Laboratory Safety

Scope

All laboratories on Indiana University property.

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Policy Statement

Indiana University is committed to 1) ensuring the safety of its students, employees, and visitors; and 2) complying with all applicable regulatory environmental, health, and safety requirements. Although individual units are free to go above and beyond stated requirements, in order to ensure that a minimal level of protection is maintained, all laboratory operations must satisfy all federal, state, and local regulations as well as any guidance developed by Indiana University organizational units designated with the authority to do so.

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Reason for Policy

This policy and associated procedures set Indiana University’s expectations in the area of laboratory safety, toward the goal of protecting individuals, ensuring effective operations, and satisfying federal, state, and local regulations (Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, National Institutes of Health, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, etc.). Indiana University’s Principles of Ethical Conduct specifically mention a culture of compliance with laws, regulations and policies; ethically conducting teaching and research; and promoting health and safety in the workplace.

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Procedures

1. General
   1. Each faculty member, principal investigator, lab manager, lab supervisor or designated responsible authority is responsible for the safety of the individuals working within their laboratories.
   2. Food and drinks are strictly forbidden in laboratories that use, store, or house any hazardous materials such as chemicals, biological materials, radioactive materials or animals.
   3. Appropriate clothing must be worn in laboratories at all times. Long pants and closed-toe footwear are required attire when using any hazardous material or working with animals. Clothing and hair must be secured properly to avoid accidents.
   4. An appropriate level of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) must be worn at all times when hazardous materials such as chemicals, biological materials, radioactive materials, animals or equipment are used.
   5. Proper labeling and storage of all hazardous materials are required and essential for a safe laboratory work environment.
   6. Faculty members, principal investigators, lab managers, lab supervisors or designated responsible authorities are responsible for ensuring that all individuals working in their laboratories have been adequately trained. Training must be accomplished before individuals begin performing hazardous duties. Individuals in laboratories must have read and understand all written guidelines, manuals, plans, policies, programs and standard operating procedures that pertain to their activities.
   7. Faculty members, principal investigators, lab managers, lab supervisors or designated responsible authorities that participate in any activity that results in a waste product of any kind must follow disposal procedures in compliance with all government regulations and prevent the release of contaminants through sound best management practices for waste generation, handling, and disposal.
   8. Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for all laboratory chemicals are required to be maintained in the laboratory or online. Safety Data Sheets are available from manufacturers' web sites and through the MSDSOnline® service at the IUEHS website
   9. The entrance to each laboratory in which hazardous materials are used or stored shall be posted with the names and phone numbers of the Principal Investigator, Lab Manager, or Lab Supervisor and any other designated personnel who can be contacted in the event of an emergency. Such signage will follow the Hazard Assessment and Laboratory Signage Program developed by IUEHS, or equivalent.
   10. The availability and use of a number of types of safety equipment are essential to the practice of safe science. Safety equipment, such as biosafety cabinets, fume hoods, safety showers, and emergency eyewashes, should be present in well-marked, highly visible, and easily accessible locations in or near all laboratories that use hazardous materials as necessary.
   11. The prompt reporting of hazardous material spills to proper University authorities is an essential element in the protection of the health and safety of faculty, staff, students, visitors, and patients. Follow the spill procedures for chemical, biological, or radiological spills as necessary.
   12. Employees are required to report all occupational injuries, illnesses, or incidents to their work supervisor. Following a report of an incident, the Authorized Medical Provider shall provide a confidential medical evaluation and follow-up to the employee.
2. Responsibilities
   1. University Environmental Health and Safety is responsible for:
      • Developing, implementing, and maintaining university programs concerning safety and environmental compliance while maintaining appropriate scientific knowledge of the materials, techniques and practices utilized, in collaboration with researchers and experts in the fields IUEHS regulates.
      • Assisting faculty members, principal investigators, lab managers, lab supervisors, or designated responsible authorities with risk assessments and risk mitigation including recommending or requiring safety equipment and PPE as necessary.
      • Performing periodic inspections to confirm compliance;
      • Providing and documenting generally applicable training for laboratory employees concerning the requirements of this policy and their responsibilities;
      • Providing guidance for the preparation of documents and lab-specific training programs required by this policy;
      • Maintaining current knowledge concerning the requirements for storage and use of regulated materials in the laboratory;
      • Investigating injuries, illnesses, or incidents in laboratories and communicating recommendations to appropriate personnel;
      • Participating in research oversight committees and reviewing protocols for safety and compliance;
      • Acting as the point of contact between Indiana University and the governmental entities charged with enforcing the regulatory requirements represented in this policy; and
      • Halting work in laboratories where lack of compliance with requirements represents a danger to individuals.
   2. Deans, Directors, and Department Heads are responsible for:
      • Ensuring that all departmental faculty and staff members understand and take seriously their roles in implementing the requirements of this policy; and
      • Ensuring an appropriate and safe workspace is provided for work being performed.
   3. Faculty Members, Principal Investigators, Laboratory Managers, Laboratory Supervisors, and Designated Responsible Authorities are responsible for:
      • Taking overall responsibility for the safety and supervision of individuals working within their laboratories;
      • Ensuring that each individual working within the lab is provided with appropriate training on safety and regulatory requirements and ensuring that their laboratory personnel receive the appropriate procedure-specific instruction and are proficient at performing those procedures;
      • Ensuring that each individual working within the lab is provided with any needed medical surveillance and/or medical support services required by their work;
      • Arranging for individualized medical screenings, surveillance and occupational health services as required;
      • Ensuring that required safety equipment and personal protective equipment are provided, maintained, and used;
      • Ensuring that specific standard operating procedures incorporating safety considerations are developed and observed;
      • Ensuring that prompt action is taken to correct any unsafe acts or conditions which have been observed or reported, whether through inspections or other routes;
      • Notifying IUEHS in the event of an injury or illness that occurs in the laboratory; and
      • Reading, understanding, and implementing all requirements associated with specific programs, as applicable, listed below.
   4.  Individuals within laboratories are responsible for:
      • Complying with all safety requirements for the work being performed;
      • Participating in required training and medical programs;
      • Wearing appropriate lab apparel and using personal protection equipment (such as lab coat, safety glasses, gloves, etc.);
      • Utilizing the appropriate safety equipment properly (such as the fume hood);
      • Reading, understanding, and following the established standard operating procedures;
      • Obtaining information prior to using an unfamiliar hazardous material or performing a new task; and
      • Informing the faculty member, principal investigator, lab manager, lab supervisor or designated responsible authority of any accident or unsafe conditions.
3. Requirements for Specific Types of Work
   Indiana University faculty and staff perform many different tasks in laboratory settings. Although the aforementioned general requirements apply to all laboratory work, the following guidelines, manuals, plans, and programs are enforceable by this policy. Compliance with other applicable federal, state, and local regulations may also be required.
   
