ABSTRACT
Safe laboratory design is the practical application of the principles of industrial hygiene and chemical containment. Historically, when chemistry was in its infancy, little regard was given to laboratory design, let alone the safety of the workers or the environment. Design considerations by the users must include work classification, operations performed, materials and amounts handled, and staff size. Safety is an inherent concern for each of these categories and must be taken into consideration in the beginning of the design phase. The importance of daily monitoring by the safety professional-coordinator during the construction phase cannot be overemphasized. Foremost in the mind of the safety professional is the alleviation of hazardous situations and conditions by anticipating potential problems before they arise. Fire safety concerns in contemporary facilities is a good example of how anticipation of potential problems during the design phase can prevent major disasters in the future.
