HSE OCE17 Laboratory Practice – Offshore

Good Laboratory Practice and Engineering Controls for Safe Chemical Handling

LEVCentral Expert Commentary

Laboratories located on offshore installations perform a vital role in analysing production fluids, drilling materials, chemicals, water samples and environmental specimens. Although the quantities of hazardous substances handled are often relatively small, laboratory personnel may routinely work with solvents, corrosives, toxic chemicals, flammable liquids and process samples capable of presenting significant health risks if exposure is not adequately controlled.

HSE OCE17 – Laboratory Practice forms part of the Offshore COSHH Essentials (OCE) series and provides practical guidance on controlling these risks. Whilst written specifically for offshore laboratories, the engineering principles apply equally to many industrial, research and quality control laboratories operating onshore.

Of particular interest to LEV professionals is the emphasis placed on engineering controls. Laboratory fume cupboards, local exhaust ventilation (LEV), enclosed analytical equipment and carefully designed working procedures are all identified as important methods of preventing exposure to hazardous substances. The guidance reinforces the principle that laboratory work should be organised so that hazardous substances are contained and extracted before they can enter the operator’s breathing zone.

Unlike many COSHH guidance sheets that focus on a single industrial process, OCE17 adopts a broader approach by considering laboratory design, working practices, housekeeping, spill response, maintenance and staff competence as equally important parts of an effective exposure control strategy.

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Key Learning Points

The guidance covers:

Safe laboratory working practices.
COSHH assessment for laboratory activities.
Handling hazardous chemicals and process fluids.
Safe use of laboratory fume cupboards.
Application of Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV).
Containment of hazardous substances.
Prevention of spills and contamination.
Housekeeping and waste disposal.
Inspection and maintenance of engineering controls.
Safe storage and labelling of chemicals.
Information, instruction and training for laboratory personnel.
Record keeping and documentation.

Source Document Information

Organisation: Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

Document: OCE17 – Laboratory Practice

Series: Offshore COSHH Essentials (OCE)

Document Type: COSHH Essentials Guidance Sheet

Primary Topics: Laboratory Safety, Fume Cupboards, Local Exhaust Ventilation, Chemical Handling, COSHH, Occupational Hygiene

Audience: Laboratory Managers, Laboratory Technicians, LEV Designers, Occupational Hygienists, Health & Safety Professionals, Offshore Operators and Duty Holders.

LEVCentral Perspective

Although written for offshore laboratories, OCE17 contains lessons that apply to virtually every laboratory environment.

Perhaps the most important is that laboratory safety begins with engineering design rather than personal protective equipment. Fume cupboards, enclosed analytical equipment and well-designed extraction systems should prevent exposure by containing hazardous substances at source, reducing reliance on respirators and other forms of personal protection.

The guidance also highlights the importance of laboratory discipline. Even the best-designed fume cupboard will not provide adequate protection if it is overloaded with equipment, operated with the sash fully open, used for chemical storage or poorly maintained. Engineering controls and good laboratory practice are inseparable.

For LEV professionals, laboratories represent one of the clearest examples of capture by enclosure. Unlike many industrial LEV systems that rely on external capture hoods, laboratory fume cupboards create a controlled environment in which contaminants are contained and extracted before they can escape into the workplace. This makes commissioning, face velocity measurement, containment testing and ongoing maintenance particularly important.

Further Resources

Recommended Learning

Thought Leadership

Laboratories are often viewed as inherently safe because they are clean, well organised and equipped with specialist ventilation. In reality, they demonstrate one of the central principles of occupational hygiene: small quantities of hazardous substances can still present significant risks if they are not properly controlled.

OCE17 reminds us that effective laboratory safety depends on multiple complementary measures. Well-designed fume cupboards, competent laboratory procedures, trained staff, good housekeeping, routine maintenance and appropriate COSHH assessments all contribute to reducing exposure.

For LEV professionals, laboratory environments provide an excellent illustration of engineering controls working exactly as intended. When correctly designed, commissioned and maintained, a laboratory fume cupboard does far more than extract air—it creates a controlled working environment that prevents hazardous substances from reaching the operator.

This emphasis on containment, verification and ongoing performance aligns closely with the principles of modern LEV engineering and the wider philosophy of defensible exposure control.