AS/NZS 2243.1:1997

1 - AS/NZS 2243.1:1997 SAFETY IN LABORATORIES - GENERAL
4 - PREFACE
5 - CONTENTS
6 - FOREWORD
7 - SECTION 1 SCOPE AND GENERAL
7 - 1.1 SCOPE
7 - 1.2 APPLICATION
7 - 1.3 REFERENCED AND RELATED DOCUMENTS
7 - 1.4 DEFINITIONS
7 - 1.4.1 Accident
7 - 1.4.2 Auto-ignition temperature
7 - 1.4.3 Corrosive
7 - 1.4.4 Cryogenic liquid
7 - 1.4.5 Exposure standard
8 - 1.4.6 Fire-isolated compartment
8 - 1.4.7 Fire-resisting
8 - 1.4.8 Flammable
8 - 1.4.9 Flammable liquid
8 - 1.4.10 Flashpoint
8 - 1.4.11 Harmful processes
8 - 1.4.12 Hazard
8 - 1.4.13 Hazardous substance
8 - 1.4.14 Head officer
8 - 1.4.15 Incident
8 - 1.4.16 Laboratory
9 - 1.4.17 Laboratory compartment
9 - 1.4.18 Laboratory supervisor
9 - 1.4.19 Laboratory waste
9 - 1.4.20 Noxious chemicals
9 - 1.4.21 Risk
9 - 1.4.22 Risk assessment
9 - 1.4.23 Safety
9 - 1.4.24 Shall, should, may
9 - 1.4.25 Toxic chemical
9 - 1.4.26 Working alone
10 - SECTION 2 PLANNING THE LABORATORY FOR SAFETY
10 - 2.1 CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN
10 - 2.1.1 General
10 - 2.1.2 Laboratory layout minimum
10 - 2.1.3 Means of egress
11 - 2.1.4 Protection against sunlight
11 - 2.1.5 Lunch room
11 - 2.1.6 Clerical area
11 - 2.1.7 Washing facilities
12 - 2.1.8 Storage place
12 - 2.1.9 Access for disabled persons
12 - 2.2 FIRE DETECTION AND EXPLOSION PROTECTION
12 - 2.3 EMERGENCY ALARM SYSTEMS AND ASSOCIATED OPERATIONS
13 - 2.4 INFORMATION ON HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES
13 - 2.4.1 Inventory
13 - 2.4.2 Labelling
13 - 2.4.3 Warnings
13 - 2.4.4 Liaison with emergency services
13 - 2.5 SAFETY INSPECTIONS
13 - 2.6 SAFETY EQUIPMENT
14 - 2.7 STORAGE OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES
14 - 2.7.1 General
14 - 2.7.2 Change in laboratory functions
14 - 2.8 VENTILATION
14 - 2.8.1 General
14 - 2.8.2 Ventilation requirements
15 - 2.8.3 Duct velocity
15 - 2.8.4 Fume cupboards
15 - 2.8.5 Local exhaust ventilation
15 - 2.8.6 Heating and cooling
15 - 2.9 ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS
15 - 2.9.1 General
15 - 2.9.2 Temporary installations
15 - 2.9.3 Protection of final subcircuits
16 - SECTION 3 RESPONSIBILITY FOR LABORATORY SAFETY AND EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
16 - 3.1 RESPONSIBILITY FOR SAFETY
16 - 3.1.1 Head officer
17 - 3.1.2 Risk assessment
17 - 3.1.3 Laboratory supervisor
18 - 3.1.4 Persons using laboratory facilities
18 - 3.1.5 Personnel working in isolation
18 - 3.2 FIRE, EMERGENCY AND RESCUE PROCEDURES
18 - 3.2.1 General
19 - 3.2.2 Primary emergency procedure
19 - 3.2.3 Evacuation of the building
19 - 3.3 FIRST AID
20 - SECTION 4 GENERAL SAFETY PROCEDURES
20 - 4.1 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SAFE CONDUCT
21 - 4.2 USE OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
21 - 4.2.1 General
21 - 4.2.2 Clothing
21 - 4.2.3 Eye protection
21 - 4.2.4 Hearing protection
