Resources for Laboratories
These resources are provided to help you implement safe work practices.
- ISU Laboratory Safety Manual
- General Lab Safety Inspection Checklist (PDF) - applicable to labs without biological, radiological, or lab animal work.
- Laboratory Inspection Checklists - Laboratory personnel must complete periodic self-inspections to ensure safety
- Reporting accidents, injuries, and near-misses
Hazard Assessment and Standard Operating Procedures
- Hazard Assessment How-To Video
- Hazard Assessment Template (Word Doc) Example Hazard Assessment
- PPE Assessment Form - determine PPE based on hazards
- Iowa State University PPE Policy
- Standard Operating Procedure template (Word) and SOP webpage
- Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
Safety Training
- Learn@ISU - online EH&S training
- Safety Training Curriculum for Lab Personnel (PDF) - training for lab personnel
- Laboratory Safety Training History (PDF) EXAMPLE - document personnel training history
- Site-Specific Training (PDF) - EXAMPLE document training on a specific topic
Signage
- Door sign application - Create a door sign with hazard and contact information
- Emergency Action Plan - plan for emergencies
Starting/Ending Research
- Laboratory Clean Up Checklist (PDF) - for routine laboratory cleaning
- Hazard Inventory form - for all employees potentially exposed to hazards
- General Laboratory Safety Record-keeping (PDF) - List of required records to be retained by laboratory supervisors
- Laboratory Check-in Form (PDF) - complete before starting work in a lab
- EH&S Research Support Checklist (PDF)
- Laboratory Check-out Form (PDF) - completed by researchers leaving ISU
- Laboratory Equipment Disposal Form - for removing unwanted equipment from your lab
- Laboratory Move Guidelines (PDF) - for the safe and efficient relocation of your lab
- Laboratory/research ramp-up checklist (PDF)
- Chemical Spill Kit List (PDF) - chemical spill kit contents
FactSheets and Posters
- Chemical Storage Guidelines (PDF) - basics of chemical segregation by compatibility
- Chemical Storage Poster (PDF) - visual guide to chemical segregation by compatibility
- Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety Poster (PDF) - safety guidelines for compressed gas cylinders
- Formaldehyde (PDF) and Formaldehyde Awareness Manual
- Glove Etiquette (Word)
- Guidelines to Avoid Working Alone in the Laboratory (PDF)
- Hydrofluoric acid (PDF)
- Nitric Acid (PDF)
- Peroxide-Forming Chemicals Factsheet (PDF) and Potentially Explosive Chemicals: Guidelines for Safe Storage and Handling (PDF)
- Phenol (PDF)
- Safety Every Month Poster (PDF) - email ehsinfo@iastate.edu to request a printed, large format copy
- Safely Using Cryogenic Liquids Poster (PDF)
- Sharps and Glass Disposal (PDF) - describes sharps and glass disposal. Additional info on sharps webpage.
- Spill Clean-up Procedures (PDF) - for additional information, see the Spills & Leaks webpage
- Vacuum Pump Poster (PDF) and Vacuum Pump Factsheet
- Centrifuge Factsheet (PDF) and Laboratory Safety:Using a Centrifuge Safely (Video)
Links
- Using Compressed Gases
- Biological permits at ISU
- Tax-free ethanol - complete an application for Tax-free ethanol
- Controlled Substances - Procurement Services maintains necessary licensing to purchase controlled substances
- Dow Lab Safety Academy
- Iowa State University Environmental Health & Safety YouTube videos
- OSHA Laboratory Safety Standard and Quick Card for GHS Pictograms
- Working with Nanotechnology
- Pistoia Alliance Database of Hazardous Reactions - users share information about hazardous chemical reactions they have encountered in laboratories to help prevent accidents/adverse events.
- Aldrich Technical Bulletin on Handling Air-Sensitive Reagents
- Aldrich Technical Bulletin on Handling Pyrophoric Reagents