There are two kinds of trainings that will be provided:

• Trainings created/provided by the Safety staff. These are more general and will not go into detail about specefics in the darkroom. 
• Trainings provided by the instructor or darkroom manager - likely hands-on, or at least in-person. These trainings will cover specific procedures and guidelines for the darkroom.

For anyone working in the darkroom, the following online trainings provided by the Safety staff are required:

• Chemical Safety in the Laboratory
• Darkroom Safety Quiz

Depending on your role in the darkroom, additional trainings may be need to be completed. These additional requirements will be determined by the instructor or darkroom manager. 

The following are recommended trainings:

• Fire Safety Training (online)
• Evacuation Proceedure Training (online)
• Fire Extinguisher Hands-On Training (in-person)
• Emergency Response for Lab Workers (in-person)

Chemical safety in a darkroom is very similar to chemical safety in a traditional lab setting. The main difference is that there are fewer chemicals used in a darkroom. However, additional hazards in a darkroom often differ from those present in a traditional lab. For instance, the need to restrict light entering the room may make egress in an emergency more complicated. Before working in a darkroom, make sure to know where emergency exits are located and the procedure to follow in case of an emergency. 

For more information about chemical safety, go to the Chemical Safety page.

For more information about other hazards, go to the Identify the Hazards page.

Evaluating risks is a key step to working with hazardous materials, equipment, etc. safely. A risk assessment can help faculty, staff, and students use hazardous materials, etc. in an appropriate manner, while also preventing accidents. Anytime something changes within a given procedure, the risk assessment should be repeated. This will ensure that the procedure continues to be safe to follow. All assessments and procedures should be documented and easily accessible.

All darkroom hazards must be properly controlled to avoid exposure. There is a hierarchy of controls that can be used to make the procedure the safest and most effective it can be:

1. Elimination - physically removing the hazard from the procedure and/or work area (e.g. tagging an old chemical for waste collection)
2. Substitution - replacing the hazard with a material or procedure that is less hazardous (e.g. using lead-free paints instead of lead-based paints)
3. Engineering - using the engineering of the space to isolate the user from the hazard (e.g. using the slot ventilation in the darkroom)
4. Work Practices - following a specific procedure for how something should be done, a.k.a. administrative controls (e.g. SOPs, employing proper labeling, following housekeeping rules, etc.)
5. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - using safety apparel to protect the user from the hazard, a.k.a. the last line of defense (e.g. gloves, safety glasses, etc.)

The hierarchy of controls should be used to determine the safest way to complete work in the darkroom. 

For more information about evaluating risks and controlling hazards, go to the Evaluate and Control the Hazards page.

For more infromation about PPE, go to the Personal Protective Equipment page.