What Is a Laboratory Safety Inspection?
A Laboratory Safety Inspection is a planned review of the laboratory to identify hazards, verify compliance with established safety procedures, and determine whether existing controls are adequate.
The inspection should consider both conditions and behaviors.
For example, an inspector should not simply verify that a chemical fume hood exists. The inspection should also determine whether the hood appears to be functioning properly, whether employees are using it correctly, whether its airflow is obstructed, and whether required testing and maintenance have been completed.
Likewise, finding a pair of chemical splash goggles in a cabinet does not establish that employees are adequately protected. The inspection should consider whether the correct PPE has been selected for the hazards and whether employees actually use it when required.
A good laboratory safety inspection therefore asks:
What hazards are present?
What controls should be in place?
Are those controls present and functioning?
Are employees actually following the established procedures?
Have previously identified deficiencies been corrected?
Why Are Laboratory Safety Inspections Important?
Laboratory hazards can develop gradually. Containers deteriorate. Chemicals accumulate. Labels become damaged. Equipment is moved. Fume hoods become cluttered. Emergency equipment becomes obstructed. Procedures change. New chemicals are introduced.
Without periodic review, these changes can create unsafe conditions even in laboratories that were originally well designed.
Regular laboratory inspections can help identify:
- Improper chemical storage.
- Incompatible chemicals.
- Deteriorating chemical containers.
- Inadequate chemical labels.
- Chemical fume hood problems.
- Missing or inappropriate PPE.
- Blocked emergency equipment.
- Unsafe compressed gas cylinders.
- Cryogenic hazards.
- Electrical deficiencies.
- Damaged laboratory equipment.
- Improper waste accumulation.
- Poor housekeeping.
- Inadequate employee training.
- Unsafe work practices.
- Deficiencies in laboratory safety procedures.
OSHA’s nonmandatory laboratory guidance specifically assigns the Chemical Hygiene Officer a role in conducting regular inspections and recommends formal chemical-hygiene and housekeeping inspections, including routine inspections of emergency equipment.
Is a Laboratory Safety Inspection Required by OSHA?
There is not one OSHA regulation requiring every laboratory to conduct the same standardized inspection at the same frequency.
However, laboratories may be subject to numerous OSHA requirements involving inspection, maintenance, testing, hazard assessment, employee protection, and safe operating conditions.
For laboratories covered by 29 CFR 1910.1450, OSHA requires a written Chemical Hygiene Plan that includes criteria for engineering controls, PPE, and hygiene practices. The plan must also require that chemical fume hoods and other protective equipment function properly and establish measures for ensuring their proper and adequate performance.
OSHA’s Appendix A to the Laboratory Standard is explicitly nonmandatory guidance, but it recommends regular inspections as an important part of an effective chemical hygiene program.
Inspections are therefore an effective way to help verify that required laboratory safety systems are actually being implemented and maintained.
How Often Should Laboratory Safety Inspections Be Conducted?
The appropriate laboratory safety inspection frequency depends on the laboratory’s hazards, activities, regulatory requirements, equipment, previous findings, and rate of change.
A laboratory handling highly hazardous chemicals or frequently changing experiments may need more frequent inspection than a relatively stable, lower-hazard laboratory.
Rather than relying on one inspection frequency for everything, laboratories should consider several levels of review:
Before or during use: Employees inspect their immediate work area, equipment, PPE, and chemical conditions as part of normal work.
Routine inspections: Supervisors or laboratory personnel periodically review housekeeping, storage, equipment, emergency access, waste, and work practices.
Formal laboratory safety inspections: A more comprehensive documented inspection is conducted according to the organization’s established schedule.
Specialized inspections: Fume hoods, emergency equipment, fire-protection systems, biological safety cabinets, compressed-gas systems, radiation equipment, and other specialized systems may have their own testing or inspection frequencies.
Follow-up inspections: Significant deficiencies should be reinspected to verify that corrective actions were completed.
OSHA’s Appendix A recommends regular inspections but does not prescribe one universal inspection interval for all laboratory conditions.
The frequency should therefore be based on the hazards and applicable requirements rather than choosing an arbitrary schedule and assuming it satisfies every inspection obligation.
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Who Should Conduct a Laboratory Safety Inspection?
The person conducting the inspection should understand the hazards being evaluated and be capable of recognizing unsafe conditions and practices.
Depending on the laboratory, inspections may involve:
- The Chemical Hygiene Officer.
- Laboratory managers or supervisors.
