Information on the basic level of control for safe working in laboratories
Departments must set out and implement a basic level of control for those who may be exposed to chemicals, biological agents and ionising radiation. In each laboratory where there is a risk of exposure, safety rules must be drawn up and clearly displayed for workers to see.
Although the rules should reflect the specific activities and risks, all laboratory safety rules must include the following statements:
only authorised persons may enter and/or work in the laboratory
laboratory coats must be worn
all required personal protective equipment must be worn
sensible footwear must be worn, e.g. no open sandals
eating, drinking, smoking, taking medication, mouth pipetting and applying make-up is forbidden
no storing of food or drink for human consumption is allowed
all work must be carried out in accordance with risk assessment
all waste must be disposed of in accordance with University policy
Specific safety rules for chemistry laboratories can be found in the policy document S3/01 below.
University policy on ionising radiation and biological safety outline additional controls, including the use of eye protection within containment laboratories.
Visit the Biorisk Management page to view policy S5/09 and other key documents.
Visit the Ionising Radiation page to view policy S1/12 where you will find specific laboratory rules set out in section 4.3.
