Laboratory Safety Manual - 2011
I. Responbilities
Lab workers conducting chemical reactions, using chemicals, or performing laboratory procedures are required to have proper training in the safe handling and disposal of all materials they use. Each individual is responsible for conducting activities in a safe manner that complies with the applicable requirements of state and federal law as well as with university policies and procedures described in this manual. Oversight responsibility for ensuring that laboratory activities conform to prescribed standards is assigned as follows:
UNIVERSITY-WIDE LABORATORY SAFETY RESPOSIBILITIES
The President of the University
The President has ultimate responsibility for laboratory safety within the institution.
Environmental Health and Safety
- Provides training to laboratory personnel
- Conducts periodic and unannounced laboratory inspections
- Provides hazardous waste disposal services
- Provides hazardous material spill response services
- Reviews laboratory construction and renovation plans for safety design
- Conducts fume hood survey and testing
- Performs exposure monitoring upon request
- Provides guidance for maintaining compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, as well as the procedures stated in this manual
- Provides recommendations and assistance in obtaining personal protective equipment
- Investigates laboratory incidents and conducts follow-up activities to prevent future incidents
- Undertakes enforcement actions to ensure full compliance with all institutional safety policies, up to and including authority to shut down laboratories for violations of these policies
Personnel of the University
Personnel are responsible for following the procedures and faithfully executing the policies and responsibilities prescribed by this manual. Failure to do so is a serious breach of university policy and subject to disciplinary action that may include termination of employment at the university. If a lab is not in compliance with the safe operating procedures as outlined in this manual, EHS has the authority to close the lab until violations are corrected. Approval of the Dean is not required.
Facility Services
Facility Services maintains facilities and facility-related safety systems to assure continuous operation of laboratories.
Research Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC)
The RSAC is charged to act in an advisory and consultative capacity regarding the administration, implementation and coordination of policies and procedures for safety and environmental health in university research activities. The functions of this committee complement but do not overlap the responsibilities of the Institutional Biosafety Committee and the Radiation Safety Committee. Areas of consideration include regulatory compliance, training, inspections, hazardous materials management, waste minimization, emergency response, signage, and chemical/biological safety.
COLLEGE LABORATORY SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES
Dean
- Responsible for ensuring the safe operation of all laboratories where hazardous materials are used or laboratory procedures are conducted
- Ensures compliance with all university’s policies and procedures pertaining to laboratory safety
- Has independent enforcement authority to close a laboratory for safety violations
- Will appoint at least one Lab Safety Coordinator (LSC) for each College. Can appoint additional Lab Safety Coordinators for individual Departments. Will provide EHS with a list of LSCs.
Department Chairs and Directors
- Oversees laboratory safety within departmental laboratories
- Ensures laboratories complete and update annual inventories of hazardous chemicals as required by the university’s Hazard Communication Program
- If authorized by the Dean, may appoint a Laboratory Safety Coordinator. Will serve as the LSC in the absence of the coordinator.
Laboratory Safety Coordinators
- Ensures laboratories develop and implement written site-specific safety policies
- Monitors procurement, safe practices and disposal of hazardous materials with EHS
- Ensures laboratories complete self evaluation forms
- Acts as a liaison with EHS to ensure inspection issues are corrected
- Notifies EHS if specialized training is needed
- Provides researchers technical guidance regarding lab safety issues
- Advises college administration on laboratory safety issues. Notifies EHS if issues require immediate action.
- Provides technical and administrative support for local safety committees
- Notifies EHS of incidents and near misses
Principal Investigators and Laboratory Supervisors
- Designs and conducts laboratory processes and operations to assure that personnel exposure to risk is minimized according to university policy
- Monitors the procurement, safe use, and proper disposal of hazardous materials
- Writes Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) relevant to lab processes in their specific areas
- Instructs personnel on the contents of this manual and the location of the manual within the workplace
- Takes all reasonable precautions to protect the health and safety of laboratory workers and the environment
- Schedules hazardous waste disposal and oversees the handling of hazardous waste pending proper disposal
- Conducts laboratory safety self evaluations every semester (fall and spring)
- Completes and updates annual laboratory chemical inventories in accord with the instructions and schedule provided by EHS
- Inform personnel of the permissible exposure limits for the hazardous chemicals listed on inventories and the signs and symptoms associated with exposures to these chemicals
- Provides site specific training on laboratory hazards as described in the university’s Hazard Communication Program
- Provides training and documentation for special procedures, activities or operations
- Provide appropriate personal protective equipment
- Ensures that all required safety equipment (fire extinguishers, fume hoods, flammable liquid storage cabinets, eye washes, safety showers, and spill cleanup kits) is available, in working order and that appropriate training for all safety equipment has been provided
- Maintains access to a current copy of a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for all hazardous chemicals in the laboratory
- Makes emergency telephone numbers available
- Reports to EHS if there is reason to believe that exposure levels for a hazardous chemical exceed the action level or the permissible exposure limits and document the incident
- Forwards documentation on laboratory accidents and exposures to EHS
- Provides for the safety of visitors
Personnel
- Maintains a thorough understanding of and follows the laboratory policies and procedures
- Uses and maintains required personal protective equipment (i.e. lab coats, safety glasses, goggles, face shields, respiratory protection, and gloves)
- Uses flammable liquid storage cabinets, acid storage cabinets, fume hoods, and other laboratory safety equipment provided
- Informs supervisor immediately of any laboratory safety equipment that is needed but not available or that is not in good working order
- Informs supervisor immediately of any exposure symptoms, accidents, or releases and documents incident
- Attends all applicable EHS laboratory safety training sessions
- Participates in the Occupational Health Program (OHP-Labs) if required as a condition of employment or as required by specific protocol
