The OSHA Laboratory Standard requires that individuals who will be working with chemicals in the laboratory be provided with sufficient training to enable them to conduct their work safely. The training must be provided prior to the time when individuals begin work involving chemicals and whenever there is a significant change in the types or quantities of chemicals used. PI’s, laboratory managers, and/or laboratory supervisors are responsible for ensuring that their laboratory personnel have been adequately trained and kept apprised of the chemical hazards present in their laboratory. Initial Laboratory Safety Training and supplemental online laboratory and chemical safety trainings are offered by EHSS. Laboratory specific chemical and operational safety trainings must be provided by the laboratory principal investigator or laboratory manager and/or their designee.
6.1. EHSS Initial Laboratory Safety Training
All laboratory personnel must complete Initial Laboratory Safety Training prior to beginning any work in a research laboratory. Initial Laboratory Safety Training covers the following:
- The contents of the OSHA Laboratory Standard and its appendices.
- The location and availability of applicable details of the University’s Laboratory Chemical Safety (Hygiene) Plan.
- Permissible Exposure limits (PELs) for OSHA regulated substances and recommended exposure limits for other hazardous chemicals where there is no applicable OSHA standard.
- Recognizing signs and symptoms associated with exposures to hazardous chemicals used in University laboratories.
- Methods and observations that may be used to detect the presence or release of a hazardous chemical.
- A description of physical and health hazards of chemicals.
- Measures laboratory personnel can take to protect themselves from laboratory hazards.
6.2. Additional Laboratory Safety Training Modules
Additional laboratory safety trainings may be required or recommended for laboratory personnel depending on the hazardous chemical, materials, and/or equipment present and/or being used in a research laboratory.
EHSS provides online Supplemental laboratory safety training modules for fume hoods, emergency wash equipment and certain types of hazardous materials and equipment. These supplemental training modules provide a more in-depth review of the hazards and safety precautions to consider when using these specific types of hazardous chemicals, materials, or equipment. These supplemental laboratory safety training modules will be required or recommended for laboratory personnel depending on the chemical, operations, and equipment in use in the laboratory
Certain types of hazardous materials require the completion of more extensive safety training, including radioactive materials, radiation producing equipment, biohazardous materials, and lasers. Prior to using these types of materials in the laboratory, laboratory personnel should contact EHSS or access the EHSS website to determine the training requirements specific to these materials.
A complete listing of available laboratory safety related trainings offered by EHSS can be found on the Lab Safety Training website.
Laboratory personnel are able to access and review their EHSS training requirements, and training history, by logging onto the My Training Status web-page.
6.3. Laboratory Specific Training
PI’s, laboratory managers and/or designee(s), must provide laboratory specific training/instruction to laboratory personnel that will engage in the use of hazardous material and/or equipment. The training/instruction should include adequate details regarding the potential hazard(s) associated with the chemical, experiment or operation and instruction on how laboratory personnel can protect themselves, including, safety procedures, control measures, and PPE.