69萝莉app

A. Purpose. This policy provides guidance and establishes baseline requirements for the laboratory safety program that are consistent with federal and state regulations and university policies for research and teaching laboratories.

B. Scope. This policy applies to all laboratories that are part of the 69萝莉app, including all teaching laboratories, research laboratories, and auxiliary spaces serving as laboratories. This policy specifically excludes the use of radioactive materials, biological agents and biohazardous materials. These are covered in APM 35.81 Acquisition of Radioactive Materials and APM 35.11 Biohazard Safety.

C. Policy

C-1. In general. Safety is a core value at the 69萝莉app. The university is committed to providing a healthy and safe working environment for all members of the university community.

The U of I Laboratory Safety Program is administered by Environmental Health and Safety (EHS). This program includes a catalog of laboratory support services, safety protocols in compliance with state, federal, and local regulations, and a Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) incorporating research and site-specific lab safety plans. All departments with laboratories must maintain compliance with this program.

EHS, in coordination with the Office of Research and Economic Development (ORED), will act as necessary to ensure a safe working environment for all members of the university community.

C-2. Responsibilities

1. Principal Investigators and supervisors. Principal Investigators (PIs) and supervisors carry primary responsibility for safety in the labs under their jurisdiction. They are responsible for providing leadership and advancing the laboratory safety culture. The PI/supervisor may delegate safety duties for which they are responsible but cannot relinquish that responsibility; they must ensure all safety duties are carried out. These responsibilities include:
   1. Performing risk assessments for the use of hazardous chemicals and associated procedures prior to conducting the proposed laboratory work.
   2. Creating a lab safety plan for their laboratory and specific protocols. The plan template is available on the EHS website.
   3. Selecting and employing engineering controls and laboratory practices to reduce potential exposure to the lowest practical level in accordance with the CHP.
   4. Establishing safe work practices for handling chemicals for all laboratories and projects under their direction by creating site-specific standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the hazardous chemicals or procedures and activities completed by their staff members. Generic SOPs for many chemicals and processes can be found on the EHS web site, but the PI must customize them for the specific activities performed in each lab.
   5. Ensuring that lab members are trained and competent; possessing the experience, knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform their tasks without injury to themselves or others. PIs and supervisors must also maintain training records for their employees and students.
   6. Selecting appropriate personal protective equipment based on the risk assessment or as written in the pertinent lab-specific SOPs.
   7. Informing lab members of potential hazards associated with the use of hazardous chemicals.
   8. Directing laboratory members to complete EHS Laboratory Safety and other required safety training and providing specific training for their lab employees and students. Lab-specific training by the PI/supervisor must be provided and documented for lab members upon initial assignment and when new processes/procedures are implemented in the lab.
   9. Completing a chemical inventory for the laboratory locations under their direction. Chemical inventories must be updated at least annually and be readily accessible for emergency responders and routine inspections.
   10. Investigating and reporting all incidents and near misses to EHS.
   11. Complying with APM 35.40 and ensuring the proper disposal of hazardous chemicals/hazardous waste through EHS.
   12. Maintaining lab signage and providing emergency contact information on all lab entry doors and on special equipment. Lab signage must be updated at least annually and is available from EHS.
   13. Following the lab decommissioning policy and ensuring proper decommissioning is completed when labs under their jurisdiction are vacated.
   14. Ensuring all lab staff requiring respiratory protection are medically cleared, fit-tested, and provided training on the respirator’s use and limitations annually, and that respirators are used in accordance with the University’s Respiratory Protection Program.
   15. The PI/supervisor is responsible for resolving safety issues identified through EHS Laboratory Safety inspections. Any unresolved issue(s) will be escalated to the department chair and/or the appropriate dean for action.