- Safety or EHS personnel.
- Laboratory employees.
- Facility or maintenance personnel.
- Biosafety personnel.
- Radiation Safety Officers.
- Laser Safety Officers.
- Industrial hygienists.
- Other qualified technical specialists.
OSHA’s nonmandatory Appendix A identifies conducting regular laboratory, preparation-room, and chemical-storage-room inspections among recommended Chemical Hygiene Officer activities. It also recommends that laboratory supervisors conduct regular chemical-hygiene and housekeeping inspections.
For complex laboratories, a team inspection can be particularly useful because no single inspector may have expertise in every chemical, biological, electrical, mechanical, radiation, or specialized hazard.
Before the Laboratory Safety Inspection
A good inspection begins before entering the laboratory.
The inspector should become familiar with the laboratory’s operations and known hazards. Depending on the scope of the inspection, useful information may include:
- The Chemical Hygiene Plan.
- Previous laboratory inspection reports.
- Outstanding corrective actions.
- Chemical inventories.
- Safety Data Sheets.
- Laboratory SOPs.
- Employee training records.
- Chemical fume hood inspection or testing records.
- Emergency-equipment inspection records.
- Equipment maintenance records.
- Previous incidents and near misses.
- Spill or exposure reports.
- Applicable permits or specialized safety requirements.
Previous findings are especially important. A recurring deficiency may indicate a weakness in the underlying safety system rather than an isolated housekeeping problem.
Talk With Laboratory Employees
Laboratory safety inspections should not consist solely of walking through the laboratory with a checklist.
Employees performing the work are an important source of information.
Ask employees questions such as:
What are the primary hazards of this procedure?
What would you do if the fume hood stopped working?
Where is the Safety Data Sheet for this chemical?
What PPE is required for this procedure?
What would you do if this chemical spilled?
Are there any safety problems with this equipment?
Are there procedures that are difficult to follow in actual practice?
Have you noticed any recurring safety concerns?
The objective is not to test or intimidate employees. It is to determine whether written procedures and actual laboratory practices match.
Observe Work Being Performed
When possible, observe normal laboratory operations.
An inspection conducted when no work is occurring can identify physical conditions, but it may miss important work-practice hazards.
Observe how employees:
- Transfer chemicals.
- Use chemical fume hoods.
- Select and wear gloves.
- Handle glassware.
- Operate laboratory equipment.
- Move compressed gas cylinders.
- Handle cryogenic liquids.
- Dispose of sharps.
- Accumulate chemical waste.
- Transport hazardous materials.
- Respond to alarms.
- Maintain clean and contaminated areas.
A laboratory can appear excellent when everything is shut down but still have unsafe operating practices.
What Should a Laboratory Safety Inspection Include?
General Laboratory Conditions
Inspect the overall laboratory first.
Look for:
- Clean and orderly work areas.
- Clear floors and walking surfaces.
- Unobstructed aisles.
- Accessible exits.
- Adequate lighting.
- Stable shelving.
- Safe material storage.
- Accessible electrical panels.
- Accessible emergency equipment.
- Appropriate laboratory signage.
- Damaged floors, ceilings, furniture, or fixtures.
- Leaks or other facility deficiencies.
Housekeeping problems can contribute to slips, trips, contamination, fire loading, blocked emergency response, and chemical-storage problems.
Chemical Inventory
Review the chemicals present in the laboratory.
Look for:
- Excessive quantities.
- Expired chemicals.
- Unneeded chemicals.
- Unknown containers.
- Deteriorating containers.
- Crystallization around caps.
- Corrosion.
- Bulging or pressurized containers.
- Time-sensitive chemicals.
- Peroxide-forming chemicals.
- Chemicals requiring special storage.
OSHA’s Appendix A recommends maintaining an accurate chemical inventory and disposing of or returning chemicals that are no longer needed.
Chemical Labeling
Inspect chemical containers for adequate identification.
Original manufacturer labels should remain legible and should not be removed or defaced. OSHA’s Laboratory Standard specifically requires employers to ensure that labels on incoming containers of hazardous chemicals are not removed or defaced.
Also review secondary containers, solutions, mixtures, samples, reaction vessels, and other laboratory containers according to the laboratory’s labeling procedures.
Pay particular attention to containers marked only with unexplained abbreviations or containers with no identification at all.
An unknown chemical is not merely a paperwork problem. It can create serious hazards during normal use, emergency response, spill cleanup, and waste disposal.
