Laboratory Safety

By law, students are considered equivalent to workers when accessing laboratories.

Definition of Laboratory

According to the law:
“Laboratories are defined as places or environments where teaching, research, or service activities are carried out involving the use of machinery, equipment, work tools, systems, prototypes, or other technical means, as well as chemical, physical, or biological agents. Laboratories also include locations outside the built-up area of the institution—such as archaeological, geological, or marine fieldwork. Laboratories are categorized as teaching, research, or service laboratories.”

Laboratory Teaching or Research Activity Manager (RDRL)

The RDRL is the individual who, either alone or as a group coordinator, conducts teaching or research activities in the laboratory. Legally, the person who decides what activity to carry out and how to do it is considered responsible. Therefore, professors and researchers are generally designated as RDRLs.

Supervisor (Preposto)

According to the law, the supervisor is the person who:
“based on professional competence and within the limits of hierarchical and functional powers appropriate to the nature of the assigned task, oversees work activities and ensures the implementation of directives received, verifying their correct execution by workers and exercising a functional power of initiative.”
Typically, the supervisor is a technician and cannot, under any circumstances, be a research fellow, PhD student, or collaborator.

Students, Research Fellows, and PhD Candidates

Responsibility for laboratory safety does not lie solely with the RDRL and the supervisor. By law, every worker is required to:

• Take care of their own health and safety and that of others;
• Collaborate and contribute to fulfilling legal obligations;
• Follow instructions provided;
• Use protective equipment and tools appropriately;
• Immediately report any problems or dangerous situations they become aware of;
• Act directly, within their competence and capabilities, to eliminate or reduce serious and imminent hazards in urgent situations.

Laboratory Risks

Risks in the laboratory depend on the activity performed. The department, in collaboration with the Prevention and Protection Service, prepares a Risk Assessment Document (DVR). This document outlines:

• The risks associated with various activities;
• Measures for risk reduction;
• Required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Collective Protective Equipment (CPE);
• Safety procedures to be followed.

Further details on specific laboratory risks are available at the following links:

• IT laboratory
• Chemical laboratory
• Biological laboratory
• Laboratory with ionizing radiation risk

Laboratory Records

There are three main laboratory records:

1. Training Record: Even after completing general safety training, users may receive additional instruction from the RDRL or supervisor regarding specific risks in that laboratory. This training is recorded in the laboratory logs, which are part of the department’s Health and Safety Manual.
2. Maintenance Record: Completed whenever routine maintenance or equipment repairs are performed.
3. PPE Record: Maintained by the laboratory manager, listing all PPE in use and related procedures. Workers sign the record upon receiving PPE and are instructed on its proper use.

Laboratory Waste

Laboratory waste can be hazardous. It is strictly forbidden to dispose of such waste in regular bins. The department provides a hazardous waste disposal service in accordance with legal requirements. More information is available on the Waste Disposal page.

Additional Information

Further details about laboratories are available to staff with institutional credentials (@unibo.it) in the “Laboratori” folder within the restricted area of the DIFA website.