Chemical Safety

• Building/ Lab/ Work Area #

• Conducted on

  Date

• Prepared by

• Location
  Address

CHEMICAL STORAGE

• Is there an accurate inventory for the chemicals?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is there a system to control the purchase of chemicals?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are MSDS Sheets available for the chemicals?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are chemicals stored safely in the lab?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are chemicals clearly labelled?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are incompatible chemicals stored separately?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are high risk chemicals stored securely with restricted access?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

WASTE

• Are waste chemicals labelled as waste and stored in a suitable location until final disposal?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are facilities available for different chemical waste streams ie solid waste, liquid waste?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are bins clearly marked with their waste stream?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is there a dedicated sink for acceptable liquid waste?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are waste chemicals disposed of promptly?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are records kept of the chemicals disposed of?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

CHEMICAL USE

• Speak to the supervisor and a member of the lab/ work area

• Do personnel know where MSDS documents are kept?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Do personnel understand the hazards associated with their work, good hygiene practice etc?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Can evidence of training in the safe use of chemicals be provided?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Do personnel know what to do in an emergency ie fire, first aid, personal contamination?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Do personnel know what action to take in the event of a chemical spill?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

PPE AND SPILL KITS

• Are suitable gloves in a range of sizes freely available?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are suitable goggles and masks freely available?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are personnel wearing lab coats, gloves etc?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are chemical spill kits available with instruction on how to use them?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

FUME HOODS

• Does the Fume Hood have an in-date test sticker affixed to it?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the safe working height indicated?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are all flow meters working?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are all fume hoods clean and tidy with no evidence they are used for general storage?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are containers in the fume hood labelled with the date, owner, chemical and associated hazards?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are vents clear of obstructions?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

GASES

• Are gases / gas cylinders labelled with their content and the direction of flow if applicable?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Do regulators have in date inspection labels affixed?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is there a central gas isolation point if bench mounted gas taps are present?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are instructions displayed on the action to take if a gas is leaking?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

HAND WASH FACILITIES

• Are hand wash sinks available with a hand wash only sink sign displayed?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are sinks clean and tidy?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are paper towels and soap provided?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

GENERAL

• Are General Lab Rules displayed ie PPE, no eating, drinking?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the work area free of electrical equipment that shouldn’t be there?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are details of the local First Aider provided?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are appropriate fire extinguishers available and which have been inspected in the last year?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are fire exits / fire escape routes clear?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the area generally clean and tidy with items stored safely?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

SUMMARY

• Rate the overall safety standard of the lab/ work area

  Exceeds

  Meets

  Needs Action

• Provide any other observations

• Provide any recommendations

• Sign off

  Sign