Authorized OSHA Outreach General Industry 10-Hour [Lab Safety and Health]

LSI's latest specialized OSHA 10-Hour Course focuses on promoting lab safety health and understanding compliance with select OSHA standards, with emphasis on laboratory environments. It emphasizes safety and health practices to identify, evaluate, and control hazards and risks associated with working in a lab, such as chemical handling, hazardous materials, and biological agents, while providing foundational workplace safety and health training. Revised topics include:

1. Introduction to OSHA – 1 Hour

• Overview of OSHA’s purpose, mission, and key functions.
• Workers’ rights and responsibilities, employer obligations, and the OSHA inspection process.
• Understanding of how OSHA applies to laboratory environments and research settings.

2. Walking & Working Surfaces + Fall Protection – 1 Hour

• Identifying and addressing hazards related to walking and working surfaces in a lab.
• Focus on slip, trip, and fall prevention around lab equipment and materials.
• Basics of fall protection systems and ensuring lab areas remain free from clutter and hazards.

3. Exit Routes, Emergency Action Plans, Fire Prevention Plans + Fire Protection – 1 Hour

• Detailed overview of lab-specific emergency exits, evacuation routes, and action plans for various emergencies (spills, fires, etc.).
• Fire prevention strategies tailored to laboratory environments, including proper handling of flammable materials.
• Use of fire protection equipment like sprinklers and extinguishers.

4. Electrical Safety – 1 Hour

• Overview of electrical hazards commonly found in labs, such as overloaded circuits or improper use of electrical equipment.
• Emphasis on proper electrical equipment handling, maintenance, and understanding of grounding.
• Steps to prevent electrical fires and electric shock hazards in a lab.

5. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – 1 Hour

• Comprehensive training on the selection, use, and care of PPE in laboratory settings.
• Discussion of lab-specific PPE, including gloves, goggles, face shields, lab coats, and respiratory protection.
• Focus on the correct usage of PPE based on different chemical, biological, and physical hazards in labs.

6. Hazard Communication (HazCom) – 1 Hour

• Detailed instruction on OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard and the Globally Harmonized System (GHS).
• Training on how to read and interpret Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and chemical labeling systems in labs.
• The importance of clear communication of hazardous materials in laboratory settings.

Select Elective Topics

Hazardous Materials – 30 Minutes

• Safe handling, storage, and disposal of hazardous materials in a lab.
• Addressing special hazards such as toxic, flammable, and reactive chemicals.

Safety & Health Programs – 30 Minutes

• Development and implementation of safety and health programs in lab environments.
• Importance of promoting a culture of safety and continuous safety improvement in the workplace.

Introduction to Industrial Hygiene – 30 Minutes

• Overview of industrial hygiene principles related to controlling workplace exposures to hazardous substances.
• Focus on laboratory-specific exposures, such as chemical fumes, biological agents, and particulate matter.

Bloodborne Pathogens – 30 Minutes

• Understanding the risks of exposure to bloodborne pathogens in the lab.
• Training on exposure control plans, proper handling of biological materials, and decontamination procedures.

Laboratory-Centric Topics Include:

OSHA Laboratory Standard & Chemical Hygiene Plans – 1 Hour

• In-depth overview of OSHA’s Laboratory Standard, including requirements for a Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP).
• Best practices for managing chemical hazards and ensuring compliance with OSHA lab standards.
• Roles of Chemical Hygiene Officers and how to maintain a safe working environment in laboratories.

"The Worst" Lab Picture Tour – 1 Hour

• Visual tour of unsafe lab practices, including images of common laboratory safety violations.
• Analysis and discussion on what went wrong, how to avoid these mistakes, and best practices to follow in lab environments.

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Upon completion of this course, participants will gain critical safety knowledge applicable to laboratory environments and receive their OSHA General Industry 10-hour completion card, demonstrating their orientation to and understanding of key OSHA standards and lab safety best practices.