Overview
General housekeeping is not observed in the lab (including excessive storage of ordinary combustibles and impeded lab egress pathways). Work Surfaces are not routinely decontaminated in biological labs. Effective pest management is not observed.
There are several regulations that reference housekeeping as a safety issue and as a result we have this checklist item to cover deficiencies that relate to the cleanliness or orderliness of a lab. Citing of housekeeping in a lab or building can be a very subjective matter from both the occupant and the auditor’s point of view. Therefore, this citation should be used sparingly and only when the conditions are such that it creates an obvious hazard due to contact with chemical residues, there are any egress/exit issues, serious tripping hazards, serious fire hazards, etc. When citing this, be sure to fully and clearly explain the reasoning.
NOTE: This citation relates to egress issues within the lab itself, whereas item LAB03 relates to items external to the lab like hallways and stairwells. Next we will look at a few examples of situations where this checklist item may and may not be appropriately cited.