Supervisors are responsible for making sure that all personnel receive the appropriate safety training before entering the lab or whenever new procedures or hazards are introduced. Refresher training is best provided at regular intervals. Document any lab-specific training that is provided so it can be audited at any time.
Proper training is required to ensure that all lab employees are informed about the hazards with which they work.
This may including chemical, biological, radiological and physical hazards. Standard operating procedures should be developed to ensure the safety of those working around such hazards. In addition, SOPS are another great tool to assist with training of personnel so research methods are standardized.
UVM Lab Safety Training Courses
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Safety Training Documentation
At a minimum, employee training should include:
- Emergency Response Procedures appropriate to individual laboratories.
- General and laboratory-specific safety training.
- Review of all Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
- A review of symptoms associated with a potential occupational exposure.
- Methods of detecting the presence of hazardous chemicals (observation, signage and labelling, odor, real-time monitoring, air sampling, etc.)
- Best practices designed to reduce personal exposure and to control physical hazards,
- Mechanisms and warning systems associated with lab equipment.
Supervisors must also ensure that laboratory employees are informed about and have access to the following information sources:
- Safety data sheets (SDS) for laboratory chemicals and biological agents. These are available from the chemical manufacturer or supplier. Internet sources, such as Wikipedia and Technical Data Sheets for specific chemicals, can also provide more detailed information. Safety Data Sheets must be available to the employees at all times. SDS can be kept in a digital file on a lab computer or in printed form in a Lab Safety Notebook available in the work area.
GHS symbols on Safety Data Sheets
- Permissible Exposure Limits (PEL) for OSHA regulated substances.
- The UVM Chemical Hygiene Plan and lab-specific standard operating procedures.
- An introduction to the UVM Environmental Management Plan and Lab Waste Management procedures.
- The contents of the OSHA lab standard, Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories, and its appendices (29 CFR 1910.1450).
Safety Training programs and services include:
- Online and classroom safety training provided by UVM Risk Management & Safety. Use UVM NetID to Login or take safety training as a Guest here.
- Group and individual training. Conducted by RM & S staff by lab or department at their request.
- Literature describing proper safety practices & protocols (Standard Operating Procedures and other references).
- Video libraries online and at UVM. Contact safety@uvm.edu to discuss.
Anyone who completes online or classroom safety training will be automatically added to the UVMLABSAFE listserve. Safety staff use the UVMLABSAFE listserve to keep UVM lab workers up to date on important safety information. Traffic on this list is limited to 1-2 messages per month. If you have not completed any safety training but would like to sign up for the list, put the following in the subject line of an email: SUB UVMLABSAFE
Send the email to:
LISTSERV@LIST.UVM.EDU
If you need help with this, contact us at safety@uvm.edu
| Training Title | Required of: | Initial Training | Updates | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Refresher Training | |||||
|
2013 Annual Refresher Training (on-line course) |
All lab personnel | In 2013 | Annually | ||
| Basic Laboratory Training - required of every lab worker | |||||
| Laboratory Safety Roles and Responsibilities (on-line course) | All lab personnel | before working in lab | once or as directed by LSO | ||
| Chemical Safety in the Laboratory (on-line course) | All lab personnel | before working in lab | once or as directed by LSO | ||
| Laboratory Chemical Waste Disposal (on-line course) | All lab personnel | before working in lab | once or as directed by LSO | ||
| Laboratory Ventilation and Chemical Fume Hoods (on-line) | All lab personnel | before working in lab | once or as directed by LSO | ||
| Emergency Response for Laboratory Workers (classroom - sign-up) | all above (except for studio workers) | within 3 months of starting work in a UVM lab | once or as directed by LSO | ||
| Keeping Your Lab Safe (classroom - sign-up) | All lab personnel | within 3 months of starting work in a UVM lab | once or as directed by LSO | ||
| Basic Biosafety Training - required of every lab worker in BSL-2 or 3 lab | |||||
| Basic Laboratory Biosafety (on-line) | All Lab personnel using biological agents | before working in lab | once or as directed by LSO | ||
| Safe Use of Biosafety Cabinets (on-line) | biological agents | before working in lab | once or as directed by LSO | ||
| Biosafety for Work at BSL-2 Containment (classroom - sign-up) | Anyone working in a BSL2 designated lab | within 3 months of starting work in a UVM BLS-2 lab | once or as directed by LSO | ||
| Biowaste Management Procedures (on-line) | biological agents | before working in lab | once or as directed by LSO | ||
| Specialized Laboratory Safety Training | |||||
| BBP: Safety Around Bloodborne Pathogens section(on-line) | workers at risk for contact with human blood or OPIM | before working in lab | annually, as required by OSHA standard | ||
| Laser Safety (on-line) | lasers | before working in lab | once or as directed by LSO | ||
| Art Studio Safety (on-line) | Anyone teaching or taking Art Classes and anyone using Pottery or Photography Co-op | before working in any art studio | as directed by Studio Supervisor | ||
| Voluntary Use of Disposable Respirators (on-line) | Workers who choose to wear a disposable respirator at levels below the Permissible Exposure Level. | Prior to respirator Use | once or as directed by Safety Officer | ||
| Required Use of Disposable Respirators (on-line) | Workers required to wear a disposable respirator or who are exposed to concentrations at or above the PEL | Prior to respirator Use | once or as directed by Safety Officer | ||
| In Laboratory Consultation (schedule in-lab appt with Safety staff!) | All labs as defined by UVM Lab Safety Policy | According to UVM Policy | According to UVM Policy | ||
| Fire Safety Training (on-line) | Anyone taking Hands-On Fire Extinguisher Training must take this beforehand. | Recommended for anyone working with flammable liquids. | as directed by your LSO or Supervisor | ||
| Wood Shop Safety (on-line) | Everyone using the Williams Wood Shop | Prior to using the Williams Wood Shop | as directed by Shop Supervisor | ||
| Working Safely with Formaldehyde (on-line) | Workers in the Anatomy Lab. Recommended for anyone working with formaldehyde, formalin, or paraformaldehyde. | Prior to working with formaldehyde or formaldehyde soultions. | annually, as required by OSHA standard | ||
Risk Management & Safety staff can provide annual refresher training for lab groups or departments. All laboratory workers should participate in one form of refresher training per year.
Safety staff are also available at any time to visit and consult with laboratories about safety issues or to provide address any specific safety concerns. Contact safety@uvm.edu to arrange for us to come visit your lab.
Safety Training Documentation and Training Transcripts
All safety training must be documented so it can be audited. If Supervisors conduct lab-specific training, be sure to document this training in writing in the lab safety notebook.
Online or classroom safety training is recorded by Safety staff into a central UVM database. Individual safety training records can be viewed on the Laboratory Safety Training Records page. Use a UVM NetID to view or download individual safety training records.
Not finding what you are looking for? Contact safety@uvm.edu