Laboratory Safety

The Laboratory Safety course from the American Institute of Safety Professionals provides comprehensive training on the unique hazard environment of research, clinical, educational, and industrial laboratories. Laboratories concentrate an extraordinary range of hazards in a small space: toxic and reactive chemicals, biological agents, sharps, compressed gases, cryogens, lasers, radiation, electrical equipment, and fire — all handled by personnel whose primary training is in science, not safety. OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1450 (Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories) requires a written Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) and the appointment of a Chemical Hygiene Officer.

The curriculum covers the Chemical Hygiene Plan (1910.1450 requirements), chemical hazard management (toxics, corrosives, flammables, reactives, oxidisers, water-reactives), fume hood operation and verification, laboratory PPE (safety glasses, goggles, face shields, lab coats, gloves — selection by chemical), chemical storage and compatibility, biological safety (biosafety levels awareness, BSC operation, decontamination), sharps management (needles, broken glass, scalpels), compressed gas safety, cryogen safety, fire safety in laboratories (extinguisher selection, evacuation), laboratory waste management, spill response, and laboratory emergency procedures. All training is delivered 100% online through the American Institute of Safety Professionals LMS.

Upon completing this program, participants will be able to:

• Implement the Chemical Hygiene Plan per 1910.1450: standard operating procedures for hazardous chemicals, exposure control measures, fume hood performance requirements, employee training, medical consultation criteria, and the Chemical Hygiene Officer responsibilities.
• Operate fume hoods correctly: verifying adequate face velocity (80–120 fpm depending on hood type), proper sash height, work placement inside the hood, and the practices that ensure fume hoods actually protect the user.
• Select PPE for laboratory work: safety glasses versus goggles versus face shields based on splash risk, lab coat material (cotton for fire, polyethylene for chemical splash), glove selection based on chemical compatibility (nitrile, neoprene, butyl — consulting permeation data).
• Manage chemical storage safely: compatibility groups, segregation (acids from bases, oxidisers from flammables, water-reactives isolated), quantity limits, ventilated storage cabinets, and the storage arrangement that prevents reactions.
• Manage laboratory waste: characterisation (hazardous versus non-hazardous), segregation, container selection and labelling, accumulation time limits, and the waste management that maintains compliance with RCRA and state regulations.
• Respond to laboratory emergencies: chemical spills (small versus large, neutralisation versus evacuation), fires (extinguisher selection — CO2 for electrical, dry chemical for general), personal contamination (emergency shower, eyewash — 15-minute flush), and the emergency procedures specific to laboratory settings.

Core Topics

• Chemical Hygiene Plan (1910.1450): SOPs, controls, training, medical, CHO
• Fume Hoods: face velocity, sash operation, work placement, annual verification
• Laboratory PPE: glasses/goggles/shields, lab coats, gloves by chemical
• Chemical Storage: compatibility, segregation, cabinets, quantity limits
• Biological Safety: BSL awareness, BSC operation, decontamination, waste
• Sharps: needles, glass, scalpels, sharps containers, disposal
• Compressed Gases: cylinder handling, regulator, storage, leak detection
• Cryogens: liquid nitrogen, frostbite, O2 displacement, PPE
• Fire Safety: extinguisher selection (CO2, dry chem), evacuation, flammable limits
• Waste Management: characterisation, segregation, labelling, accumulation, RCRA
• Spill Response: small (neutralise/absorb) versus large (evacuate/notify)
• Emergency Procedures: showers, eyewash (15 min), personal decontamination

• No prior training required
• No academic degree required
• All instruction in English

Upon completion, graduates receive an American Institute of Safety Professionals certificate, wallet card, and transcript. Employer-verifiable at amiosp.com/student-verifications.

• Laboratory workers in research, clinical, educational, and industrial labs
• Laboratory managers and principal investigators
• Chemical Hygiene Officers
• Laboratory technicians and assistants
• Safety officers managing laboratory safety programmes
• University and college laboratory coordinators

• Laboratory Safety — YOU ARE HERE
• Hazard Communication (chemical labelling — applies in labs)
• Respiratory Protection (RPE when engineering controls are insufficient)
• International Diploma in Advanced Industrial Hygiene