2026 Science Lab Safety Checklist

This checklist is for teachers, lab coordinators, and others preparing a science lab for students and staff. It covers protective gear and emergency equipment, with practical guidance for evaluating each item. Start with your lab’s activities and the hazards they may involve.

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The sections move from personal protective equipment to emergency-response supplies. Some include a named product to consider; others offer selection advice without a product pick. Use the product names as starting points, then confirm the item’s specifications and suitability for your setting.

Before buying, check your institution’s safety requirements and the instructions for chemicals, equipment, and protective gear used in the lab. Match each item to its intended use, storage location, and the people who may need it. Keep emergency supplies accessible and make sure staff know how to use them.

Safety goggles

Eye protection is a core part of preparing for lab activities where splashes, particles, or impacts may be possible. This section’s pick is the 3M Chemical Splash/Impact Resistant Safety Goggle, 1 Pack. The product name identifies splash and impact resistance, but it does not establish suitability for every chemical, procedure, or user. Check the manufacturer’s specifications against the hazards in your lab before selecting goggles. A common mistake is treating any pair of protective eyewear as interchangeable. Review how the goggles fit with prescription eyewear, how securely the strap adjusts, and whether the design provides the coverage your activities require. Consider fit across the range of students and staff who may use them; gaps or slipping can make protection less reliable. Try the fit with other required PPE, such as a face shield, before adopting a model. Confirm cleaning and storage instructions, and plan how shared goggles will be kept ready for the next user. Inspect them for damage or poor fit as part of routine preparation. Follow local lab guidance for when goggles are required and when additional face protection is needed.

What to look for:

• Manufacturer guidance for splash and impact hazards in your activities
• A secure, adjustable strap and a fit that stays in place
• Compatibility with prescription eyewear and other PPE
• Cleaning and storage instructions suitable for shared use
• A clear inspection and replacement process

Nitrile gloves

Gloves help protect hands during lab work, but the right choice depends on the materials handled and the task. The listed pick is Nitrile Gloves Heavy Duty 7 Mil Disposable Rubber Black Gloves Large. Its name gives a material, thickness, size, and disposable description; those details alone do not establish chemical compatibility or fit for every user. Check the manufacturer’s compatibility information for the substances in your lab. A frequent buying mistake is choosing one glove type for every procedure. Consult chemical safety information and institutional guidance, and consider whether the task calls for a different material or glove design. The listed size is Large, so confirm that it fits the intended wearer: gloves should allow controlled movement without excess material or uncomfortable tightness. Provide suitable sizes for users rather than assuming one size works for everyone. Review the product instructions for use, limitations, and disposal. Plan how clean gloves will be stored and how used gloves will be discarded according to lab procedures. Disposable gloves are not a substitute for handwashing or other protective measures. Match glove choice to the task and teach users when gloves should be changed.

What to look for:

• Chemical compatibility information for substances handled
• Sizes that fit the intended users securely and comfortably
• Manufacturer guidance on use limitations and changing gloves
• A glove design suited to the task and required dexterity
• Storage and disposal procedures that fit your lab routine

Lab coats

Lab coats can help protect clothing and skin during activities where splashes or contamination may occur. Choose a coat based on the procedures performed and the protective requirements set by your institution. Start with the hazards and task, not a generic assumption that any coat will do. Check fit across the people who will wear the coats: sleeves and body should allow movement while providing the intended coverage. Consider how coats will be worn with gloves and eye protection, and confirm that closures and cuffs work with the lab’s procedures. A common mistake is selecting a style that interferes with movement or leaves exposed areas the procedure requires covered. Check fit alongside other PPE before standardizing a coat. Follow the institution’s guidance for laundering, storage, and removal after contamination. Decide whether coats are personal or shared, and make sure users know where to put them after use. Material and design should be appropriate to the lab’s work and care process. Confirm care instructions before purchase, so the selected coats can be maintained as intended.

