Health, safety and environmental risk assessment in an academic laboratory: A case study

Academic laboratories are considered as environment for performing various laboratory processes. Physical, chemical, biological and mechanical stressors are common in laboratory environment. The purpose of the study was to provide a comprehensive health, safety and environmental risk assessment in an academic laboratory. A case study design was conducted. The relevant check list was developed for laboratory environment. Based on study objectives required variables in terms of health, safety and environment included in the check list. The data collected through observation and interviews with 10 experts of the laboratory is used. Findings from checklist showed the number of risk factors contributed to health effects, safety and environmental impacts were 15, 42 and 10, respectively. In terms of risk rating benzene, sodium hydroxide, acetic acid and sulfuric acid indicated the highest level and EDTA, potassium chromate and phenol were at the lowest level. Risk rating analysis indicated that benzene had the highest risk in view of health, safety and environmental outcomes. Laboratory risk assessment must focus on health, safety and environmental stressors. Any preventive program should take into account the level of risks for corrective actions.