Ensuring the safety of personnel working in research laboratories is an integral component of the responsible conduct of research at academic institutions.  While researcher safety has clear ethical and legal implications, often overlooked is the role of safety in ensuring research integrity, data reproducibility, and efficiency.  In this workshop we will discuss the role of laboratory safety beyond simple compliance requirements and highlight the potential impact of safety on the quality of scientific research.  We will discuss actual laboratory incidents to highlight the importance of incorporating basic safety practices into daily research activities to help ensure the continued production of the highest quality scientific research at Clemson University.