E-fact 20: Checklist for the prevention of accidents in laboratories

This e-fact focuses on safety in chemical and biological laboratories. It outlines EU legislation on laboratory safety, particularly legislation that relates to chemical and biological hazards, and pregnant and young workers. It summarises the types of hazards that laboratory workers can encounter and gives examples of serious laboratory accidents that could have been prevented had proper safety measures been taken. It concludes with a set of checklists to help workers in laboratories assess possible risks, and monitor safety processes. The checklists cover general laboratory safety; information for workers; chemical safety; biological safety; hygiene; emergency procedures; personal protective equipment (PPE); and hazardous waste.