Safety Training Components
Several topics should be included in the training of laboratory workers. The following list is a starting point; it is not inclusive and may or may not apply to your specific work area.
- Emergency response procedures appropriate to individual laboratories
- Building-specific safety features
- UVM Laboratory Safety Trainings
- Review of all Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) (PDF)
- Review of Safety Data Sheets including recognition of signs and symptoms associated with 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 specific lab equipment
Supervisors must also ensure that lab personnel are informed about and have access to the following informational resources:
- Safety data sheets (SDS) for laboratory chemicals and biological agents. These are available from the chemical manufacturer or supplier, though internet sources, such as Wikipedia and Technical Data Sheets for specific chemicals, can also provide more detailed information. SDSs must be available to employees at all times and can be kept in a digital file on a lab computer or in printed form in a Lab Safety Notebook.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).
Lab-Specific Training
Lab-specific trainings should be completed for hazardous materials used in the lab, specific procedures/protocols (SOPs, IBC protocols, IACUC protocols, etc.), and safe operation of lab equipment. These lab-specific trainings should include the following:
- Training outline/description of the contents of the training;
- Date the training was completed;
- The trainer (person delivering the training); and
- Training attendees.
The outline/description of the contents of the training should be detailed enough to explain exactly what was covered by the training.
One example of lab-specific training is the initial training or orientation to the lab, which should be completed before work begins. The following information should be covered during the basic orientation to the lab:
- Information about all hazards in the lab, including risks of exposure and signs/symptoms of overexposure;
- How to reduce the risk of exposure to lab-specific and procedure-specific hazards;
- Where to find information on hazardous materials e.g. Safety Data Sheets (SDSs), Chemical Use Planning Forms (CUPFs), or written Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs);
- Safe use of laboratory equipment or apparatus; and
- Demonstration and teaching of specific laboratory procedures.
Keep these documents in the Lab Safety Notebook so they may be reviewed during a lab audit or after an unexpected event has occurred in the lab (e.g. injury or near-miss).
**Lab Safety Training Requirements
Basic Laboratory Safety Training:
Lab Workers must complete these basic laboratory safety trainings: 4 online and 2 classroom. Online course should be done prior to working with hazardous materials. Classroom courses should be completed as soon as possible and prior to working with hazardous materials without direct supervision. If lab specific training is used instead of these courses, follow the directions for documenting lab-specific training.
As of 1/1/2020, undergraduate students and visiting workers are no longer required to complete the two classroom trainings (Keeping Your Lab Safe and Emergency Response for Laboratory Workers), provided they are actively supervised while working in the lab. "Actively supervised" is defined as follows: A lab supervisor or lab safety officer, who has completed all required safety trainings, is present AND in the lab where the student is working, and understands the work that the student is conducting. *A lab supervisor may continue to require these two classroom safety trainings at their discretion. All lab workers must still be oriented to the lab, including emergency procedures. The lab orientation must be documented.* Undergraduate teaching assistants (TAs) are still required to complete all six basic lab safety trainings, as well as any other specific trainings that apply to the lab/activities. TAs are considered to be in a supervisory role, ensuring the safety of a group of students. |
Annual Training:
Lab personnel are required to take the annual training each year. These courses inform you of changes in regulations and policies as well as highlight incidents and issues relevant to lab work at UVM. EHS personnel may provide this training to groups or departments in person in place of this on-line option.
UVM Lab Safety Training CoursesName of Training | Required By: | When | When To Update |
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|
Annual Training 2024 (online course through SciShield) | All lab personnel | before working in lab | Annually |
Basic Biosafety Training:
Please note that some of the biosafety trainings have been replaced with CITI (Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative) modules. Instructions for signing into CITI can be found here.
Every UVM lab worker handling biological agents is required to complete the first three trainings in this orange section. Note: it is not necessary to complete both BSL-1 and BSL-2 CITI courses. Complete the CITI course that applies to your lab.
Anyone at risk for being in contact with blood, tissues, primary cell lines or other potentially infectious material must complete the CITI OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens training.
UVM Lab Safety Training CoursesName of Training | Required By: | When | When To Update |
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CITI BSL-1 Basic Course (online) LOG IN THROUGH MY INSTITUTION | All Lab personnel working in BSL-1 laboratories | before working in lab | every 3 years or as directed by lab supervisor or biosafety officer |
CITI BSL-2 Basic Course (online) LOG IN THROUGH MY INSTITUTION | All lab personnel working in BSL-2 laboratories | before working in lab and before attending BSL-2 classroom training | every 3 years or as directed by lab supervisor or biosafety officer |
Safe Use of Biosafety Cabinets (online) | All Lab personnel using risk group 2 biological agents at BSL-2 containment | before working in lab | once or as directed by lab supervisor or biosafety officer |
Biowaste Management Procedures (online) | All Lab personnel using biological agents | before working in lab | once or as directed by lab supervisor or biosafety officer |
Biosafety for Work at BSL-2 Containment Level (classroom - sign-up) | Required for anyone working in a BSL-2 lab, using Risk Group 2 or Risk Group 3 agents, prions, viral vectors, gene-editing technologies, biological toxins, human cell lines and tissues, and the use of any of these with animals | within 3 months of starting work in a UVM lab | Every three years, or as directed by lab supervisor or biosafety officer |
CITI OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens (online) LOG IN THROUGH MY INSTITUTION | Workers at risk for contact with human blood, tissues, primary cell lines or other potentially infectious material (OPIM) | before working in lab | annually, as required by OSHA standard |
Specialized Laboratory Safety TrainingName of Training | Required By: | When | When To Update |
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Laser Safety (online) | Anyone working with lasers | Before working in a lab with lasers | once or as directed by lab supervisor or laser safety officer |
Lock-out Tag-out Training (online) | Anyone repairing or maintaining their own equipment | Prior to commencing repair or maintenance | once or as directed by lab supervisor |
Working at Heights (online) | Anyone lab researcher working on the Votey or Aiken roof | Prior to commencement of roof work | once or as directed by lab supervisor |
Working Safely with Formaldehyde (online) | 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 |
Safety Training Transcripts: View or Download
Supervisors and/or Lab Safety Officers are responsible for checking safety transcripts to ensure that required lab safety trainings have been completed by all lab personnel. Supervisors should also document any lab-specific training delivered in the lab safety notebook. Details about how to document lab-specific training can be found on the Lab Safety Notebook page.
Online or classroom safety training is recorded by EHS staff into a central UVM database. Individual safety training records can be viewed and/or printed on the Laboratory Safety Training transcripts page. Enter a UVM NetID or a guest name to view or download individual lab safety training records.
Records for online trainings completed through the CITI program can be viewed on the CITI Course Completion page. Records of Animal Research Trainings can be viewed on the CITI Lab Animal Research Training page.