WSH Guidelines --Laboratories Handling Chemicals

WSH Guidelines --Laboratories Handling Chemicals

What is WSH Guidelines 

WSH Guidelines showcased workplace safety and health best practices and WSH program for controlling workplace hazards and improving occupational health for various industry and program 

Check out the free WSH Guideline --Laboratories Handling Chemicals to improve your organization WSH practices. For the latest WSH Guidelines update, refer to Singapore Workplace Safety and Health Council Website.

WSH Guideline --Laboratories Handling Chemicals Scope

This guidelines applies to any basic laboratory where chemicals are handled and is, in particular, dedicated to both the improvement of Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) in company laboratories involved in quality control, as well as teaching laboratories in educational institutions. It supplements the existing WSH Guidelines on Management of Hazardous Chemicals Programme by providing more details on the safe storage, transfer, handling and disposal of chemicals in the laboratory context, as well as the recommended measures for laboratories to facilitate effective emergency response to incidents involving chemicals.

Introduction

A laboratory manager is any person who has control over the key aspects of the laboratory environment including the coordination of day-to-day activities, maintenance of equipment, purchasing of supplies, and so on.

In the context of this guidelines, a laboratory is considered basic if the:

(i) laboratory’s activities involve standard or well-documented experimental techniques;

(ii) laboratory equipment used is readily available in the market; and

(iii) chemicals being handled are commonly found in standard laboratories or those whose properties are well understood.

In particular, laboratories involved in research and development (R&D) are beyond the scope of this guidelines due to the complex nature of R&D activities, the use of highly specialised equipment and/ or the use of novel chemicals. Those involved in R&D may wish to refer to relevant publications such as, Prudent Practices in the Laboratory: Handling and Management of Chemical Hazards, published by the National Research Council (United States of America) for specific guidance.

For those involved in setting up a new laboratory or redesigning an existing laboratory, this guidelines provides guidance on WSH aspects to be considered when designing a laboratory where chemicals are used. A chemical laboratory safety inspection checklist is included to help chemical users, laboratory managers* and safety auditors ensure that WSH concerns have been suitably addressed in their laboratories, and necessary control measures properly implemented.

Along with risk assessment (RA), those planning a new laboratory experiment or testing method will also find the list of recommended WSH considerations in this guidelines useful to ensure that all angles are covered before commencing work.

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