The National Academies, through its Board on Chemical Sciences and Technology, will review and update the 1995 publication, Prudent Practices in the Laboratory: Handling and Disposal of Chemicals. It will modify the existing content and add content as required to reflect new fields and developments that have occurred since the previous publication. Emphasis will be given throughout to the concept of a “culture of safety” and how that culture can be established and nurtured. Both laboratory operations and adverse impacts those operations might have on the surrounding environment and community will be considered.