OSHA 10-Hour (Lab Safety Focus)

OSHA 10-Hour General Industry

Our specialized OSHA 10-Hour General Industry Course focuses on promoting safety health and understanding compliance with select OSHA standards, but with special emphasis on laboratory environments. It emphasizes the identification, evaluation, and control of hazards and risks that occur in academic, biotech, life sciences, R&D, analytical, pharmaceutical, and similar laboratory environments. This two (2) day course provides a basic foundation of knowledge on workplace safety and health as well as insight into topics that are unique to laboratories.

This course is presented by Mr. Corey Briggs, MSPH, an BGC Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), an American Industrial Hygiene Association Fellow (FAIHA), and Authorized OSHA Outreach Trainer for General Industry, and an Adjunct Professor in Geosciences and Health Sciences at the University of Rhode Island. Mr. Briggs possesses more than 43 years of multidisciplinary EHS experience obtained from consulting in a wide variety of private and public work environments around the globe.

Topics included in this session and examples of “take-aways” 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’s and its requirements apply to laboratory environments.

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

• Identifying and addressing hazards related to walking and working surfaces in labs.
• 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, medical, etc.).
• Fire prevention strategies tailored to laboratory environments, including proper handling of flammable materials.
• Requirement for and use of fire protection equipment like sprinklers and portable fire extinguishers.
  

4. Electrical Safety – 1 Hour

• Overview of electrical hazards commonly found in labs, such as overloaded circuits, improper use of extension cord, and inadequate installation and 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

• Basic training on the requirements for selecting, using, and caring for 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.
  

Elective Topics (Subject to Change Based upon Input from Students)

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 Elective Topics:

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.

Upon completion of this course, participants will gain critical safety knowledge applicable to laboratory environments and receive their authorized OSHA Outreach General Industry 10-hour completion card. An LSI certificate of attendance/completion is also provided. Full attendance is mandatory for both days so that 10-hours of OSHA-required contact time can be met. Last-minute schedule changes or absences will incur an additional fee due to the OSHA related administrative work involved.