colour?

  • Do interlocks on machine guards operate, with regular testing?

  • Are moving parts, belt drives, shafts, fans appropriately guarded?

  • Are machines & equipment free from obstruction?

  • Is there adequate distance between machines & equipment?

Personal Protective Equipment PPE

  • Is the correct PPE readily available when required?

  • Have staff been trained or instructed in correct use, maintenance and storage of PPE?

  • Is PPE stored and maintained correctly?

First Aid

  • Are there trained first aid personnel?

  • Are there first aid kits available and adequately stocked for the types of hazards and level of risk ie chemical burns?

  • Are first aid personnel identifiable?

Emergency Procedures

  • Has an evacuation drill taken place in the last 12 months?

  • Have emergency procedures been established for specific hazardous circumstances including spills?

  • Are there suitable spill kits available, stocked and identifiable relevant to the area? ie Laboratory Spill Kit, 240L Wheelie Bin

  • Are staff adequately trained to deal with minor spills?

  • Are staff aware of response procedures for minor and major spills?

  • Are emergency plans and contact numbers displayed?

  • Are regular evacuation drills carried out?

  • Are emergency manifests established for the area and available in an accessible area to emergency staff?

The templates available in our Public Library have been created by our customers and employees to help get you started using SafetyCulture's solutions. The templates are intended to be used as hypothetical examples only and should not be used as a substitute for professional advice. You should seek your own professional advice to determine if the use of a template is permissible in your workplace or jurisdiction. You should independently determine whether the template is suitable for your circumstances.