Safety Alert - Management of highly toxic and other high hazard chemicals
News
Posted on Thursday 5 November 2026
A recent near miss in a laboratory involved potential exposure to a highly toxic chemical, following the apparent leakage of chemical material into a poisons storage cabinet.
This incident highlights the importance of effective chemical management, appropriate storage, regular inspection and suitable arrangements for responding to leaks and spills.
This alert is intended for departments and areas that store & manage highly toxic and other high-hazard chemicals. Please review your local arrangements and take the actions outlined below to help prevent similar incidents.
Manage and reduce risk
- Minimise chemical stocks - Regularly review chemical holdings and identify expired, old or unused chemicals for disposal through the appropriate University route.
- Maintain clear labelling: Ensure all chemical bottles and vials are clearly labelled and labels remain legible. Where appropriate, record the date containers are first opened.
- Maintain good housekeeping: Keep chemical storage cabinets clean, organised and free from unnecessary items. Investigate and address any signs of contamination.
- Segregate incompatible chemicals: Store chemicals according to their hazards and incompatibilities, in accordance with relevant risk assessments and storage guidance. Ensure that chemicals are stored in their appropriate place (e.g. locked poisons cabinet).
- Maintain an accurate inventory: Ensure highly toxic chemical inventories are current and provide useful information, including chemical identity, quantity and storage location.
Prevent spills and leaks
- Inspect containers regularly: Check bottles and vials for deterioration, damage, corrosion, compromised closures or other signs of leakage.
- Store containers securely: Keep containers upright, with closures secured appropriately, and ensure they cannot easily fall or be damaged.
- Use suitable secondary containment: Where appropriate, use compatible drip trays or other suitable secondary containment to contain leaks and prevent wider contamination of the storage cabinet and other items.
Prepare for spills, leaks and potential exposure
- Exposure responses: Confirm that standard operating procedures are in place to deal with chemical exposure & contamination; and that relevant workers understand how to follow them.
- Spill responses: Confirm that standard operating procedures are in place to respond to chemical spills, including evacuation and access prohibition where relevant; and that relevant workers understand how to follow them.
- Clean up responses: Confirm that standard operating procedures are in place to clean-up chemical spills and that relevant workers understand how to follow them. This includes effective decontamination of surfaces and articles and disposal of contaminated waste items through the appropriate University waste management route.
- Emergency equipment & facilities: Ensure facilities and equipment for responding to chemical exposures and spills are suitable for the hazards present, maintained in a serviceable condition, appropriately organised and readily accessible.
Training & further information
The following University resources are available to support staff with safe management of chemicals, accessible via the health & safety training web page:
- COSHH introduction (online)
- COSHH risk assessment - a practical guide
IOSH recently published a short public information video on how institutions can safely manage chemicals through their lifecycle.