A recent evaluation from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) highlights how overlooked ventilation and chemical-handling practices can compromise safety—even in facilities that meet regulatory limits. The findings, published in Health Hazard Evaluation Report 2023-0044-3418, stem from a 2025 investigation of a state-operated wastewater treatment plant in Massachusetts.
NIOSH conducted the review after employees raised concerns about poor ventilation, possible pathogen exposure, and chemical-handling hazards. Investigators found a deteriorated HVAC system, no outdoor air exchange in the facility’s laboratory, and space heaters used to offset temperature fluctuations—conditions that mirror challenges in many laboratory environments.
Workers were also exposed to untreated and partially treated wastewater, powdered lime, and wet walkways, creating combined biological, chemical, and physical risks. While airborne gas levels were within safe exposure limits, the report concluded that workers faced ongoing hazards from direct contact, splashing, and contaminated surfaces.
Engineering controls and chemical exposure prevention in laboratories
The evaluation reads like a case study in how incremental facility lapses—ventilation, sampling setup, or chemical selection—can erode occupational safety. NIOSH recommended that facility managers:
- Engage a mechanical engineer experienced in industrial HVAC design to assess and repair ventilation systems
- Replace powdered lime with liquid formulations to reduce dust and skin exposure
- Install splash barriers and modify sample collection setups to limit wastewater exposure
- Improve housekeeping and drainage to prevent slips and falls
- Update confined-space labeling, noise monitoring, and PPE protocols
NIOSH cited ANSI/ASHRAE Standards 62.1-2022 and 55-2023 as benchmarks for acceptable indoor environmental quality, recommending laboratory conditions between 68.5 °F and 80.5 °F and relative humidity below 65 percent.
Biosafety lessons for laboratory managers
Though conducted in a wastewater treatment setting, the report offers valuable insight for laboratory environments where ventilation design, biosafety, and chemical hygiene intersect. Lab managers face similar challenges when retrofitting spaces, maintaining HVAC performance, or managing multiple hazard types under tight budgets.
For laboratory leaders, NIOSH’s findings underscore the importance of engineering controls over ad hoc fixes, professional ventilation assessments over piecemeal repairs, and routine cross-training on biosafety and chemical-handling protocols.
Ultimately, the report serves as a reminder that indoor environmental quality is both a compliance requirement and a performance standard. By addressing ventilation, exposure control, and preventive maintenance early, lab managers can safeguard staff health while improving operational efficiency.
This article was created with the assistance of Generative AI and has undergone editorial review before publishing.
