Occupational health and safety in research
20 octobre 2026
Research activity, which is as varied as it is fascinating, includes risks for the health and safety of staff. The CNRS is committed to creating a healthy work environment, and takes this into consideration in all of its activities, with a view to limiting work-related accidents, incidents, and diseases.
The organisation of prevention and occupational safety at the CNRS
The prevention of occupational risks at the CNRS is based on compliance with the regulations in effect, and involves a range of actors on all levels, including senior management, regional management, laboratories, and all staff members. Staff representative bodies and the inspection corps also contribute to this effort.
Tools for actors in research
Publications on occupational health and safety, produced by the National Prevention and Safety Coordination (CNPS) and the CNRS’s National Coordination for Occupational Prevention (CNMP), are available for download. They cover topics that address the particularities of research activities occurring at the CNRS.
In addition, a series of guides published by the French Ministry for Higher Education, Research, and Space–some in collaboration with the CNRS–is also accessible.
Risk prevention guides published by the CNRS:
- Handler’s handbook - CMR Risks (carcinogenic, mutagenic, and reprotoxic)
- Biological risks
- Chemical risks
- Risks connected to pressure equipment
- Risks connected to lasers (in French)
- Radioactive and radioprotection risks (in French)
- Risk prevention connected to manual and mechanical handling (in French)
- Recommendations for new arrivals
- Guide for work-related travel abroad (for staff travelling or posted abroad) (in French)
- Working at high altitude (in French)
Guides produced in collaboration with the CNRS:
- Guidebook of best practices for prevention in research involving prions (in French)
- Occupational risk assessment - single document (in French)
The “Prevention Info” news bulletin (in French)
Previous years:
Annual reports (in French)
Contacts
National Prevention and Safety Coordination (CNPS): cnps@cnrs.fr
Crédit photo : © Cyril FRESILLON/IPBS/CNRS Images
