Q: How do I set up my lab in SciShield?
A: When logging in to SciShield for the first time, the site will have you use a "Wizard" to help you set up your lab. For additional guidance, EHS has created a guide for PIs to use. Of course, you can always email safety@uvm.edu or your Lab Safety Coordinator directly for assistance.
Q: How do I complete a self-inspection for my lab space online?
A: Please review this guide for how to complete a monthly lab self-inspection. Only Principal Investigators, Co-investigators, and Lab Safety Officers (in SciShield, LSO's are designated as "Lab Managers") have permission to conduct and document a lab self-inspection in SciShield. NOTE: The PI should ensure that each lab member designation is correct.
Q: My LSO completed the lab hazard accessment and now I, as the PI, am being asked to confirm/certify this information. How do I do this?
A: Please view this GUIDE to confirm and submit lab hazards your your designated lab spaces.
Q: I recently put my lab information in SciShield. Now we have 2 new lab workers who joined out lab group! Should I continue updating these types of changes in SciShield only or should I also keep updating my old lab registry?
A: Thank you for setting up your lab information in SciShield. If you have added your lab spaces and added all lab personnel into SciShield, you may allow your old lab registry to expire.
Q: LAB CHEMICAL INVENTORY: Can I enter a full chemical inventory in SciShield and can Safety Data Sheets be linked?
A: Yes! ChemTracker is the name of the chemical inventory within SciShield. Please see the ChemTracker Guide in the Quick Links on the Laboratory Registry website. Every chemical in your laboratory can now be entered online. ChemTracker has a large database of existing chemicals and a search box that will help this process move quickly.
Q: How do I add a unique chemical or product name that is not already in ChemTracker's database?
A: Always first try to search your chemical name in ChemTracker a few ways: enter part of the chemical name or enter the Chemical Abstract Service number (CAS #). The CAS # can often be found on the safety data sheet in the first section. If you cannot find your chemical in the existing ChemTracker database, then please follow this guide; it explains how to enter a unique chemical or product with no CAS #. Upload and attach the manufacturer's SDS after.
Q. Do I need to still need to keep printed Safety Data Sheets in my digital file in the lab or in a Lab Safety Notebook now that ChemTracker is available?
A. This is up to you. Safety Data Sheets are required to be available to all lab members. SciShield automatically gives lab members permission to view the chemical inventory. The PI or LSO are the only ones who automatically get permission to enter new chemicals into the inventory. The PI or LSO can also set permissions for specific members so they are also able to enter chemicals into the ChemTracker inventory.
Q. My Principal Investigator is out of town (or on sabbatical, on vacation). How can I enter my lab info into SciShield?
A. Only the PI can do the initial setup and certification of lab information using the ‘General Setup Wizard’. Then, on the bottom of the page, they can "Delegate Now". This means the PI can click on the box that gives the LSO permission to enter the lab information using the laboratory registration wizard.
Q. I am a Lab Safety Officer for six different labs with three different Principal Investigators. One PI set up their lab. This PI named one of the other PIs as a lab member. When one of the other PIs went into SciShield to set up his lab, no setup wizard appeared. Do you have any suggestions as to how this PI or I can set up his labs without the wizard?
A. Please contact safety@uvm.edu. We can add the Principal Investigator who did not see the setup wizard. Once we add them into SciShield, they will be able to go to the start up wizard and assign you to complete the rest of the set up as the Lab Safety Officer. They must set the "permissions" so that you are able to login and add lab information.
LAB DOOR SIGNS
Q. How do I create and print a new lab door sign in SciShield?
A. When creating a door sign for the first time, or editing it when changes are made, please view the GUIDE that was created for this purpose. Lab door signs are printable in 8.5" x 11" format, and they fit into the magnetic holders provided by EHS. They are best printed in color. If you do not have a magnetic holder, or a color printer, please contact safety@uvm.edu.
Q: Do I need to edit the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) diamond before making my lab door sign?
A: No. The NFPA diamond will not be displayed on the door sign, even if you complete it.
Q. I cannot see the "door sign" tab in my SciShield profile. Why is this?
A. Your Principal Investigator has to click on the box that gives you "permission" to see the door sign tab. You need permission to create, edit and print a lab door sign.
Q. Now that I have printed a door sign, specically, where should it be placed?
A. Please view the GUIDE to door sign placement outside your lab.
Q. My LSO completed the lab hazard assessment but I am being told, as the PI, that I need to confirm these hazards, how do I complete this?
A. Please view this GUIDE to how to confirm and submit your lab hazards.
LAB EQUIPMENT
Q. Do I need to inventory and submit my lab equipment into SciShield?
A. It is not required to enter your lab equipment into SciShield. However, SciShield does have a way for labs to enter specific lab equipment such as freezers, centrifuges, lasers, incubators, etc. A serial number, or unique identifying number, is required to submit and save the information. Manuals, inspection records, log sheets, etc. related to the equipment may also be attached and uploaded.
MEMBER PERMISSIONS
Q. I have been tasked with keeping the lab information up to date and conducting the online lab self-inspection. Why can I not access the lab information?
A. The Principal Investigator must assign you a "Designation" in the drop down list. Only the designated Principal Investigator, Co Investigator and Lab Safety Officer automatically have access to and can edit the lab information. If you are not assigned correctly, you will not have access. Ask the PI to edit the information to gain access.
Perrmissions must be assigned to all other lab members. The permissions list you will see in SciShield include the following:
- Optional Access in SciShield
- Edit Basic Group Informationhelp
- Edit Group Equipment Inventoryhelp
- Lab Safety Officerhelp
- Create Digital Door Signshelp
- Generate Door Signshelp
- Manage Group ChemTracker Inventoryhelp
- Print Door Signshelp
- View Group ChemTracker Inventoryhelp
- View Medical Surveillance Records in Grouphelp
- View Medical Surveillance Requirements in Grouphelp
TRAINING
Q. Where can I view the safety trainings I have already completed?
A. As of Feb 2024: You may still view your safety training transcripts in the old training tracking system. Any classroom trainings you complete in 2024 will be logged into SciShield. (The old unsupported tracking system will, at some point, go away.) We have already moved 5 years of training completion and information into SciSield. At some point all training transcripts will only be viewed in SciShield. PLease contact safety@uvm.edu if you are having trouble viewing your safety training transcript.