The World Health Organization publishes a guide to biosafety in the lab, although it is not as well-known (or as encyclopedic) as the CDC’s version.
Category: Reference
Safety reference material and links
Safety in academic chemistry laboratories
The American Chemical Society is in the forefront of laboratory safety, and it publishes the well-respected Safety in Academic Chemistry Laboratories books. There are versions for students and faculty/administrators.
- Safety in academic chemistry laboratories: Accident prevention for college and university students
- Safety in academic chemistry laboratories: Accident prevention for faculty and administrators
Every student who handles chemicals, whether or not they are in a “chemistry” laboratory, should be familiar with the student volume, and their faculty advisors should read the complementary faculty volume.
Rockwell laser accident database
Since 1964, Rockwell International has maintained this database of laser incidents. Although reporting is voluntary, the sheer number of incidents in the database gives one pause.
One of the fastest-growing areas of laser incident is the “aircraft illuminated with laser” event. Shining lasers at aircraft is illegal in Maryland, punishable by up to 3 years in prison and a $2,500 fine. In the City of Ocean City on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, laser pointers are banned entirely.
OSHA radiation safety information
A good general introduction to radiation hazards, both ionizing and non-ionizing, can be found on OSHA’s radiation page. It contains many radiation hazard and regulation links.
OSHA laser safety information
Among its other hazard information pages, OSHA has a basic list of laser resources that may prove useful to laser users.
OSHA electrical safety information
If you are using electricity of any sort, OSHA’s electrical information page is an excellent place to start for hazard information.
OSHA Compressed gases and equipment information
OSHA maintains a page with laws, regulations, good practices, and links to further information, all covering work with compressed gases and equipment.
NIOSH pocket guide to chemical hazards
This booklet is standard-issue on every fire truck in the US. It’s a quick-reference to the hazardous properties of most of the major chemicals in commerce, and it’s very helpful as a fast way to find important information about common chemicals. It’s not as useful for the uncommon ones. Try the Safety Data Sheet instead.
Laser Institute of America
The Laser Institute of America is a very useful resource for laser users on campus. In addition to basic safety information, the LIA gives a variety of training courses, and they administer the American National Standards on laser safety.
Government agencies with lab safety information
Many government agencies have jurisdiction or interest in laboratory safety, and their websites often contain useful information.
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA: worker safety and health) - Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA: public health and the environment) - Maryland Occupational Safety and Health
(MOSH: Maryland’s representative for OSHA) - Maryland Department of the Environment
(MDE: public health & the environment; independent of EPA) - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC: biosafety) - Food and Drug Administration
(FDA: pharmaceuticals, lasers, and medical devices) - Drug Enforcement Administration
(DEA: drugs of abuse and their precursors) - Department of Homeland Security
(DHS: chemical/biological weapons and their precursors) - National Institutes of Health
(NIH: research safety, particularly recombinant/synthetic DNA) - National Institute of Occupational Safety & Health
(NIOSH: worker safety and health; part of CDC, not of NIH) - Department of Transportation
(DOT: transportation of hazardous materials–biological, chemical, or radioactive)