Environmental Health and Safety

Course Descriptions

Class Schedules

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

Classes available

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

OH 101 — Hazard Communication (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 (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 (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 all employees, including faculty, staff, and students who work in a laboratory using hazardous chemicals or biological materials.

OH 204 — Compressed Gases (EID required)

General overview for the use of compressed gas cylinder systems. Incoporated in this training are safe practices and techniques for the storage, use, and maintenance of compressed gas cylinders.

OH 207 — Biological Safety (EID required)

This course explains safe work practices for laboratory employees who work with recombinant DNA (rDNA) and potentially biohazardous materials. This course is required for all laboratory employees working at Biosafety Levels (BSL) 1, 2 or 3 or who work with human specimens. 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.

OH 209 — Asbestos Awareness

This class is offered by request, contact Carin Peterson (512-471-5776) for training.

OH 210 — Concessions Food Safety (EID required)

This course is recommended for people who prepare and handle food at concession areas. The course provides a basic understanding of the importance of sanitation when working with food, including personal hygiene and facility cleanliness. Topics include foodborne illnesses, food safety procedures, and good work practices.

OH 218 — Bloodborne Pathogens (EID required)

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.

OH 238 — Laboratory Safety Refresher (EID required)

This course outlines the key safety responsibilities for all personnel who work in labs containing hazardous materials. This course is required for all lab personnel and needs to be taken every three years. Topics covered in this course include: recent lab incidents, common issues found during lab inspections, responsibilities for Principal Investigators, responsibilities for lab staff, standard operating procedures, risk assessments, safety equipment and clothing, emergency response procedures, occupational health, and other lab related resources.

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 (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)

OH 500 — Machine Shop Safety (EID required)

The objective for this course is to introduce employees and students to the hazards of working in machine shops. The course subjects include the following:

  1. Roles and responsibilities for shop owners and operators.
  2. Go over basic safe procedures for machine shops.
  3. Identify common shop equipment and their safe operation.
  4. Identify common warning signs and labels.

Employees and students are advised that this is general shop safety. Additional site specific training may be required to quality for working in your shop.

OH 601 — Dry Ice Shipping (EID required)

This course explains how to make dry ice shipments in accordance with the Department of Transportation (DOT) rules and the airline (IATA) requirements. This training is only for shipments where the only regulated hazardous material is the dry ice. The training includes a description of the DOT rules, dry ice hazards, packaging, carrier requirements, and documentation. Hazard Communication training (OH101 and OH102) is also required for people wanting to become certified to ship dry ice packages.