Safety Data Sheets
Determine whether employees can readily access applicable Safety Data Sheets (SDSs).
OSHA’s Laboratory Standard requires employers to maintain SDSs received with incoming hazardous chemicals and ensure that they are readily accessible to laboratory employees.
Employees should know where SDSs are located and how to obtain them during their work shift.
Chemical Storage and Compatibility
Chemical storage deserves particular attention during an inspection.
Look for:
- Acids stored with incompatible bases.
- Oxidizers stored with organic or combustible materials.
- Water-reactive chemicals near water sources.
- Cyanides or sulfides where accidental acid contact could occur.
- Flammable liquids stored improperly.
- Corrosive chemicals stored above eye level.
- Chemicals stored directly on floors.
- Chemicals stored in exit routes.
- Containers exposed to excessive heat or sunlight.
- Overloaded shelving.
- Inadequate secondary containment.
- Chemicals stored in fume hoods without justification.
OSHA’s Appendix A recommends separating chemicals according to hazard category and compatibility and keeping incompatible materials separated during transport, storage, use, and disposal.
For additional information, see Chemical Storage and Compatibility.
Chemical Fume Hood Inspection
A laboratory safety inspection should determine whether chemical fume hoods appear to be properly maintained and used.
Look for:
- Current inspection or performance information.
- Functional airflow indicators.
- Alarms.
- Appropriate sash position.
- Excessive equipment or clutter.
- Obstructed airflow.
- Chemicals unnecessarily stored in the hood.
- Employees placing their heads inside the hood during hazardous operations.
- Equipment positioned in ways that interfere with airflow.
- Evidence of corrosion or damage.
- Unusual noise or apparent ventilation problems.
OSHA requires the Chemical Hygiene Plan to ensure that fume hoods and other protective equipment function properly. Its Appendix A recommends that chemical hoods be maintained, monitored, and routinely tested for proper performance.
For additional information, see Chemical Fume Hood Safety.
Laboratory PPE
Inspect both the availability and actual use of laboratory PPE.
Consider:
- Safety glasses.
- Chemical splash goggles.
- Face shields.
- Laboratory coats.
- Chemical-resistant aprons.
- Gloves.
- Protective sleeves.
- Footwear.
- Specialized PPE.
- Respiratory protection where applicable.
The inspector should determine whether PPE is appropriate for the hazard—not merely whether PPE is present.
Glove selection deserves special attention because different glove materials provide different levels of chemical resistance. OSHA’s Appendix A specifically recommends careful glove selection based on the chemicals being used.
For additional information, see Laboratory PPE.
Emergency Eyewashes and Safety Showers
Verify that required emergency eyewashes and showers are:
- Present.
- Accessible.
- Unobstructed.
- Clearly identifiable.
- Maintained and tested according to applicable requirements and facility procedures.
- Located appropriately for the hazards.
Employees should know where the equipment is and understand that immediate flushing is critical following certain chemical exposures.
OSHA’s Appendix A recommends adequate placement of safety showers and eyewash units and regular testing of emergency equipment.
Fire and Emergency Safety
Inspect emergency preparedness, including:
- Exit routes.
- Exit doors.
- Fire extinguishers.
- Emergency alarms.
- Emergency contact information.
- Spill-control equipment.
- Evacuation information.
- Emergency shutoffs.
- Emergency lighting where applicable.
Employees should understand what to do during a fire, chemical spill, uncontrolled reaction, chemical exposure, ventilation failure, gas release, or other laboratory emergency.
Compressed Gas Cylinders
Where compressed gases are present, inspect:
- Cylinder restraints.
- Valve protection.
- Cylinder condition.
- Regulators.
- Hoses and connections.
- Gas identification.
- Storage location.
- Separation of incompatible gases where required.
- Protection from heat and physical damage.
- Cylinder carts and transport equipment.
- Flammable, oxidizing, corrosive, or toxic gas controls.
OSHA’s Appendix A specifically includes compressed gas safety among recommended CHP topics.
For additional information, see Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety.
Cryogenic Materials
Where cryogenic liquids are used, inspect:
- Cryogenic containers.
- Pressure-relief provisions.
- Transfer procedures.
- Cryogenic gloves.
- Eye and face protection.
- Ventilation.
- Oxygen-deficiency considerations.
- Oxygen monitors where required by the hazard assessment.
- Storage locations.
- Transport practices.
For additional information, see Cryogenic Safety.
Electrical Safety
Look for:
- Damaged cords.
