Laboratory Safety Policy & Procedures

1. Laboratory Safety Policy& Procedures William Turner (Asst. VPR)

2. Background Last year the Faculty Senate Working Group (FSWG) on Laboratory Safety prepared a report with recommendations to the administration. In response to that report, the Office of Research and Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S), in collaboration with members of the FSWG, prepared a Laboratory Safety Policy primarily based on current policy. Development of the policy included conversations with a school dean, department chairs, faculty members including Committee on Research representatives.

3. Items Incorporated in the Policy The following elements, all of which are currently required, will be documented in the policy: • The PI or a designated laboratory representative must conduct laboratory self-inspections annually. (Currently required by OSHA.) • Requirements related to circumstances in which minors are restricted access to laboratories. (Current guidelines are published on the Risk Management and EH&S websites.) • Only the President or Provost or their designee can approve the use of select agents. Recommendations from the FSWG report that are being incorporated into the Laboratory Safety Policy include: • Defining roles and responsibilities for the VPR, deans, departments chairs, PIs, students, staff, and visitors; i.e., department chairs will ensure PIs fulfill their safety responsibilities. • Defining a safety problem resolution process that follows the administrative chain of command (i.e., chair, dean, Provost, or Provost’s designee.) • Requiring annual safety training (at some level) for all personnel working in laboratories, including faculty. • Requiring the PI to ensure that his/her laboratory has a safety plan. Note: Bold items impact faculty

4. Other items Other laboratory safety issues under consideration or in process: • Deans will receive a laboratory safety summary from EH&S for their school semi-annually. • EH&S will provide boilerplate/templates to support the faculty and create a database for items that require documentation. • Establish guidelines for people working alone in laboratories. • Outline the consequences/sanctions for not complying with key aspects of the policy. • Rice will obtain a campus-wide radiation license, rather than licenses obtained by individuals or departments. Each department or laboratory in possession of radioactive material will appoint a radiation safety contact.

5. Related Policies The Laboratory Safety Policy will primarily address items that are regulatory in nature or seldom change, while laboratory safety procedures will be designed to evolve as needed to reflect Rice’s safety culture and internet resources will be provided for detailed documents manuals and templates. Policy 301 – Management and Administration of Sponsored Research and 805 – University Safety Policy will be rewritten. Policy 833 – Chemical Hygiene Plan will eliminated.