Environmental Health and Safety

Course Descriptions

Class Schedules

See class schedules for more information about our online and face-to-face classes.

Classes available

PDFs for both Laboratory Site-Specific and Non-Laboratory Site-Specific Training Checklists and Training Records are available.

OH 101 — Hazard Communication OH 101 is available online (EID required)

The objective for this course is to introduce employees to the hazards of working with or around hazardous chemicals. Course subjects include the following:

  1. Information on interpreting hazardous chemical labels and Material Safety Data Sheets and the relationship between those two methods of hazard communication.
  2. Acute and chronic effects of hazardous chemicals to which employees may be exposed, by chemical category.
  3. Safe handling of hazardous chemicals to which employees may be exposed, by chemical category.
  4. Proper use of protective equipment with respect to the hazardous chemicals to which employees may be exposed, by chemical category.
  5. First aid treatment for exposures with respect to the hazardous chemicals to which employees may be exposed, by chemical category.
  6. General safety instructions on the handling, cleanup procedures, and disposal of hazardous chemicals.

Employees are advised that information is available on the specific hazards of individual chemicals through the MSDSs. Note: course subjects two through five listed above include the following chemical categories: combustible liquids, compressed gases, explosives, flammable aerosols, flammable gases, flammable liquids, flammable solids, organic peroxides, oxidizers, pyrophorics, unstable (shock sensitive and peroxide formers), water reactives, carcinogens, toxic or highly toxic agents, reproductive toxins, irritants, corrosives, sensitizers, hepatotoxins, nephrotoxins, neurotoxins, agents which damage the lungs, skin, eyes, or muscous membranes, agents which act on the blood or hematopoietic system.

This course is required for many employees by a law passed by the Texas Legislature called the Hazard Communication Act or Right to Know law. If you work with or have the potential to work with hazardous chemicals then you are required to take this course. Examples of people required to take this course are laboratory employees, physical plant personnel, utility personnel, printers, and photographers. Even if you have taken a hazard communication course at another organization, you must take this course to learn about the hazards of chemicals at your new workplace.

OH 102 — Hazard Communication (site-specific)

This course is taught by your work area supervisor, laboratory principal investigator, or lab supervisor. Training must be documented using the standardized HazCom training record with checklist covering training topics available from EHS.

Please talk to your supervisor for more information.

OH 201 — Laboratory Safety OH 201 is available online (EID required)

This course explains safe lab practices to minimize the risk of spills and chemical or biological exposures. Laboratories involve many chemicals, procedures, and operations that require specific safety precautions. The course provides information about physical and health hazards present within a laboratory and explains safe lab practices to minimize the risk of spills and chemical or biological exposure.

This course is required for all employees, including faculty, staff, and students who work in a laboratory using hazardous chemicals or biological materials. This training is required even if you have taken a similar course at another institution. This training must be received within 30 days after the beginning of a laboratory assignment.

OH 202 — Hazardous Waste Management OH 202 is available online (EID required)

The course objective is to explain regulated wastes in the laboratory setting and provide simple, less expensive methods for handling wastes. Course contents include: hazardous waste definitions and regulatory environment; chemical waste disposal and spill cleanup procedures; chemical waste storage and segregation guidelines; and waste minimization and drain disposal.

This course is required for at least one paid member, and one of eight members of each laboratory group.

OH 207 — Biological Safety

This course explains safe work practices for laboratory employees who work with recombinant DNA (rDNA) and infectious agents. This course is required for all lab employees working with biological hazards, e.g., infectious agents or recombinant DNA. This course covers hazards of working with these materials, practices and equipment required for work at different biosafety levels, waste disposal, incident reporting, and spill cleanup procedures.

See the next available OH 207 classes (EID required)

OH 209 — Asbestos Awareness

This course explains safe work practices for employees who may disturb asbestos-containing materials during routine work activities. This course is recommended for employees and supervisors who may disturb asbestos-containing materials during routine work activities. Examples of these types of activites are work activities in crawl spaces, above ceilings, in mechanical rooms, or as part of a renovation or demolition. In this training, employees will learn what procedures to follow if they are working near asbestos-containing materials. Topics include identifying asbestos-containing materials, hazards of asbestos, asbestos- related diseases, controlling exposure, and campus asbestos abatement programs. This course is not intended for asbestos-abatement workers.

See the next available OH 209 classes (EID required)

OH 218 — Bloodborne Pathogens

This course explains safe work practices for employees who work with human blood or tissues. This course is required for personnel who work with human blood or tissues. It covers the definition of blood-borne pathogens, protection from exposure including universal precautions, and spill cleanup procedures.

See the next available OH 218 classes (EID required)

OH 301 — Basic Radiological Health

This course provides information on how to work safely with radiation and radioactive materials. Radioactive materials can be hazardous if not used safely. Radioactive materials are used at the University under a broad scope radioactive materials license issued by the Texas Department of State Health Services.

This course is required for all users of radioactive materials, including faculty, staff, and students. Employees who took an equivalent radiation safety course at another location should contact the Radiation Safety Officer at 512-471-3511 regarding site-specific retraining and requalification requirements.

See the next available OH 301 classes (EID required)

OH 302 — Basic Radiological Health Refresher

This course explains current regulations related to radiation, recent changes to the regulations, the responsibilities of radiation users, and campus- specific issues related to radiation.

This course is refresher training recommended for all users of radioactive materials and radiation-producing machines, including faculty, staff, and students. The course is recommended annually for individuals who took the eight-hour Basic Radiological Health course and required for new university employees who took an equivalent radiation course at another location.

See the next available OH 302 classes (EID required)

OH 304 — Laser Safety OH 304 is available online (EID required)

Lasers can be hazardous if not used safely. Lasers are used at the University under a certificate of registration issued by the Texas Department of State Health Services. This course provides information on how to work safely with lasers.

This course is required for all users of Class IIIb (3b) and/or Class IV (4) lasers, including faculty, staff, and students. Employees who took an equivalent laser safety training course at another location should contact the Laser Safety Officer at 512-471-3511 regarding site-specific retraining and requalification requirements.

OH 306 — X-Ray Safety

Radiation producing machines (x-ray machines) can be hazardous if not used safely. Radiation producing machines are used at the University under a certificate of registration issued by the Texas Department of State Health Services. This course provides information on how to work safely with radiation and radiation producing machines.

This course is required for all users of radiation producing machines, including faculty, staff, and students. Employees who took an equivalent radiation safety training course at another location should contact the Radiation Safety Officer at 512-471-3511 regarding site-specific retraining and requalification requirements.

See the next available OH 306 classes (EID required)