- Damaged plugs.
- Improper extension-cord use.
- Overloaded outlets.
- Improper adapters.
- Exposed electrical components.
- Equipment near water.
- Blocked electrical panels.
- Unauthorized electrical modifications.
- Defective equipment remaining in service.
Laboratory equipment frequently combines electricity with chemicals, water, heat, vacuum, pressure, or other hazards, making apparently minor electrical deficiencies potentially significant.
Laboratory Equipment
Inspect laboratory equipment according to the types present.
This may include:
- Centrifuges.
- Autoclaves.
- Ovens.
- Hot plates.
- Heating mantles.
- Refrigerators and freezers.
- Vacuum systems.
- Pressure systems.
- Pumps.
- Mixers.
- Rotating equipment.
- Machine guarding.
- Interlocks.
- Emergency stops.
Look for damage, missing guards, unauthorized modifications, overdue maintenance, unsafe electrical connections, and evidence that employees are using equipment differently from the manufacturer’s instructions or established SOP.
Chemical and Hazardous Waste
Inspect laboratory waste for:
- Proper containers.
- Container compatibility.
- Closed containers.
- Accurate labels.
- Required dates.
- Incompatible waste segregation.
- Secondary containment.
- Container condition.
- Appropriate accumulation locations.
- Excessive accumulation.
- Unknown waste.
- Improper drain or trash disposal.
Waste areas should not become long-term storage locations for unidentified or unwanted chemicals.
Biological and Sharps Safety
Where applicable, inspect:
- Biological safety cabinets.
- Sharps containers.
- Biological waste.
- Disinfectants.
- Decontamination practices.
- Biological-material storage.
- PPE.
- Bloodborne Pathogens controls.
- Exposure-response information.
Sharps containers should be appropriately located and replaced before they become overfilled.
Security and Access
Laboratory inspections should also consider security.
Look for:
- Unauthorized access.
- Doors that do not secure properly.
- Uncontrolled keys or access cards.
- Unsecured high-hazard materials.
- Visitor-control deficiencies.
- After-hours access issues.
- Sensitive chemical, biological, radiological, or controlled materials that require additional security.
OSHA’s Appendix A identifies chemical security as part of a comprehensive chemical hygiene program.
Laboratory Safety Training
Inspection is also an opportunity to verify whether employees have received appropriate training.
OSHA requires employees covered by the Laboratory Standard to receive information and training at initial assignment to an area where hazardous chemicals are present and before assignments involving new exposure situations. Employees must also be trained on applicable details of the written Chemical Hygiene Plan.
Review:
- Initial laboratory safety training.
- Chemical-specific or procedure-specific training.
- Chemical Hygiene Plan training.
- PPE training.
- Emergency procedures.
- Equipment training.
- Specialized training.
- Refresher training established by the employer.
For additional information, see Laboratory Safety Training.
Documenting a Laboratory Safety Inspection
A formal inspection should be documented.
At a minimum, the inspection record should identify:
Laboratory or Department: ___________________________
Location: _________________________________________
Inspection Date: __________________________________
Inspector(s): _____________________________________
Laboratory Supervisor: _____________________________
Chemical Hygiene Officer: __________________________
For each deficiency, document:
Finding: What was observed?
Location: Where was it found?
Hazard: Why does it matter?
Corrective Action: What needs to be done?
Responsible Person: Who will correct it?
Target Date: When should it be completed?
Completion Date: When was it actually corrected?
Verification: Who confirmed the correction?
Photographs can be useful for documenting physical conditions, particularly when the person responsible for correction was not present during the inspection.
Classifying Laboratory Safety Findings
Not every inspection finding presents the same level of risk.
A simple classification system can help prioritize corrective actions.
Immediate / Critical: A condition capable of causing serious injury, significant exposure, fire, explosion, or another major event. Work may need to stop until the hazard is controlled.
High Priority: A significant deficiency requiring prompt correction but not necessarily immediate shutdown of the laboratory.
Routine: A deficiency that should be corrected within a reasonable established timeframe.
Observation / Improvement: A condition that may not constitute a violation or immediate hazard but provides an opportunity to improve laboratory safety.
The classification system should be simple enough that employees understand what each category means.
Corrective Actions
Finding a hazard is only the first half of an inspection program.
The laboratory should have a system for ensuring identified deficiencies are corrected.
A useful process is:
Identify → Document → Prioritize → Assign → Correct → Verify → Close
A deficiency should not be considered closed merely because someone says it has been corrected.
