Laboratory Safety
As a result of the promulgation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Laboratory Standard (29 CFR 1910.1450), a culture of safety consciousness, accountability, organization, and education has developed in academic laboratories. Safety and training programs, coordinated through the research office, have been implemented to monitor the handling of chemicals from the moment they are ordered until their departure for ultimate disposal and to train laboratory personnel in safe practices.
Laboratory personnel realize that the welfare and safety of each individual depends on clearly defined attitudes of teamwork and personal responsibility and that laboratory safety is not simply a matter of materials and equipment but also of processes and behaviors. Learning to participate in this culture of habitual risk assessment, experiment planning, and consideration of worst-case possibilities—for oneself and one’s fellow workers—is as much part of a scientific education as learning the theoretical background of experiments or the step-by-step protocols for doing them in a professional manner.
Accordingly, a crucial component of chemical education at every level is to nurture basic attitudes and habits of prudent behavior so that safety is a valued and inseparable part of all laboratory activities. In this way, a culture of laboratory safety becomes an internalized attitude, not just an external expectation driven by institutional rules. This process must be included in each person’s chemical education throughout his or her scientific career.
Resources
- Chemical Inventory
Each lab is expected to have an inventory of all chemicals stored in the lab. OSU CHS uses Chemical Safety Assistant as an online chemical inventory database. To request access, fill out the Account Request Form and email it to chslabsafety@okstate.edu.
Once your account is established, you may login at Chemical Safety Assistant. The Chemical Inventory Spreadsheet can be used to organize your chemical inventory list before entering the information into the online database. Please keep in mind that this spreadsheet cannot be uploaded into the system, it is simply a tool used to gather the necessary information to complete an accurate inventory. The red highlighted columns are the most important fields for populating the database.
- Chemical Specific SOP
According to the OSU CHS Chemical Hygiene Manual, it is expected that if you have a chemical listed on this GHS Lookup Table, you will need to write a Chemical Specific SOP for review by the Chemical Hygiene and Radioisotope Committee (CHRUC). Submit your drafted SOP to chslabsafety@okstate.edu.
- In-Lab Training and Orientation
According to the OSU CHS Chemical Hygiene Manual, it is expected that you complete In-Lab Safety Orientation Checklist and Worker In-Lab Safety Training for all new lab personnel, including students. Place copies in your lab’s training documentation.
- Respiratory Protection
The OSU CHS Respiratory Protection Manual applies to all employees and students at OSU CHS who are required to wear respirators in their activities while working under the direction of OSUCHS research employees. The term respirator applies to all negative pressure air purifying respirators including cartridge half and full-face respirators and all particulate masks, including filtering facepieces (dust masks.)
If you are seeking respirator fit testing, send an email request to chslabsafety@okstate.edu.
If an individual is not required to wear a respirator as part of their duties and personally chooses to do so voluntarily, the employee may use their own respirator. If you voluntarily wear a respirator, please review and sign the OSU CHS Voluntary Respirator Use policy and form.
- Lab Safety Inspections
Lab safety inspections are routinely conducted by the Lab Safety Coordinator using the Lab Safety Inspection Checklist.
- Hazard Assessment Tool for Personal Protective Equipment Use
The PI shall assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, that necessitate the use of PPE. The Hazard Assessment Tool for Personal Protective Equipment Use must be completed for each lab as the documentation for this requirement. Additionally, lab personnel must be trained on use of the identified PPE.
- Hazard Waste Disposal
Follow these instructions for having your hazardous waste picked-up. The waste should be itemized on the Hazardous Waste Pick-up Form.
- There was an incident. What do I do?
All incidents must be reported immediately to the laboratory PI or manager. Employee Injury Report must be taken as directed by the OSU CHS Occupational Health Nurse with the injured person if the person is seen by a health care professional. If the injured person is not seen by a health care professional the Report shall be submitted to the OSU-Tulsa Safety Manager, fax (918) 561-1261, with a copy sent to chslabsafety@okstate.edu.
Emergency & Incident Response is also addressed in the OSU CHS Chemical Hygiene Manual.
- Regulations and Guidances
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration Laboratories Topic Page
- OSHA/EPA Occupational Chemical Database
- OSHA Standard for working with chemicals in a laboratory, 29 CFR 1910.1450
- NIST Chemistry WebBook
- PubChem Database
- CHEMnetBase
- Cole Palmer Compatibility Database
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Data and Statistics
- NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards
- NIOSH Immediately Dangerous To Life or Health (IDLH) Values
- Policies, Manuals and Procedures
- Online CITI Training
Laboratory safety training consists of training materials, videos and a quiz. The training will teach you about general laboratory safety and common laboratory hazards. The training, including the quiz, is required every three years.
Training Instructions
- Go to https://www.citiprogram.org/
- New users must click "Register" to obtain a username and password
- Select Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences as your "Organization Affiliation" and click continue
- Enter your personal information (first name, last name, email address) and click continue
- Create a username, password and select a security question and click continue
- Enter Country of Residence and click continue
- Select "No" regarding the option to receive Continuing Education Unit Credit for Completed Courses", respond to the CITI contact questions and click continue
- Answer the questions requested by Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences. For the "courses planned to take" question, select the course you were instructed to take and click continue
- Go to Question 10, "Laboratory Chemical Safety" and select the "Research Lab Faculty, Staff, Students, and Volunteers"
- Click complete registration to return to main menu
- Click finalize registration
- You will see a list of the course in which you are enrolled
- Select the course you are ready to take
- Select “Complete the Integrity Assurance Statement before beginning the course”
- Select “I agree” and click “Submit.
- Complete required modules and associated quizzes
Adding a Course
- After logging in, select 'View Courses" next to Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences
- Scroll down to Learner Tools for Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences and select "Add a Course"
- Go to Question 10, "Laboratory Chemical Safety" and select the "Research Lab Faculty, Staff, Students, and Volunteers"
- Click Submit
- The course should be added to the Institutional home page
You will have the opportunity to print a certificate upon completion of the training course and exam. CITI will automatically notify the Office of Research of completion results. Please save, print your completion report and keep a copy for your records.
- Lab Safety Videos
- Explore our curated collection of lab safety videos designed to enhance your understanding and promote safety in the lab: Lab Safety Videos