Laboratory Safety

The college's laboratories involve a wide range of equipment and materials that could potentially act as chemical, physical or biological hazards to employees and students. Laboratory safety standards and policies are in place to educate and protect members of the college community.

Chemical Hygiene Plan

Davidson College continually strives to provide an optimal learning, teaching, and research environment, free from recognized hazards. The Chemical Hygiene Plan outlines specific requirements necessary to protect the health and safety of employees and students that work in the college's laboratories. Individuals working in teaching and research laboratories should receive Chemical Hygiene Plan training.

Academic Departments Lab Safety

In collaboration with the Environmental, Health and Safety Office (EHS), academic departments have established laboratory safety and communication protocols which govern their work. The Biology and Chemistry Departments follow rigorous safety standards and procedures for managing their laboratories:

• Biology Department Lab Safety
• Chemistry Department Lab Safety

Unattended Experiment Form

Laboratory experiments should always be attended if possible. However, in the event an experiment cannot be attended, the Unattended Experiment Form should be completed. This form ensures that departmental staff are aware of the unattended experiment and potential environmental, health and safety hazards are identified.

Laboratory Safety Checklist

To guide laboratory staff in performing regular safety inspections, and to ensure compliance with OSHA standards, EHS has created a Laboratory Safety Checklist (PDF). For questions about this checklist, and/or assistance with performing laboratory safety inspections, please email Environmental, Health & Safety Manager Allen Stowe at [email protected].

Laboratory Safety Resources

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards (PDF) informs workers, employers, and occupational health professionals about workplace chemicals and their hazards. The Pocket Guide gives general industrial hygiene information for hundreds of chemicals/classes. It clearly presents key data for chemicals or substance groupings (such as cyanides, fluorides, manganese compounds) to help users recognize and control workplace chemical hazards.

The American Chemical Society's Guidelines for Chemical Laboratory Safety in Academic Institutions (PDF) is intended to help faculty and staff educate students in the basic principles and procedures of laboratory safety.