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Home›Courses›Safety Training›Laboratory Safety: Safe Work Practices

Laboratory Safety: Safe Work Practices

21 minutesENSafety Training29 CFR 1910.1450 (Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories), 29 CFR 1910.1200 (Hazard Communication)
Quick Answer

Laboratory Safety: Safe Work Practices is a 21-minute online course that trains employees on essential laboratory safety protocols, including proper use of PPE, chemical handling procedures, and emergency response in lab environments. It is designed for laboratory workers, researchers, maintenance staff, and supervisors and includes a downloadable certificate of completion.

Course Overview

Laboratories present a unique combination of hazards that most general workplaces do not - from corrosive chemicals and biological agents to pressurized equipment and electrical systems. OSHA's General Duty Clause (Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act) requires employers to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards, and laboratories are subject to multiple overlapping standards including 29 CFR 1910.1450 (Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories) and the Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200). Violations of the Hazard Communication Standard alone accounted for 2,546 citations in OSHA's FY 2025 Top 10 Most-Cited list, with serious penalties reaching up to $16,550 per violation.

This course prepares your employees to work safely in laboratory settings by covering fundamental safe work practices. Your team will learn proper procedures for handling chemicals and equipment, the correct use of personal protective equipment specific to lab environments, how to respond to spills and emergencies, and how to maintain a clean and organized workspace that minimizes risk. The course uses real-world scenarios to reinforce practical habits your employees can apply from their first day in the lab.

What You'll Learn

  • General laboratory safety rules and housekeeping standards
  • Proper selection and use of PPE for laboratory environments, including gloves, goggles, and lab coats
  • Safe chemical handling, storage, and labeling procedures aligned with OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200)
  • Emergency response procedures for chemical spills, fires, and exposure incidents
  • Proper use and maintenance of laboratory equipment including fume hoods and eyewash stations
  • Waste disposal protocols for chemical, biological, and sharps waste
  • Recognizing and reporting unsafe conditions in the laboratory

Who Needs This Training

  • Laboratory technicians and research assistants working with chemicals or biological materials
  • Quality control and quality assurance personnel conducting routine lab testing
  • Maintenance and custodial staff who enter or clean laboratory spaces
  • Graduate students and interns assigned to laboratory work
  • Laboratory supervisors and managers responsible for enforcing safe work practices
  • New hires in any role that requires regular access to laboratory areas

Regulatory Background

Laboratory employers are subject to OSHA's Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories standard (29 CFR 1910.1450), which requires a written Chemical Hygiene Plan and employee training on the hazards of chemicals present in their work area. This standard applies to all employers engaged in the laboratory use of hazardous chemicals. In addition, the Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) requires employers to inform and train employees about chemical hazards through Safety Data Sheets, container labeling, and formal training programs. Hazard Communication ranked second on OSHA's FY 2025 Top 10 Most-Cited list with 2,546 violations. Serious violations carry penalties up to $16,550, while willful or repeated violations can reach $165,514. Employers must provide initial training when employees are first assigned to a laboratory and retraining whenever new hazards are introduced to the workplace.

Frequently Asked Questions

OSHA's Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories standard (29 CFR 1910.1450) applies specifically to laboratory settings. It requires employers to develop and implement a written Chemical Hygiene Plan that details procedures, equipment, and work practices to protect employees from chemical hazards. This standard works alongside the Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200), which requires hazard labeling, Safety Data Sheets, and employee training.
A Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) is a written program required under 29 CFR 1910.1450 for any employer where employees perform laboratory use of hazardous chemicals. The CHP must outline standard operating procedures, criteria for control measures, fume hood performance requirements, employee training provisions, medical consultation criteria, and the designation of a Chemical Hygiene Officer responsible for implementation.
Online training can satisfy the knowledge-based component of OSHA laboratory safety training requirements, including hazard recognition, chemical handling procedures, and emergency response protocols. However, employers should supplement online training with site-specific orientation covering the particular chemicals, equipment, and emergency procedures in their specific laboratory. OSHA requires that training be relevant to the actual hazards employees will encounter.
Failure to comply with OSHA laboratory safety standards can result in serious violation penalties up to $16,550 per violation as of 2025. Willful or repeated violations carry penalties up to $165,514 per violation. OSHA may also issue failure-to-abate penalties of up to $16,550 per day for each day a violation continues beyond the correction deadline. Laboratories with multiple untrained employees may face separate citations for each worker.
OSHA requires initial training before employees begin laboratory work and additional training whenever new chemical hazards or procedures are introduced to the workplace. While no fixed annual retraining interval is mandated under 29 CFR 1910.1450, many employers conduct annual refresher training as a best practice and to satisfy the Chemical Hygiene Plan's training provisions. Retraining is also required when job duties change or when new equipment is introduced.

Related Courses

Employers with laboratory operations often pair this course with Laboratory Safety: Material Safety and Laboratory Safety: Exposure Prevention and Response to provide comprehensive coverage of chemical hazard management, safe material handling, and exposure response protocols for lab personnel.

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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