2. Laboratory employees and students. Laboratory employees’ and students’ responsibilities include:
   1. Completing EHS’s Laboratory Safety course before working in the lab.
   2. Completing the laboratory safety agreement before working in the lab.
   3. Completing laboratory-specific safety training (provided by the PI).
   4. Planning and conducting laboratory procedures in accordance with the laboratory’s SOPs and the university’s CHP.
   5. Developing and practicing good laboratory practices and personal hygiene habits (e.g., frequent hand washing, no eating nor drinking in labs, maintaining good housekeeping, not wearing gloves outside of the laboratory, etc.).
   6. Wearing clothing and attire appropriate to lab activities. Details for proper lab attire are available from EHS.
   7. Wearing appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when and where required (e.g., wearing lab coats over street clothes, eye/face protection, gloves and hearing protection in high noise areas). Minimum PPE for entry to any lab is long pants, closed-toe shoes, and safety glasses.
   8. Reporting unsafe conditions to the PI/supervisor or EHS.
   9. Reporting incidents of hazardous chemical exposures and near misses to the PI/supervisor or EHS.
   10. Ensuring chemicals and hazardous wastes are not stored on the floor.
   11. Ensuring hazardous waste is collected at the point of generation and handled in accordance with protocols issued by EHS.
   12. If respiratory equipment is required, ensuring the respirator is used in accordance with the university’s Respiratory Protection Program: annual medical clearance is obtained, training on the respirator is received annually, and fit testing is completed annually through EHS.
   13. Using compressed gases and cryogenic liquids properly by securing the cylinders in the upright position with a stand or cylinder strap, ensuring caps are placed on cylinders when not in use, and verifying the regulator is approved for the gas to be used and the pressure in the cylinder.
   14. Ensuring at least one other individual is present when doing lab work – Never work alone.
3. Deans, administrators, and department heads. Deans, administrators, and department heads have ultimate responsibility for administration and compliance with the 69萝莉app Environmental Health and Safety Programs. In the case of noncompliant Principal Investigators or lab groups, disciplinary actions up to and including lab closures will be considered by the department chairs and the university administration including offices of ORED and EHS to ensure safe working conditions.
4. EHS laboratory safety staff. Responsibilities include broad oversight and support in the implementation of the CHP and:
   1. Working with PIs, supervisors, and unit administrators to develop and implement good chemical hygiene procedures and practices.
   2. Providing general safety training for employees and students who work in laboratories.
   3. Providing additional training materials to assist the PI/supervisor in lab-specific training efforts.
   4. Evaluating areas where certain hazardous chemicals are used regularly and determining if monitoring of airborne contaminants is necessary and the frequency at which the monitoring will occur.
   5. Performing indoor air quality assessments when necessary.
   6. Knowing the current regulatory requirements concerning hazardous materials shipping and hazardous waste disposal and providing the proper training.
   7. Following hazardous waste disposal protocols and collecting lab waste submitted by PIs.
   8. Overseeing periodic laboratory safety inspections and the annual testing/certification of fume hoods and other safety equipment.
   9. Providing training to Facilities employees on the hazards that may be found in laboratories and making recommendations for controlling the hazards.
   10. Seeking ways to improve the CHP and updating the CHP periodically.
   11. Issuing stop work orders and lab closure notifications when lab conditions are deemed unsafe or out of compliance.
5. Facilities. The 69萝莉app’s facilities personnel have direct control over the laboratory's general and local ventilation and utility systems. Facilities responsibilities include:
   1. Informing laboratory personnel and EHS in advance of scheduled utility or maintenance shutdowns (gas, water, fume hoods, etc.) through e-mails and the posting of physical notices.
   2. Maintaining local exhaust systems to provide the engineering controls necessary to maintain safe laboratory conditions. The internal blowers of biological safety cabinets are NOT to be serviced by Facilities personnel. Contact the University Biosafety Officer for additional information.
   3. Informing EHS when a change of an air handler system (HVAC) is contemplated or completed.
   4. Attending/participating in safety training sessions offered by EHS.

Version History

Adopted 2025.