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Environmental, Health, and Safety
Role: Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) develops, implements, and administers the University’s laboratory safety program. EHS provides technical guidance, training, program oversight, and resources to assist departments and laboratories in identifying hazards, evaluating risk, and implementing appropriate controls.
Accountability: EHS serves as the University’s technical resource for laboratory safety and regulatory compliance. While EHS provides oversight, guidance, and program support, EHS does not replace the responsibility of departments, Laboratory Supervisors, and individuals performing laboratory work.
Responsibilities:
- Develop and maintain laboratory safety policies, programs, and guidance documents.
- Provide laboratory safety training and compliance resources.
- Conduct laboratory inspections and evaluate workplace conditions.
- Assist with identification of safety deficiencies and recommend corrective actions.
- Provide technical guidance regarding laboratory safety equipment, implementation of hierarchy of controls, and safe work practices.
- Support incident reporting, investigation, and corrective action processes.
- Monitor applicable regulatory requirements and communicate changes affecting laboratory operation, including renovations, relocations, and new laboratory setups.
Laboratory Supervisors
Role: Laboratory Supervisors are responsible for the safe operation of their laboratories and for protecting the health and safety of all personnel working under their supervision. They establish safety expectations, integrate safe work practices into laboratory operations, and promote a culture of safety through leadership, communication, training, and oversight.
Accountability: Under applicable OSHA regulations, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthful workplace. As agents of the University acting in a supervisory capacity, Laboratory supervisors are responsible for managing laboratory operations and implementing safety requirements within the laboratories under their supervision. Accordingly, their actions and decisions may be subject to review during investigations and legal proceedings following a serious incident. While specific tasks may be delegated to qualified personnel, accountability for laboratory safety and regulatory compliance cannot be delegated.
Laboratory Supervisors are not expected to be physically present in the laboratory at all times or be able to control every individual action. They are, however, expected to communicate safety expectations, ensure personnel are trained, monitor compliance with laboratory safety requirements, and promptly address unsafe conditions or behaviors. Laboratory safety is a supervisory responsibility, not an individual choice. Laboratory Supervisors are expected to actively manage safety with the same level of diligence applied to research quality, academic performance, budgets, and operational objectives.
Following a laboratory incident involving a death, serious injury, or significant safety event regulatory agencies may conduct a thorough investigation to determine the causes of the incident. These investigations may examine the actions and decisions of Laboratory Supervisors, Department leadership, and the University. Depending on the circumstances—including evidence of willful violations, gross negligence, falsification of records, or other unlawful conduct—individual supervisors and the University may be subject to regulatory enforcement actions, civil litigation, and, in limited circumstances, criminal penalties as provided by applicable law.
Responsibilities:
- Ensure personnel receive documented general and laboratory-specific training.
- Develop, implement, and maintain SOP’s that address hazards associated with laboratory-specific operations.
- Communicate hazard information and safe work practices to laboratory visitors.
- Provide supervision of personnel commensurate with the education, experience, and competence of personnel.
- Set a good example and enforce safe work practices.
- During an extended absence, arrange for a qualified alternate to provide supervision of laboratory operations.
- Ensure that laboratory safety equipment and personal protective equipment are available, in proper working order, and appropriate for the work being conducted.
- Implement and enforce preventative measures to control hazards and minimize risks, including complying with regulations, University and department safety policies, and prudent laboratory safety practices.
- Take active steps to identify laboratory safety deficiencies and ensure remediation steps are taken in a timely manner, including notifying Public Safety, Physical Plant, and any other functional unit, when applicable.
- Ensure laboratory-related injuries and illnesses are reported to responsible department chair, EHS, and HR.
Laboratory Workers (Non-Supervisory)
Role: Laboratory Workers (Non-Supervisory) are individuals who perform laboratory activities under the direction of Laboratory Supervisors and do not have assigned responsibility for supervising laboratory personnel or managing laboratory operations. They are responsible for performing laboratory activities safely and complying with University safety requirements, laboratory procedures, and instructions provided by Laboratory Supervisors.
Accountability: All individuals working in laboratories share responsibility for maintaining a safe work environment. They are expected to understand the hazards associated with their assigned work, follow established safety procedures, and immediately report unsafe conditions, incidents, and concerns.
Responsibilities:
- Complete required general and laboratory-specific safety training before beginning work.
- Follow laboratory SOPs, safety policies, and established safe work practices.
- Use required engineering controls, safety equipment, and PPE.
- Maintain good housekeeping and orderly laboratory conditions.
- Report hazards, unsafe conditions, incidents, and near misses to the Laboratory Supervisor and EHS as appropriate.
- Ask questions and seek guidance before performing unfamiliar or potentially hazardous work.
- Stop work and notify appropriate personnel when unsafe conditions cannot be adequately controlled.
- Do not perform work for which required training, authorization, or competency has not been established
