Health and safety in higher education

Use our health and safety guides to complement the health and safety guidance provided by your own institution.

These guides have been developed from existing good practice guides produced by the Royal Society of Chemistry and material kindly supplied by UK university chemistry departments. They are aimed primarily at providing postgraduate students and university researchers with the essential basic knowledge needed to work safely in a chemical laboratory.

To see our health and safety guidance for secondary schools and FE colleges please read Explaining our health and safety guidance.

Workers with Disabilities
This resource provides guidance on risk assessment and control measures for workers with disabilities in the context of chemistry laboratories.
Risk Assessment
Learn how to carry out risk assessments in the chemistry laboratory.
SDS Resource
This resource provides information on safety data sheets and where to find the information that you need in order to carry out your lab work safely.
New & Expectant Mothers
These modules provide guidance on how to assess the risks and implement control measures for new and expectant mothers who work with chemicals.
Lone Working
This resource provides guidance on lone and out-of-hours working in the context of chemistry laboratories.
Laboratory Waste
This resource provides guidance on the segretation, disposal and treatment of waste produced in chemistry laboratories.
Laboratory Best Practices
This resource describes laboratory best practices. It covers general rules for the laboratory, handling chemical hazards and the maintenance of equipment.
Fire Safety
Guidance on fire safety in the chemistry laboratory.
Chemical Safety
Guidance on the safe storage, handling and transport of chemicals.
COSHH Resource
This guidance provides laboratory chemists with the basic knowledge and practical advice needed to carry out a COSHH assessment.
Accidents and Emergencies
This resource provides guidance on dealing with accidents and emergencies in chemistry laboratories. This resource is not comprehensive and is not intended to replace first aid training or procedures.