UWA General Laboratory Inspection Checklist

• Conducted on

  Date

• Prepared by

• Inspection Team

• Client / Site

• Location
  Address

Induction and Training

• Is there proof that new personnel are safety inducted into this area?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is there a log book for training on specific equipment?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Placarding

• Is there placarding on the entrance to the lab showing safety symbols, PPE requirements, storage precautions and hazards?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Emergency Procedures

• Are emergency numbers and procedures clearly displayed?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are appropriate fire extinguishers visible and easy to access?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Have fire extinguishers been inspected/tagged within the last 6 months?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are fire extinguishers free from obstruction?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are emergency exit stairs adequately lit?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are exit signs in place and illuminated?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are exit doors marked and clearly visible?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Can exit doors be opened from inside?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are exit corridors clear of obstructions (including outside of the building)?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are specific emergency procedures developed and displayed in the lab?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are contacts and emergency details placarded for experiments or equipment left on afterhours?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Electrical

• Are electrical items tested (not required for Non Hostile areas), tagged and in date? “Portable Appliance Testing and Tagging Guideline”.

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are all power outlets and switches in good condition (not broken) and tagged out if faulty?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are extension leads / power boards used as designed (Ensure no temporary or makeshift leads/power boards, double adaptors, piggyback plugs, overloading)?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Do power boards have overload protection and individual switched outlets?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are electrical items free from damage and unlikely to be exposed to water?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Do portable heaters have time switches and are electrical appliances in a safe working area?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are leads/cords kept clear of walkways and tucked away tidily under desks?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is combustible material stored away from electrical equipment?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are electrical ignition sources controlled in flammable environments?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is equipment free from exposure of any form of moisture or dust?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are flexible cords subject to flexing or abuse?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Have the required elements of the UWA Electrical Equipment Safety Policy ‘Hostile Environment’ been complied with?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Safe Working

• Does the lab maintain written procedures (and are all personnel trained in these): SWPs?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Does the lab maintain written procedures (and are all personnel trained in these):<br>Risk Assessments?<br>

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Does the lab maintain written procedures (and are all personnel trained in these):<br>SOPs?<br>

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Does the lab maintain written procedures (and are all personnel trained in these): Lab Safety Manual?<br>

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are all personnel aware of the UWA Laboratory Conduct Code?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are all hazards and incidents reported (through the UWA hazard/incident reporting system), investigated and actioned?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is there an out of hours system/log book in use?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Do people comply with the UWA Working in Isolation requirements?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the area tidy and well kept?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are items safely stored so they are not at risk of falling off or causing injury?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the floor free of trip hazards?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is furniture in good repair?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are filing cabinets/desk drawers closed when not in use?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Ergonomics

• Are all frequently used items within easy reach?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the work area set-up to prevent undue twisting of the neck and trunk?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is there a chair with adjustable height provided at the work bench where sitting/standing work is performed?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Can the lab worker get close to the workstation when seated?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are adjustments on all chairs functioning properly?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the seat and backrest height of the chairs adjustable?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is repetitive/sustained force and awkward posture/movement prevented?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Manual Handling

• Is there adequate space for all movements involved in the MH task: bench space for equipment?<br>

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is there adequate space for all movements involved in the MH task: leg space under bench?<br>

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are heavy/awkward/hazardous objects stored between knee and shoulder height?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Is the correct PPE made available and used by all lab personnel?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are lab personnel trained to use PPE correctly?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is PPE stored, maintained and in good condition?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are the correct gloves being used for each task?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Plant and Equipment

• Are there warning labels/safe operating instructions and procedures available?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are safety guards used on mechanical equipment where required?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the maintenance schedule for med-high risk equipment adhered to?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are maintenance records available?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Hazardous Substances and Dangerous Goods

SDS & Labels

• Are SDS easily accessible for all hazardous chemicals?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are paper copies of SDS less than 5 years old?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is UWA Safety Health and Wellbeing contacted when an SDS is not available on Chem Alert?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Does the lab have an up-to-date inventory of all its chemicals (via Chem Alert)?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are all containers labelled correctly?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Storage and Handling

• Are correct containers being used to store substances?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are Dangerous Goods stored according to class?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are flammables and corrosives stored in approved cabinets?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are chemicals stored together according to compatibility? (check with incompatibility report on Chem Alert)

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are there bunding or spill trays for the storage of liquids?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are refrigerators suitably placarded and labeled (no food, no drink)?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are the refrigerators which are being used for storing flammable materials, spark proofed?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are safe decanting procedures in place?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are Winchesters and residue containers transported using carriers?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are there procedures in place for transporting chemicals, including across University grounds?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Fume Cupboards

• Are fume cupboards tested six monthly?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are they free of clutter and kept clear when experiments aren’t being conducted?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are ‘experiments in progress’ labeled and procedures outlined for emergency preparedness?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Waste Disposal

• Are appropriate labeled segregated waste disposal containers being used (plastic, no more than 5L)?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is a glass bin being used?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is a sharps bin being used?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are people aware of hazardous waste disposal procedures: a) location of waste store b) dates of collection c) waste log procedure?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are records kept of wastes disposed of (as required)?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is there a regular clean up of wastes?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Emergency Equipment

• Are appropriate Spill kits available and regularly maintained for the lab?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is a Fire blanket accessible?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the Fire Extinguisher accessible?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the Safety Shower accessible and tested regularly?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the Eye wash hose accessible and tested regularly?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Ventilation

• Yes

  No

  N/A

Cryogens and Compressed Gases

Training

• Are lab personnel trained in all aspects of compressed gas/cryogen usage?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Use

• Is there a Safe Work Procedure followed for compressed gas/cryogens usage?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the regulator appropriate for the gas being used (e.g. stainless steel for corrosive gases, brass for non corrosive gases)?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Transport

• Are gas cylinders secured to purpose-built trolleys during transport?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are procedures in place for the transport of compressed gases/cryogens in lifts?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Storage

• Is the label clearly visible?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are cylinders secured upright to wall trolley or other permanent fixture by bracket?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are gas cylinders stored according to class (Chem Alert, stock report, storage incompatibilities)?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are empty cylinders: a) separated from full cylinders b) clearly labelled c) removed ASAP?<br>

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the storage area adequately ventilated?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are flammable (including LPGs on BBQs), explosive, toxic and asphyxiant gases stored outside?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Maintenance

• Are regulators checked regularly?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are gas lines regularly checked for: a) leaks b) wear and tear c) kinks?<br>

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Comments

• Inspector Signature

  Sign