Laboratory safety management according to ESPReL standards: A case study of the Advanced Chemistry Laboratory 2, Rajabhat Maha Sarakham University

Abstract

Laboratory safety is a crucial factor for the work of operators. The National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) has established safety management guidelines based on the ESPReL (Enhancement of Safety Practice of Research Laboratory) standards, which consists of seven key components: 1) Safety management system 2) Chemical management system 3) Waste management system 4) Laboratory physical characteristics, equipment, and instruments 5) Hazard prevention and mitigation system, 6) Basic safety training for laboratory personnel, and 7) Data and document management. This research aims to enhance the Advanced Chemistry Laboratory 2 of the Science Center, Faculty of Science and Technology, Rajabhat Maha Sarakham University, to meet the safety standards of research laboratories in Thailand. The process includes evaluation by a committee. The assessment results indicate that the laboratory has improved in certain aspects. In 2021 and 2023, the overall average scores for all seven components were 62.15% and 60.41%, respectively. In both years, the highest score of 81.73% was achieved in Component 2, which focuses on Chemical Management Systems, while the lowest score of 22.22% was in Component 6, related to providing basic safety education in laboratories.