22 - 4.2.5 Gloves
22 - 4.2.6 Safety footwear
22 - 4.2.7 Respirators
22 - 4.2.8 Safety helmets
22 - 4.2.9 Other personal protection
22 - 4.3 CONTAINERS FOR HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
22 - 4.3.1 General
22 - 4.3.2 Materials of construction
22 - 4.3.3 Labelling
22 - 4.3.4 Volume and quantity
22 - 4.3.5 Storage
23 - 4.4 USE OF FUME CUPBOARDS
23 - 4.4.1 General
23 - 4.4.2 Types of fume cupboard
23 - 4.4.3 Cabinets for biological materials
24 - 4.4.4 Cabinets for cytotoxic drugs
24 - 4.4.5 Recirculating fume cabinets
24 - 4.5 GENERAL LABORATORY PRACTICES
24 - 4.5.1 Handling of glass
24 - 4.5.2 Stirring
24 - 4.5.3 Use of electrical leads
24 - 4.5.4 Use of flexible tubing
24 - 4.5.5 Pipetting
24 - 4.5.6 Solvent extraction
25 - 4.5.7 Operations involving compressed and liquefied gases
25 - 4.5.8 Operations involving cryogenic liquids
25 - 4.5.9 Use of fail-safe devices
25 - 4.5.10 Use of ultraviolet lamps, arcs, high-intensity sources
25 - 4.5.11 Handling of human biological material
25 - 4.5.12 Handling of cytotoxic drugs
26 - 4.6 OPERATION OF INSTRUMENTS
26 - 4.7 OPERATIONS UNDER VACUUM
26 - 4.7.1 Vacuum glassware
27 - 4.7.2 Use of vacuum pumps
27 - 4.7.3 Filtration apparatus
27 - 4.7.4 Vacuum distillation
27 - 4.7.5 Use of traps
27 - 4.7.6 Use of mercury
28 - 4.7.7 Closing down vacuum experiments
28 - 4.7.8 Mercury thermometers
28 - 4.8 OPERATIONS UNDER INTERNAL PRESSURE
28 - 4.9 MICROWAVE DIGESTIONS
28 - 4.10 HANDLING OF LABORATORY WASTES
28 - 4.10.1 Responsibility
28 - 4.10.2 Collection
29 - 4.10.3 Segregation
29 - 4.10.4 Transfer and storage
29 - 4.10.5 Disposal
30 - APPENDIX A - LIST OF REFERENCED AND RELATED DOCUMENTS
30 - A1 REFERENCED DOCUMENTS
33 - A2 RELATED DOCUMENTS
34 - APPENDIX B - HAZARDOUS AREAS NEEDING AUTOMATIC FIRE DETECTION OR PROTECTION DEVICES
34 - B1 SCOPE
34 - B2 AREAS
35 - APPENDIX C - TYPICAL WORK INJURY REPORT
37 - APPENDIX D - HIGH RISK HAZARDS
37 - D1 SCOPE
37 - D2 HIGH RISK HAZARDS

Provides requirements, responsibilities and general guidelines to promote safety in laboratories.

This Standard provides information and sets out recommendations, general procedures and precautions designed to promote safety of persons and property in laboratory operations. The safety aspects described in this Standard apply to personnel, including students, visitors, maintenance staff, cleaners, laboratory staff, contractors, security staff and other authorized personnel who use the laboratory facilities. This Standard deals specifically with safe practices in laboratories and does not cover the design and construction of laboratories, which is the subject of AS 2982.NOTE: This Standard does not cover field work performed outside the laboratory.

First published in Australia as AS 2243.1-1979.
Second edition 1982.
Third edition 1990.
Jointly revised and designated AS/NZS 2243.1:1997.