The University of Iowa
Environmental Health and Safety

Lab News - Safety Training and Audit Reminders

Article published 01/06/17
 

The New Year is a good time to look back over the previous year, make plans for the coming year, and make sure your safety training is up-to-date. To that end, EHS would like to provide a few reminders laboratory staff training requirements:

 

 

  1. All laboratory staff must take “Lab Chemical Safety,” “PPE Awareness for Labs,” and “Biohazardous Waste” courses when first beginning work in the lab. Additional courses may be required, based on the work each staff member performs.
    1. There are several courses that lab staff may need to take one time (based on their work duties) include: “Chemical Fume Hoods,” “Basic Biological Safety,” “Formaldehyde Safety,” “Respirators, Vol. Use,” “rDNA Research,” and “Select Agent Toxins.
  2. At least one person per lab must take “Hazardous Waste” every year.
  3. Staff working with:
    1. Risk Group 2 biological agents must take “Advanced Biological Safety” once.
    2. Human blood, tissue, cell lines or OPIM must take “BBP for Labs” initially and then take “BBP for Labs, Refresher” every year thereafter.
    3. Class 3B and 4 Lasers must take “Laser Safety, Research” every two years.
    4. Packing and/or shipping of infectious materials and/or materials requiring dry ice must complete shipping training every two years. Take either “Shipping Infectious Substances” or “Shipping with Dry Ice,” depending on what you ship.
    5. Radioactive materials must complete “Radiation Safety, Basic” (W002RD) training prior to working with radioactive materials.
    6. Radioactive materials who have completed “Radiation Safety, Basic” training, need to annually thereafter complete the “Radiation Safety, Refresher” course.
    7. Please note: staff working with radioactive materials who have completed “Radiation Awareness for Labs” will still need to complete “Radiation Safety, Basic” prior to beginning work with radioactive materials.
    8. Also note: staff that do not work with radioactive materials, but work in labs where radioactive material is used need to complete “Radiation Awareness for Labs” (W528RD).
  4. Compliance with staff training requirements are evaluated annually during the EHS Safety Advisor Team audit.
  5. If you are unsure about what type(s) of training you need to complete, contact your PI, Lab Manager, or EHS.
  6. Now is also a good time to review several other safety-related requirements. These are required annually, and whenever a significant change in your lab activities dictates. Further information on each can be found on the EHS web-site by clicking on the hyper-links below:
    1. Chemical Hygiene Plan
    2. Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control Plan
    3. Personal Protective Equipment Hazard Assessment Tool

Please feel free to contact EHS with comments regarding training, quiz questions, etc. at ehs-training@uiowa.edu. We welcome your input.

Here’s wishing you a very happy and safe New Year!