Clinical Laboratory Safety Inspection Checklist

Complete this laboratory safety inspection regularly to ensure compliance with biosafety and chemical hygiene requirements. Laboratory workers face unique occupational hazards requiring specific controls.

Industry: Healthcare
Frequency: Monthly / Quarterly
Estimated Time: 40-50 minutes
Role: Laboratory Safety Officer / Lab Manager
Total Items: 42
Compliance: OSHA 1910.1030, OSHA 1910.1450, CLIA, CAP, CDC/NIH BMBL

Bloodborne Pathogens Standard Compliance

OSHA 1910.1030 requirements for labs handling blood/OPIM.

Written Exposure Control Plan current and accessible?
All staff trained on BBP standard annually?
Universal/Standard Precautions practiced?
Sharps containers available at point of use?
Safety-engineered sharps devices used?
Hepatitis B vaccine offered to all at-risk staff?
Post-exposure protocol posted and known?

Personal Protective Equipment

Assess PPE availability and usage in laboratory.

Lab coats worn and buttoned in lab area?
Appropriate gloves available and worn?
Safety glasses/goggles worn when splashes possible?
Face shields available for high-splash procedures?
PPE not worn outside lab (no lab coats in cafeteria)?
Closed-toe shoes worn by all staff?

Chemical Hygiene Plan Compliance

OSHA 1910.1450 Chemical Hygiene Plan requirements.

Chemical Hygiene Plan current and accessible?
Safety Data Sheets (SDS) accessible for all chemicals?
Chemical inventory current?
Secondary containers properly labeled?
Incompatible chemicals stored separately?
Fume hoods certified and functioning properly?
Fume hood face velocity ≥100 fpm?

Biosafety Practices

Biological safety controls and containment.

Biosafety cabinets certified annually?
BSCs used properly (no flames, proper technique)?
Biohazard signs posted at appropriate areas?
Cultures and specimens properly secured?
Autoclaves validated and functioning?
Biohazard spill kit stocked and accessible?
Mechanical pipetting devices used (no mouth pipetting)?

Specimen Handling & Transport

Safe handling of clinical specimens.

Specimens transported in leak-proof containers?
Secondary containment used for transport?
Pneumatic tube specimens properly packaged?
Centrifuge safety cups/rotors used?
Rejected specimens handled per protocol?

Waste Disposal

Proper segregation and disposal of laboratory waste.

Biohazardous waste in red bags/marked containers?
Sharps containers not overfilled?
Chemical waste properly segregated and labeled?
Waste pickup on schedule?
No prohibited materials disposed of in drains?

Emergency Equipment

Verify emergency equipment is functional.

Eyewash station functional and tested weekly?
Safety shower functional and tested?
Fire extinguisher accessible and inspected?
First aid kit stocked and accessible?
Emergency contact numbers posted?

Related Healthcare Checklists

Why Use This Clinical Laboratory Safety Inspection Checklist?

This clinical laboratory safety inspection checklist helps healthcare teams maintain compliance and operational excellence. Designed for laboratory safety officer / lab manager professionals, this checklist covers 42 critical inspection points across 7 sections. Recommended frequency: monthly / quarterly.

Ensures compliance with OSHA 1910.1030, OSHA 1910.1450, CLIA, CAP, CDC/NIH BMBL, UK HSE COSHH. Regulatory-aligned for audit readiness and inspection documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Clinical Laboratory Safety Inspection Checklist cover?

This checklist covers 42 inspection items across 7 sections: Bloodborne Pathogens Standard Compliance, Personal Protective Equipment, Chemical Hygiene Plan Compliance, Biosafety Practices, Specimen Handling & Transport, Waste Disposal, Emergency Equipment. It is designed for healthcare operations and compliance.

How often should this checklist be completed?

This checklist should be completed monthly / quarterly. Each completion takes approximately 40-50 minutes.

Who should use this Clinical Laboratory Safety Inspection Checklist?

This checklist is designed for Laboratory Safety Officer / Lab Manager professionals in the healthcare industry. It can be used for self-assessments, team audits, and regulatory compliance documentation.

Can I download this checklist as a PDF?

Yes, this checklist is available as a free PDF download. You can also use it digitally in the POPProbe mobile app for real-time data capture, photo documentation, and automatic reporting.