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: [email protected]
Deona Willes, [email protected]
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, [email protected]
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, [email protected]
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, [email protected]
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, [email protected]
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, [email protected]
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, [email protected]
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, [email protected]
Security
Biological Materials Select Agents Dual Use Research
Chemicals Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism (Total Bldg.
Quantities) Chemical Precursors Controlled Substances
Radioactive Materials
Deona Willes, [email protected]
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: [email protected]