What to look for:

• Coverage and design appropriate to the lab’s activities
• Sizes that allow movement while fitting securely
• Compatibility with gloves and other required PPE
• Material and closures suited to the intended use
• Clear laundering, storage, and removal instructions

Chemical spill kit

A spill kit is useful only when its contents and instructions match the materials and spill scenarios a lab is prepared to handle. Before choosing one, identify the chemicals in use and consult their safety information and your institution’s response procedures. Match kit contents to known hazards rather than relying on a general-purpose label. Check what the kit includes, what spill types it covers, and whether staff are trained to use it. A common mistake is buying a kit without confirming that absorbents, protective equipment, and disposal guidance suit the substances present. Also consider where it will be stored: people should be able to locate it without blocking access or creating a new hazard. Keep the kit accessible and identified for the people expected to respond. Review the manufacturer’s directions and your local rules for cleanup, disposal, and restocking. Assign responsibility for checking contents and replacing used or outdated supplies. If a spill exceeds the response plan or presents an immediate danger, staff should follow emergency procedures rather than attempting an untrained cleanup. Train responders before an incident and make the limits of their role clear.

What to look for:

• Contents specified for chemicals handled in the lab
• Clear directions for covered spill types and cleanup
• Protective equipment appropriate to trained responders
• Disposal instructions aligned with institutional procedures
• Accessible storage and an assigned restocking process

Eyewash station

An emergency eyewash should be selected and placed according to the hazards present and the requirements that apply to your lab. The named pick is the Speakman SE-4400 GravityFlo 9-Gallon Portable Emergency Eyewash, Blue. Its name describes it as portable and gives a capacity, but that alone does not confirm that it meets your site’s requirements or is appropriate for a particular hazard. Verify the specifications and applicable requirements before choosing it. Consider placement and access: users should be able to reach the station promptly, and the route should remain clear. A common mistake is focusing on the unit while overlooking installation or placement, readiness checks, and the people who need to know how to operate it. Confirm how the station is prepared, inspected, maintained, and replenished according to the manufacturer’s instructions and local procedures. Plan placement and upkeep together. Review whether a portable gravity-fed unit fits the lab’s setup and expected use. Check operational instructions and make sure staff can locate and use the station. Consult your safety lead about required flushing duration, flow, and other specifications; do not infer these from the product name. Use qualified guidance for selection and keep access unobstructed.

What to look for:

• Specifications that meet applicable site requirements
• Placement with a clear, accessible route
• Manufacturer directions for setup and operation
• A defined inspection and replenishment routine
• Staff familiarity with location and use

Fire blanket

A fire blanket may be included in a lab’s emergency planning, but its role should be defined by institutional procedures and the hazards present. Decide who is expected to use it, where it belongs, and what other response steps apply. Follow your lab’s fire-response plan when determining whether and how to provide one. If selecting a blanket, review its intended uses and limitations in the manufacturer’s instructions. A common mistake is treating it as a replacement for alarms, evacuation, or other required emergency equipment. Consider placement so it can be reached without blocking an exit or requiring someone to move toward danger. Make access and limitations clear to staff and students. Confirm storage and inspection guidance, and include the blanket in any relevant orientation or training. The lab’s procedures should explain when people should evacuate and whom to alert. Do not assume that one item addresses every type of fire or emergency. Coordinate the choice with safety staff and the rest of the lab’s response plan.

What to look for:

• Manufacturer instructions describing intended uses and limitations
• Placement identified in the lab’s response plan
• Storage that keeps the blanket accessible
• Inspection guidance and an assigned check routine
• Training that covers evacuation and when not to intervene

Set your buying order by the hazards and requirements first: confirm which protective gear and emergency supplies your lab needs, then prioritize items tied to the activities planned. Verify fit, compatibility, placement, and maintenance before purchasing. Let the risk assessment guide the order, and check institutional requirements for each item.

A workable checklist is one people can follow: keep supplies accessible, maintain them as directed, and make sure users know their roles. Revisit the list when lab activities or users change. Small, regular reviews help keep the equipment plan aligned with the way the lab operates.