The Soil Chemistry and Biology Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sumatera Utara (FP USU), organized a webinar entitled “Safe Laboratory, Healthy Researcher: Building an OSH Culture in the Laboratory” on Saturday, September 5, 2026. The activity was conducted online via Zoom Meeting and attended by more than 290 participants from various educational levels and institutions.
The webinar was organized as an effort to enhance the academic community’s understanding and awareness of the importance of implementing Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) practices in practical sessions, research activities, and laboratory services. The implementation of OSH is not only intended to protect laboratory users from workplace accidents, exposure to chemicals, biological contamination, and other potential hazards, but also to support safe, orderly, responsible, and high-quality academic and research activities.
The activity featured two speakers with experience in laboratory management and occupational safety: Muhammad Abror, S.P., Head of the Agronomy Department at Hasnur Group Indonesia, and Riri Rizki Chairiyah, S.P., M.Si., Head of the Conformity Assessment and Service Team at the Center for the Application of Agricultural Modernization (BRMP) Systems, Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia.
The presentations and discussion were moderated by Dr. Siti Fatimah Batubara, M.Si., a faculty member of the Agrotechnology Study Program, Faculty of Agriculture, USU. Meanwhile, the entire series of activities was hosted by Safitri, an Assistant at the Soil Chemistry and Biology Laboratory, FP USU, who served as the Master of Ceremonies (MC).
The webinar received enthusiastic participation from attendees representing diverse backgrounds. Participants included not only undergraduate students from the Agrotechnology Study Program, FP USU, but also students from the Master’s Program in Aquatic Resources Management and students from various master’s and doctoral programs. The activity was also attended by participants from several higher education institutions in North Sumatra, including Universitas Islam Negeri Sumatera Utara (UINSU), Universitas Labuhanbatu (ULB), Universitas Medan Area (UMA), Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU), and various other institutions.
The activity was initiated by Dr. Benny Hidayat, S.P., M.P., Head of the Soil Chemistry and Biology Laboratory, FP USU. The webinar was chaired by Nur Ulina Warnisyah Br Sebayang, S.P., M.Agr., as the Organizing Committee Chair, with the support of the Soil Chemistry and Biology Laboratory assistants, FP USU. Collaboration among laboratory leadership, faculty members, and laboratory assistants was an important element in preparing the activity, assisting participants, and ensuring that the entire webinar proceeded smoothly.
Through this activity, the Soil Chemistry and Biology Laboratory, FP USU, emphasized that understanding OSH must become an integral part of academic culture. Every laboratory user needs to have knowledge of hazard identification, the proper use of personal protective equipment, handling of chemical and biological materials, equipment operation, waste management, and emergency response procedures. Understanding and complying with these procedures are essential to minimizing risks while protecting the health of all laboratory users.
The webinar also contributed to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, through efforts to protect health and prevent accidents and exposure to hazardous substances in laboratory environments. The activity also contributed to SDG 4: Quality Education by enhancing participants’ knowledge and competencies regarding OSH, as well as SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, particularly by supporting the creation of safe, healthy, and productive working environments.
Furthermore, the proper management of laboratory materials and waste is also related to SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. Efficient use of chemicals, standardized storage practices, waste segregation, and proper management of laboratory residues are important measures to prevent pollution and promote responsible and sustainable laboratory management.
The webinar is expected to serve as an initial step toward strengthening the comprehensive implementation of OSH within the Faculty of Agriculture, USU. Moving forward, regular and continuous OSH training is needed for laboratory staff across all laboratories within FP USU. Such training is important to establish a shared understanding, improve technical competencies, strengthen emergency preparedness, and ensure that each laboratory implements safety procedures in accordance with the characteristics of its activities and potential hazards.
In addition to training for laboratory staff, strengthening the OSH culture should be supported through the development and evaluation of standard operating procedures, provision of personal protective equipment, inspection of safety facilities, installation of hazard symbols and information, proper management of laboratory materials and waste, and emergency response simulations. In this way, OSH will not merely be understood as an administrative requirement, but will be genuinely implemented as a shared habit and responsibility in every laboratory activity.
The Soil Chemistry and Biology Laboratory, FP USU, expressed its appreciation and gratitude to the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Dr. Rulianda Purnomo Wibowo, S.P., M.Ec., and the Head of the Agrotechnology Study Program, FP USU, Prof. Dr. Diana Sofia Hanafiah, S.P., M.P., for their support, which enabled the activity to be successfully organized.
Appreciation was also extended to the speakers, moderator, organizing committee, laboratory assistants, and all participants from various study programs and higher education institutions who took part in the activity with great enthusiasm. The high level of participation demonstrates that occupational safety and health in laboratories has become an important concern in supporting quality education, research, and academic services.
As a form of appreciation, participants received certificates that may be used as one of the requirements for accessing the facilities of the Soil Chemistry and Biology Laboratory, FP USU, either as practical-session participants or researchers. Through this activity, all laboratory users are expected to consistently apply OSH principles and contribute to building a laboratory environment that is safe, healthy, disciplined, environmentally friendly, and conducive to the implementation of quality education and research.