Storage and handling of chemical substances are two important duties of a laboratory worker. Both of these require appropriate safety measures to avoid any accident. In this section, you will learn about particularly the storage and handling aspects of hazard control. You will learn about the safe storage and handling of toxins or poisons as well as other hazardous substances.

Remember that in the lab where you work, there is a legal requirement for minimising or eliminating the risks of working with such substances. Also hazardous materials supplied to your workplace must be labelled in accordance with Indian Motor Vehicles Rules 1988. Bureau of Indian Standards (previously known as Indian Standards Institution) also recommends classification and labelling of hazardous substances in line with these rules; the system is an adaptation of internationally followed procedure. Let us learn about the same in the following subsection.