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Home›Courses›Safety Training›Laboratory Safety: Material Safety

Laboratory Safety: Material Safety

23 minutesENSafety Training29 CFR 1910.1450 (OSHA Laboratory Standard), 29 CFR 1910.1200 (HAZCOM)
Quick Answer

Laboratory Safety: Material Safety is a 23-minute online course that trains laboratory personnel on the safe handling, storage, labeling, and disposal of hazardous materials in laboratory settings as required by OSHA's Laboratory Standard (29 CFR 1910.1450). It is designed for laboratory staff at all experience levels, and includes a downloadable certificate of completion.

Course Overview

Laboratories present concentrated chemical hazards that require rigorous material safety protocols. Workers may handle flammable liquids, corrosive acids, explosive compounds, and carcinogens within the same facility, often in close proximity. OSHA's Laboratory Standard (29 CFR 1910.1450) requires employers to develop a Chemical Hygiene Plan that addresses the safe handling, storage, and disposal of all hazardous materials used in their laboratory operations. Improper chemical storage, incompatible material placement, and inadequate labeling are leading contributors to laboratory incidents, including fires, explosions, and toxic exposures. Serious OSHA violations carry penalties up to $16,550 per incident.

This course prepares your laboratory team to manage hazardous materials safely from receipt through disposal. Your employees will learn proper storage techniques based on chemical compatibility, correct labeling and Safety Data Sheet requirements, safe handling procedures for flammable, corrosive, and reactive materials, and proper disposal methods that comply with OSHA and EPA regulations. The training emphasizes building a proactive safety culture where every team member understands their role in preventing material-related incidents.

What You'll Learn

  • OSHA Laboratory Standard (29 CFR 1910.1450) requirements for hazardous material management
  • Chemical compatibility and proper storage segregation to prevent dangerous reactions
  • Safe handling procedures for flammable liquids, corrosive materials, oxidizers, and reactive chemicals
  • Container labeling requirements and Safety Data Sheet access under OSHA HAZCOM and the Laboratory Standard
  • Proper disposal methods for laboratory chemical waste in compliance with EPA and OSHA requirements
  • Fire and explosion hazard prevention for flammable and combustible materials in the laboratory
  • Spill containment and cleanup procedures for different material types
  • Building a shared safety culture through comprehensive material safety training programs

Who Needs This Training

  • Research scientists and laboratory technicians who handle hazardous chemicals daily
  • Laboratory managers responsible for chemical inventory, storage, and Chemical Hygiene Plan compliance
  • Pharmaceutical and quality control laboratory staff working with regulated substances
  • Academic laboratory personnel in university chemistry, biology, and engineering programs
  • Facilities and environmental health and safety staff who oversee laboratory chemical management
  • New laboratory employees who need foundational training on material safety before handling chemicals

Regulatory Background

OSHA's Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories (29 CFR 1910.1450) requires employers to develop and carry out a written Chemical Hygiene Plan that includes standard operating procedures for handling hazardous chemicals, criteria for implementing control measures, employee training requirements, and provisions for medical consultation. The standard works in conjunction with the Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) for labeling and SDS requirements, and the Flammable Liquids standard (29 CFR 1910.106) for storage quantity limits. EPA regulations under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) govern the disposal of laboratory chemical waste. Employers must provide training at the time of initial assignment and whenever new chemical hazards are introduced. Serious violations carry penalties up to $16,550, while willful or repeated violations can reach $165,514.

Frequently Asked Questions

A Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) is a written document required by 29 CFR 1910.1450 that describes the policies, procedures, and responsibilities for protecting laboratory employees from chemical hazards. It must include standard operating procedures for handling hazardous chemicals, criteria for implementing engineering and administrative controls, fume hood and ventilation requirements, provisions for additional employee protection in high-hazard operations, training requirements, medical consultation provisions, and designation of a Chemical Hygiene Officer.
Incompatible chemicals must be segregated based on their hazard class to prevent dangerous reactions. At a minimum, acids should be separated from bases, oxidizers must be isolated from flammable and combustible materials, water-reactive chemicals need dry storage away from aqueous solutions, and peroxide-forming chemicals require dated containers and regular inspection. Storage cabinets rated for specific chemical types, secondary containment, and clear labeling are essential. Chemical compatibility charts should be posted in storage areas.
No. The Laboratory Standard (29 CFR 1910.1450) applies specifically to laboratory-scale operations where chemicals are used on a non-production basis, meaning that the primary purpose is not to produce commercial quantities of a product. Workplaces that use chemicals for production, such as manufacturing plants and industrial operations, fall under the Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) and other applicable substance-specific standards rather than the Laboratory Standard.
Under the Laboratory Standard and HAZCOM, original manufacturer containers must retain their GHS-compliant labels. Secondary containers - any vessel that is not the original shipping container - must be labeled with the chemical identity and hazard information sufficient to protect employees. Many laboratories use standardized secondary labels that include the chemical name, concentration, hazard pictograms, and the date prepared. Safety Data Sheets must be readily accessible for every hazardous chemical in the laboratory.
Laboratory waste is often generated in small, diverse quantities of many different chemicals, which creates unique disposal challenges. EPA regulations under RCRA allow eligible academic laboratories to operate under the Subpart K Laboratory Management Plan, which provides a more flexible framework than standard industrial generator requirements. Regardless of the regulatory pathway, laboratories must properly identify, characterize, label, and segregate waste; never pour chemicals down the drain unless specifically authorized; and use licensed hazardous waste disposal contractors for regulated materials.

Related Courses

Employers with laboratory operations often pair this material safety course with Laboratory Safety: Exposure Prevention and Response for fume hood operation and chemical exposure emergency procedures and Laboratory Safety: Emergency Response for comprehensive incident management training specific to laboratory environments.

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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