OSHA Standards

Laboratory safety involves everyone in the laboratory working together to recognize, identify and characterize hazards. Learning how to recognize and identify hazards starts with reading lab procedures carefully, and asking questions about information or instructions you don't understand.

Chemical Hygiene Plan

The purpose of a chemical hygiene plan is to set forth standards, procedures, equipment, personal protective equipment and carefully planned work practices for the laboratory use of chemicals in order to protect laboratory workers from the potential health hazards of the chemicals they encounter in the lab. The standards apply to all individuals working with hazardous chemicals in science and biology laboratories.

Other Standards that were implemented over the years prior to the implementation of the Laboratory Safety Standard. These Standards still apply:

Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030);

The Bloodborne Pathogens Standard purpose is to protect employees who are occupationally exposed to blood or Other Potentially Infectious Materials (OPIM), such as unfixed human tissues and certain body fluids.

Control of Hazardous Energy Standard (29 CFR 1910.147); 

This standard covers the servicing and maintenance of machines and equipment in which the unexpected energization or startup of the machines or equipment, or release of stored energy, could harm employees. This standard establishes minimum performance requirements for the control of such hazardous energy. This standard applies to the control of energy during servicing and/or maintenance of machines and equipment.

Exceptions: Normal production operations are not covered by this standard (See Subpart O of this Part). Servicing and/or maintenance which takes place during normal production operations is covered by this standard only if: An employee is required to remove or bypass a guard or other safety device; or an employee is required to place any part of his or her body into an area on a machine or piece of equipment where work is actually performed upon the material being processed (point of operation) or where an associated danger zone exists during a machine operating cycle. 

Note: Exception to paragraph (a)(2)(ii): Minor tool changes and adjustments, and other minor servicing activities, which take place during normal production operations, are not covered by this standard if they are routine, repetitive, and integral to the use of the equipment for production, provided that the work is performed using alternative measures which provide effective protection (See Subpart O of this Part).

Eye and Face Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.133);

Eye and face protective equipment is required by OSHA where there is reasonable probability of preventing injury when such equipment is used. Employers must provide a type of protector suitable for the work to be performed and employees must use the protectors. These stipulations also apply to supervisors and management personnel, and should also apply to visitors while they are in hazardous areas. 

Foot Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.136);

General requirements. The employer shall ensure that each affected employee uses protective footwear when working in areas where there is a danger of foot injuries due to falling or rolling objects, or objects piercing the sole, or when the use of protective footwear will protect the affected employee from an electrical hazard, such as a static-discharge or electric-shock hazard, that remains after the employer takes other necessary protective measures.

Hand Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.138);

General requirements. Employers shall select and require employees to use appropriate hand protection when employees' hands are exposed to hazards such as those from skin absorption of harmful substances; severe cuts or lacerations; severe abrasions; punctures; chemical burns; thermal burns; and harmful temperature extremes.

Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200);

The Hazard Communication (HazCom) standard establishes uniform requirements to make sure that the hazards of all chemicals imported into, produced, or used in U.S. workplaces are evaluated, and that this hazard information is transmitted to affected employers and exposed employees.

Hearing Conservation Program - Occupational Noise Exposure (29 CFR 1910.95);

"Hearing conservation program."

The employer shall administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program, as described in paragraphs (c) through (o) of this section, whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level (TWA) of 85 decibels measured on the A scale (slow response) or, equivalently, a dose of fifty percent. For purposes of the hearing conservation program, employee noise exposures shall be computed in accordance with appendix A and Table G-16a, and without regard to any attenuation provided by the use of personal protective equipment.

For purposes of paragraphs (c) through (n) of this section, an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels or a dose of fifty percent shall also be referred to as the action level.

Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories (29 CFR 1910.1450)

This section shall apply to all employers engaged in the laboratory use of hazardous chemicals as defined below.

Where this section applies, it shall supersede, for laboratories, the requirements of all other OSHA health standards in 29 CFR part 1910, subpart Z, except as follows:

For any OSHA health standard, only the requirement to limit employee exposure to the specific permissible exposure limit shall apply for laboratories, unless that particular standard states otherwise or unless the conditions of paragraph (a)(2)(iii) of this section apply.

Prohibition of eye and skin contact where specified by any OSHA health standard shall be observed.

Where the action level (or in the absence of an action level, the permissible exposure limit) is routinely exceeded for an OSHA regulated substance with exposure monitoring and medical surveillance requirements paragraphs (d) and (g)(1)(ii) of this section shall apply.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Standard (29 CFR 1910.132);

OSHA's PPE requirements generally apply to all employers who have employees exposed to the hazard necessitating the need for protection. Individual requirements, such as for hearing protection, vary depending on exposure.          

Respiratory Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134);

In the control of those occupational diseases caused by breathing air contaminated with harmful dusts, fogs, fumes, mists, gases, smokes, sprays, or vapors, the primary objective shall be to prevent atmospheric contamination. This shall be accomplished as far as feasible by accepted engineering control measures (for example, enclosure or confinement of the operation, general and local ventilation, and substitution of less toxic materials). When effective engineering controls are not feasible, or while they are being instituted, appropriate respirators shall be used pursuant to this section.