Significant corrective actions should be verified.
For example, if an inspection identifies a failed fume hood, closing the finding may require confirmation that the hood was repaired and its performance verified—not simply that a maintenance request was submitted.
Repeat Findings
Repeated findings deserve special attention.
Suppose three consecutive laboratory inspections identify chemical containers being stored on the floor.
Moving the containers onto shelves each time addresses the immediate condition, but it does not explain why the problem keeps returning.
The laboratory should ask:
Is there enough storage space?
Are employees ordering excessive quantities?
Is shelving inadequate?
Are storage responsibilities unclear?
Are employees trained?
Is the laboratory layout contributing to the problem?
This moves the inspection process from repeatedly correcting symptoms to improving the underlying safety system.
Root Cause Analysis
A Root Cause Analysis may be appropriate for significant incidents, recurring inspection findings, repeated control failures, or serious near misses.
For example:
Finding: Chemical waste containers are repeatedly found open.
Rather than simply closing the containers, ask why they continue to be left open.
Perhaps employees are using funnels that cannot be conveniently removed. Perhaps the waste process is poorly designed. Perhaps employees misunderstand the requirement. Perhaps appropriate closed-system waste funnels were never provided.
The corrective action should address the underlying reason whenever practical.
Follow-Up Laboratory Inspections
Significant findings should be followed until correction is verified.
Follow-up may involve:
- Reinspection.
- Photographic confirmation.
- Maintenance documentation.
- Training records.
- Equipment testing.
- Revised procedures.
- Purchase or installation of new equipment.
- Discussion with affected employees.
A corrective-action tracking system should identify open findings and prevent them from disappearing simply because the original inspection report has been filed.
Laboratory Safety Inspection vs. Laboratory Safety Checklist
A Laboratory Safety Checklist and a Laboratory Safety Inspection are related but different.
The checklist is the tool.
The inspection is the process.
A checklist provides consistency and helps prevent important subjects from being overlooked. But an effective inspector must look beyond the form.
For example, a checklist might ask:
“Are chemicals properly stored?”
An experienced inspector still needs to recognize an oxidizer stored next to an organic solvent, a peroxide former with crystallization around its cap, or a corrosive container deteriorating on a high shelf.
The checklist guides the inspection; it does not replace knowledge, observation, or professional judgment.
For a ready-to-use inspection tool, see Laboratory Safety Checklist.
Laboratory Safety Inspection Report
A written Laboratory Safety Inspection Report should provide management and laboratory personnel with a clear record of what was reviewed and what needs attention.
A useful report can contain:
- Inspection Information – Laboratory, location, date, inspector, supervisor, and inspection scope.
- Summary of Findings – A concise overview of significant observations.
- Positive Observations – Safety practices or improvements that should be maintained.
- Deficiencies – Individual findings with photographs where useful.
- Risk/Priority – The urgency assigned to each finding.
- Corrective Actions – Specific actions necessary to address each deficiency.
- Responsibility and Due Date – The person responsible and expected completion date.
- Follow-Up – Documentation that corrective actions were verified.
This makes the inspection report useful as a management tool rather than simply a record that an inspection occurred.
Building an Effective Laboratory Safety Inspection Program
The strongest inspection programs are continuous rather than isolated events.
Employees identify hazards during daily work. Supervisors perform routine reviews. Formal inspections provide a broader evaluation. Specialized equipment receives required inspection or testing. Corrective actions are tracked. Significant or recurring problems receive additional investigation.
Inspection findings can also reveal broader trends.
If several laboratories have the same chemical-labeling problem, the issue may be training or procedure-related.
If multiple fume hoods are failing, the problem may involve the ventilation maintenance program.
If emergency equipment is repeatedly obstructed, the laboratory may have inadequate storage space.
Looking at inspection results collectively can therefore help identify weaknesses that may not be apparent from any single inspection.
OSHA’s Appendix A describes chemical hygiene as a continuing program involving oversight, safe facilities, planning, training, emergency preparedness, security, and regular inspection activities.
Need a Laboratory Safety Inspection Form?
Use a comprehensive Laboratory Safety Inspection Checklist to review chemical storage, labeling, fume hoods, PPE, emergency equipment, compressed gas cylinders, cryogenic materials, laboratory equipment, electrical safety, waste management, housekeeping, employee training, and other common laboratory hazards.
The inspection form should also provide space to document deficiencies, assign corrective actions, establish completion dates, and verify that hazards were corrected.