Free job hazard analysis · 29 CFR 1910.1450
School Science Lab JHA Template: Preparation Through Cleanup
A school science lab JHA breaks laboratory activities into steps so teachers and lab staff can identify exposure and handling hazards. This template covers preparation, experiment setup, supervision, chemical waste, and securing the room. Use it to plan employee work and classroom controls alongside the school’s chemical procedures, rather than as a substitute for a Chemical Hygiene Plan.
The full school science lab JHA template
School Science Laboratory. Blanks in [brackets] are for your own details.
The printable copy downloads as a web page file: open it in your browser, then print it or save it as a PDF.
Job hazard analysis for science laboratory activities in educational settings including chemical handling and equipment use.
- Step 1
Prepare lab materials and review procedures
Medium riskHazards
Unknown chemical hazards, inadequate safety equipment
Controls
Review SDS for all chemicals. Verify eyewash and safety shower are functional. Check fume hood airflow. PPE inventory check.
- Step 2
Set up student experiments
Medium riskHazards
Chemical spills during preparation, glassware breakage
Controls
Pre-measure chemicals in fume hood. Inspect glassware for cracks. Use secondary containment trays. Keep spill kit accessible.
- Step 3
Supervise student lab work
High riskHazards
Student inexperience, horseplay, chemical splashes
Controls
Maximum 24:1 student-teacher ratio. Enforce goggles/aprons at all times. Direct supervision of heating/chemical mixing. No food/drink in lab.
- Step 4
Handle chemical waste
High riskHazards
Incompatible chemical mixing, improper disposal
Controls
Segregate waste by compatibility. Label all waste containers. Never pour chemicals down the drain unless approved. Schedule regular waste pickup.
- Step 5
Clean up and secure lab
Medium riskHazards
Residual chemical exposure, unsecured hazardous materials
Controls
Wipe down all surfaces. Return chemicals to locked storage. Gas valves off. Ventilation running 15 min after last chemical use. Lock lab when unoccupied.
The printable copy lays the steps out as a table with Prepared by, Reviewed by and Date lines.
A starting point, not legal advice. Have a qualified person check it against your site, your state's rules and the standard before you rely on it.
School science lab JHA: when it’s needed
Use the analysis before introducing an experiment, changing chemicals, or assigning preparation and cleanup duties. A JHA is generally voluntary under federal OSHA. Where the Laboratory Standard applies, 29 CFR 1910.1450 requires a Chemical Hygiene Plan for employee laboratory exposure to hazardous chemicals. Federal OSHA covers private-school employees, not public-school employees; public-school coverage depends on states that run their own OSHA programs (state plans). The standard protects employees such as teachers and technicians, not students. Plan student safety through the school’s separate responsibilities as well.
How to use this school science lab JHA template
- Review each experiment’s chemicals, quantities, reaction hazards, and preparation tasks against safety data sheets and the Chemical Hygiene Plan.
- Confirm eyewash, shower, hood performance, spill supplies, and protective equipment are suitable before setting out laboratory materials.
- Assign preparation, supervision, waste segregation, and room shutdown duties based on actual staffing and the planned activities.
- Replace fixed class ratios and ventilation times with school requirements and a hazard-based review by the responsible laboratory staff.
Before you use this school science lab JHA template: what to fill in and check
- School employer coverage, applicable state rules, and Chemical Hygiene Plan responsibilities.
- Chemical inventory, experiment procedures, incompatible materials, and authorized disposal arrangements.
- Eyewash access, emergency shower location, hood testing information, and spill response contacts.
- Class size policies, supervision arrangements, student needs, and staff training records.
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School science lab JHA questions
Does the OSHA Laboratory Standard cover students in school labs?
The Laboratory Standard addresses employee exposure, including teachers and laboratory staff where OSHA coverage applies. It does not make students OSHA-covered employees merely because they attend a lab. Schools still need student safety procedures and must consider other applicable obligations. Keep the employee hazard analysis connected to classroom practices without confusing the scope of the federal rule.
Is a science lab JHA a Chemical Hygiene Plan?
No. A JHA examines a particular activity in steps. The Chemical Hygiene Plan required by 29 CFR 1910.1450(e), when applicable, addresses the laboratory’s employee protection procedures and responsibilities more broadly. Use the JHA to put those procedures into practice for an experiment, and resolve any conflicts before staff prepare chemicals or supervise the activity.
When does a school laboratory need an eyewash?
Where employee eyes or bodies may be exposed to injurious corrosive materials, 29 CFR 1910.151(c) requires suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing within the work area for immediate emergency use. Assess the actual chemicals and exposure routes. Confirm the facility’s condition and access; a notation that an eyewash exists does not establish that it is suitable.