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Home›Courses›Safety Training›Laboratory Safety: Emergency Response

Laboratory Safety: Emergency Response

22 minutesENSafety Training29 CFR 1910.1450 - Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories
Quick Answer

Laboratory Safety: Emergency Response is a 22-minute online course that trains laboratory personnel on emergency procedures for chemical spills, fires, biological exposures, and other laboratory-specific emergencies as required under OSHA's Laboratory Standard (29 CFR 1910.1450) and related standards. It is designed for lab technicians, researchers, and facility safety coordinators and includes a downloadable certificate of completion.

Course Overview

Laboratory environments present a concentrated mix of hazards that can escalate rapidly without proper emergency response training. Chemical spills, unexpected reactions, equipment fires, and biological exposure incidents all require immediate, practiced responses to prevent injuries from becoming fatalities. OSHA's Laboratory Standard (29 CFR 1910.1450) requires employers to develop a Chemical Hygiene Plan that includes provisions for emergency response to hazardous chemical releases. Beyond regulatory requirements, the consequences of poorly managed laboratory emergencies include contamination of research facilities, environmental damage, and significant liability for employers.

This course trains your employees on the specific emergency response procedures required in laboratory settings. Your team will learn how to assess the severity of chemical spills and determine when to respond in-house versus when to evacuate and call for outside help. The course covers proper use of emergency equipment including eyewash stations, safety showers, spill kits, and fire extinguishers, as well as evacuation procedures, exposure decontamination, and incident reporting requirements.

What You'll Learn

  • Chemical spill assessment - determining severity and choosing between cleanup and evacuation
  • Proper use of emergency eyewash stations and safety showers under ANSI Z358.1
  • Laboratory fire response - electrical fires, chemical fires, and evacuation triggers
  • Biological exposure response and decontamination procedures
  • Spill containment and cleanup procedures for acids, bases, solvents, and mercury
  • Emergency evacuation routes and assembly procedures specific to laboratory buildings
  • Incident reporting requirements under OSHA and institutional protocols
  • Emergency equipment locations, inspections, and readiness checks

Who Needs This Training

  • Laboratory technicians working with hazardous chemicals, biological agents, or radiation sources
  • Research scientists responsible for experimental setups that present spill or fire risks
  • Lab managers who coordinate emergency response plans for their facilities
  • Safety officers and Chemical Hygiene Officers designated under the OSHA Laboratory Standard
  • Maintenance and housekeeping staff who work in or near laboratory areas
  • New laboratory employees as part of their safety orientation

Regulatory Background

OSHA's Laboratory Standard (29 CFR 1910.1450) requires employers to develop and implement a Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) that provides for emergency response procedures, medical consultation, and employee training on laboratory hazards. The standard applies to all employers engaged in laboratory use of hazardous chemicals. Emergency provisions must include procedures for chemical spills, exposure incidents, and fires. Additionally, OSHA's emergency action plan requirements under 29 CFR 1910.38 apply to laboratory facilities, requiring written evacuation procedures, alarm systems, and employee training. Serious violations of the Laboratory Standard carry penalties of up to $16,550, with willful violations reaching $165,514. Employers must ensure that emergency response equipment - including eyewash stations, safety showers, spill kits, and fire extinguishers - is accessible, properly maintained, and that employees are trained on their locations and use.

Frequently Asked Questions

The OSHA Laboratory Standard (29 CFR 1910.1450) requires employers to include emergency response provisions in their Chemical Hygiene Plan. This must cover procedures for handling chemical spills and exposure incidents, medical consultation and examination when exposure occurs, and employee training on emergency procedures specific to their laboratory. The Chemical Hygiene Officer is responsible for ensuring these provisions are implemented and maintained.
Evacuation should occur when the spill involves highly toxic materials, large quantities of flammable or reactive chemicals, materials that produce dangerous fumes in unventilated areas, or any situation that exceeds the training and equipment available to laboratory personnel. Small spills of known, low-hazard materials can typically be managed with laboratory spill kits if staff are trained, equipped, and the spill is contained. When in doubt, evacuate and contact your facility's emergency response team.
ANSI Z358.1 (referenced by OSHA) requires weekly activation of plumbed eyewash stations and safety showers to verify proper operation and flush standing water from the lines. Annual comprehensive inspections should verify flow rates, water temperature, and compliance with the 10-second access requirement. Self-contained eyewash units must be maintained according to the manufacturer's instructions, including regular fluid replacement.
Under 29 CFR 1910.1450, employers must train laboratory employees at the time of initial assignment and whenever new hazards are introduced. Training must cover the contents of the Chemical Hygiene Plan, emergency procedures for spills and exposures, the location and use of emergency equipment, and how to access Safety Data Sheets. The training must be specific to the hazards present in the employee's particular laboratory.
The OSHA Laboratory Standard applies to all workplaces where employees use hazardous chemicals in a laboratory-scale setting for purposes of chemical manipulations, quality control testing, or research. The key factor is whether work involves laboratory-scale quantities with multiple chemical procedures or chemicals in use, with non-production purposes. Manufacturing process labs, pilot plants, and quality control labs performing routine production support may fall under general industry chemical standards rather than the Laboratory Standard.

Related Courses

Employers providing comprehensive laboratory safety training typically pair this course with Laboratory Safety: Electrical Safety to cover electrical hazard response in lab environments, and with Laboratory Safety: Material Safety to ensure employees understand the full spectrum of laboratory hazards before an emergency occurs.

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$24.95
per person
Volume Pricing
Team Size Price per Person
1 - 9$24.95
10 - 24$19.95
25 - 49$17.95
50 - 99$17.50
Subtotal $24.95

Certificate of completion included. Downloadable upon passing the final assessment.

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$24.95
per person