Scope of Work
The AIHA Laboratory Health and Safety Committee (LHSC) assembles, evaluates, and disseminates information relevant to industrial hygienists and occupational and environmental health professionals working in academic, research and development, medical, and diagnostic facilities. The committee develops resources to prevent, identify, and control chemical, biological, ergonomic, radiation, and physical hazards in laboratory settings, while advocating for sound industrial hygiene practices and fostering collaboration across AIHA and the broader laboratory health and safety community.
Goals and Objectives
The LHSC is committed to advancing the science and practice of industrial hygiene in laboratory environments through education, advocacy, and cross-sector collaboration.
Information and Resources
Assemble, evaluate, and disseminate professional information relevant to industrial hygienists and OEHS professionals working in academic, research and development, medical, and diagnostic laboratory settings.
Hazard Prevention and Control
Develop and provide information resources to aid in preventing, identifying, and controlling potential exposures to chemical, biological, ergonomic, ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, and physical hazards in laboratories.
Advocacy and Standards
Identify, evaluate, and comment on proposed legislation, regulations, standards, and prudent industrial hygiene practices affecting laboratories.
Collaboration and Liaisons
Identify and establish liaisons with other AIHA committees and professional organizations addressing laboratory industrial hygiene-related issues.
Awards
- Outstanding Volunteer Group 2025
Current Projects
- Lessons Learned Webpage — Developing a curated online resource capturing key lessons learned from laboratory health and safety incidents and best practices.
- Local Exhaust Design, Maintenance, and Evaluation — Advancing guidance on the design, upkeep, and performance evaluation of local exhaust ventilation systems in laboratory environments.
- AIHA White Book Chapter Rewrite — Updating the committee's chapter in the AIHA White Book to reflect current science, standards, and practice in laboratory health and safety.
Products Produced by the Group
- Synergist Article Series: Best Labs — An ongoing series of articles published in The Synergist highlighting best practices in laboratory health and safety.
- Local Exhaust Design, Maintenance, and Evaluation — A published guidance document on local exhaust ventilation in laboratory settings.
Collaboration Efforts
The LHSC actively collaborates with the following organizations and professional bodies:
- ANSI Z9.5 — Active participation in the American National Standard for Laboratory Ventilation.
- CSHEMA — Campus Safety, Health, and Environmental Management Association liaison.
- ACS — American Chemical Society liaison.
- I2SL — International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories liaison.
Group Dynamics
The LHSC is a recognized model for operational excellence within AIHA, driven by a diverse group of dedicated professionals encompassing the broad demographics of health and safety activity in research, clinical, commercial, and teaching laboratories. The committee is actively engaged in advocacy within the Association and within the broader laboratory community, working to shape the direction of laboratory health and safety research and education. The LHSC is a recognized source of science-based information and is committed to outreach with future professionals, the existing AIHA membership, other professional organizations, and the general public.
Qualifications to Join
The LHSC is open to any AIHA member. Members with an interest in the following areas are especially encouraged to join via AIHA Connect:
- Industrial hygiene practice in academic, research and development, medical, or diagnostic laboratory environments.
- Identification, prevention, and control of chemical, biological, radiation, ergonomic, or physical hazards in laboratory settings.
- Laboratory ventilation standards, regulations, and best practices.
Resources
- AIHA Laboratory Health & Safety Committee Lessons-Learned Incident Reports
- OSHA Health and Safety Topics: Laboratories
- ANSI: Laboratory Safety Standards
- Stanford Environmental Health and Safety
- US Department of Health and Human Services, Environmental Health and Toxicology, Laboratory Safety
Additional resources for LHSC members and the broader laboratory health and safety community will be listed here as they become available.
