Posted By Danny O'Donnell Should laboratory worktops and furniture be given special precautionary treatment due to potential biohazards? I'm about to issue instructions for a strip-out of a former scientific lab used in the past for virtually everything from effluent analysis to materials testing. Anyone know of any special guidelines to be considered in addition to general construction type risk analysis?

Posted By Gillian Irons It might be worth having a look at the General ACOP of the COSHH Regs under Schedule 3. This outlines the specification for labs working with different Groups (categories) of biological hazard. The containment level of the lab will depend on the classification of biological hazard you are working with. For example agents requiring containment level 2 will require surfaces to be impervious to water and easy to clean. Another useful document might be the HSC guidance for Safety in Health Service Laboratories 'Safe working and the prevention of infection in clinical laboratories'. It may not be directly relevant but will provide useful references. Hope this helps Gillian