Running a Research Laboratory Lab Safety

Deona Willes|Interim Executive Director  EH&SDivision of Administration OperationsUniversity of Southern California

3434 South Grand Avenue | CAL 120-FLos Angeles, California 90089-2815

Office: (323) 442-2205 | Cell: (323) 864-3187email: dwilles@caps.usc.edu

Deona Willes, dwilles@caps.usc.edu

Basic Steps for New Labs

Complete forms for protocol review and submit chemical inventory

Register Staff for Laboratory Safety Training

Complete an initial Lab Assessment with EH&S

Deona Willes, dwilles@caps.usc.edu

iStar

www.istar.usc.edu

Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) and Radiation Safety Committee (RSC) Application EH&S

Also, Institutional Review Board (IRB) and Institional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) Office of Research

Deona Willes, dwilles@caps.usc.edu

www.istar.usc.edu

Deona Willes, dwilles@caps.usc.edu

Major Drivers for Change in Academic

Labs

High Profile Lab Accidents UCLA (Lab fire fatality) Yale (Lathe fatality) Texas Tech (Explosion) University of Missouri (Explosion, microbiology

lab)

Deona Willes, dwilles@caps.usc.edu

What is a Faculty’s Responsibility?

Faculty must work with their subordinates to make sure they understand the risk of each high hazard process  

Develop procedures for special/high hazard materials

Don't let students work alone on high hazard processes

Deona Willes, dwilles@caps.usc.edu

Look Inwardly at Your Own Practices

We must continue to take seriously the OSHA requirement to write standard operation procedures for particularly hazardous substances, i.e. SOP’s for all high-hazard procedures.

Don't let students work alone on high hazard processes

Deona Willes, dwilles@caps.usc.edu

What is a Student's Responsibility?

Complete all necessary trainings

Demonstrate proficiency for any assigned duties

Wear appropriate PPE in the laboratory

Can safety be assigned to a graduate student? It is commonly done but that assignment won't

relieve a faculty member from his or her responsibility/liability.

Graduate students are still learning how to do research and need mentoring

Deona Willes, dwilles@caps.usc.edu

Lab Coats and PPE

Deona Willes, dwilles@caps.usc.edu

Important Concepts to Reinforce in Your Lab

Don't let students work alone on high hazard processes

Provide Lab Coats and PPE to your staff Enforce the use of lab coats

Ensure lab staff is trained Conduct / document the annual refresher training

Correct all inspection findings in a timely manner Conduct your own audits and meetings

Maintain your Chemical Inventory

Deona Willes, dwilles@caps.usc.edu

Security

Biological Materials Select Agents Dual Use Research

Chemicals Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism (Total Bldg.

Quantities) Chemical Precursors Controlled Substances

Radioactive Materials

Deona Willes, dwilles@caps.usc.edu

Handouts

Memo – Annual Laboratory Refresher Training

Memo – USC Laboratory Safety Awareness

Handout – Navigating EH&S

Deona Willes | Interim Executive Director EH&SEnvironmental Health & Safety

A Department of Administrative OperationsUniversity of Southern California

3434 South Grand Avenue | CAL 120-FLos Angeles, California 90089-2815

Office: (323) 442-2205 | Cell: (323) 864-3187email: dwilles@caps.usc.edu