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Safety Alert (Sciences) - Laboratory Materials Found Outside Controlled Lab Areas

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Posted on Friday 20 March 2026

Instances have been noted where laboratory materials have been removed from designated laboratory spaces and stored in offices, kitchen areas, or communal refrigerators. This practice presents potential safety, contamination, and regulatory risks.
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Typical offending items include

  • Lab coats

  • Clinical samples (e.g. blood; swabs) and environmental samples (e.g. water; soil)

  • Microbial culture plates

  • Chemicals & solvents

  • Containers of dry ice

Laboratory materials must only be handled, stored, and used within approved laboratory environments that are equipped with appropriate containment, ventilation, and safety controls. Offices, kitchens, and communal spaces are not suitable for storing research materials.

Maintaining clear separation between laboratory materials and general workplace areas is essential for protecting staff, maintaining compliance, and ensuring the integrity of research activities.

If laboratory space or storage capacity is limited, please speak with your laboratory manager or Departmental Safety Advisor to identify appropriate solutions. Laboratory users and supervisional staff should remain vigilant to any poor practices and take corrective action where necessary. Any incidents, accidents, near misses or hazard observations should be reported on the SOLAR accident reporting system.