Product Overview

This Laboratory Safety SWMS is a comprehensive Safe Work Method Statement designed to identify hazards and implement controls for laboratory operations to maintain a safe, compliant work environment. It provides detailed, practical guidance across multiple activities involved in laboratory safety and testing processes to support WHS compliance and effective risk management.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

• Safe use, loading, unloading, and monitoring of autoclaves and industrial autoclaves for sterilisation processes
• Setup, lighting, adjustment, and shutdown of Bunsen burners, including management of open flame and gas leaks
• Planning and conducting compression testing and other destructive tests on materials and specimens
• Conducting dissections, including use of scalpels and sharps, biological specimen handling, and hygiene controls
• Correct operation of fume cupboards and fume hoods, including airflow checks and sash height management
• Handling, storage, and connection of oxygen cylinders in science laboratories, including regulator use and leak checks
• Safe handling, inspection, and disposal of laboratory glassware to minimise cuts, breakage, and contamination
• Operation, cleaning, and temperature control of laboratory incubators, including biological containment measures
• Correct setup, focusing, and cleaning of microscopes, including electrical safety and ergonomic considerations
• Safe use of mutual induction apparatus and other electrical teaching equipment, including isolation and supervision controls
• Operation of centrifuges, including balancing loads, lid interlocks, speed settings, and emergency shutdown procedures
• Performing material testing and destructive testing with guarding, exclusion zones, and energy isolation controls
• Management of chemical, biological, and physical hazards in general laboratory work areas
• Emergency response procedures for spills, fires, exposure incidents, and equipment failure in laboratories
• Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), safe manual handling, and housekeeping practices in laboratory environments

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for laboratory technicians, science teachers, researchers, material testing personnel, and site supervisors responsible for managing laboratory and testing facilities on Australian worksites and educational campuses.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017
• Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice: Guidance on identifying, assessing, and controlling chemical risks in laboratories
• Labelling of Workplace Hazardous Chemicals Code of Practice: Requirements for correct labelling of chemical containers and decanted substances
• Managing the Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice: Controls for laboratory plant such as autoclaves, centrifuges, testing rigs, and gas systems
• How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice: Framework for risk management applied to laboratory tasks and experiments
• First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice: Requirements for first aid facilities and response in laboratory environments
• Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Code of Practice: Applicable to high-noise testing equipment and destructive testing processes