   Animal Exposures: 
   Occupational Health and Safety for Individuals with Animal Exposures Program
   
   Biological Safety: 
   Biosafety Manual
   Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan
   
   Chemical Safety: 
   Anesthetic Gas Safety Program
   Compressed Gas Safety Program
   Controlled Substances Program for Research (Non-Practitioners)
   Formaldehyde Hazard Communication Program
   Laboratory Safety and Chemical Hygiene Plan
   
   Hazardous Materials Transportation: 
   Hazardous Materials Transportation Program
   
   Laser Safety: 
   Laser Safety Program
   
   Radiation Safety
   For IUB and Regional Campuses
   For IU Indianapolis and Regional Medical Education Centers
   
   Robots and Robotic Systems Safety: 
   Robots and Robotic Systems Safety Program
   
   Waste Management: 
   Waste Management Program

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Definitions

Designated Responsible Authority – An individual who is responsible for ensuring that all activities within their laboratory are conducted in accordance with this policy.

Hazardous Material – any substance that presents a potential hazard to the user from a biological, chemical, radiological, or other perspective.

IUEHS - University Environmental Health and Safety.

Indiana University Property – Buildings, grounds, and land that are owned by Indiana University or controlled by Indiana University via leases or other formal contractual arrangements to house ongoing IU operations.

Laboratory - A workplace where chemical, biological, radiological, animal, or hazardous machinery are used for study or research on a non-productive (i.e., not for the routine, methodical production of large volumes of materials or data for commercial sale) basis.

Lab Manager - A staff employee responsible for managing laboratory operations.

Lab Supervisor - A staff employee responsible for supervising laboratory personnel.

Laser - Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. A monochromatic, coherent beam of radiation not normally believed to exist in nature.

Principal Investigator (PI) - The lead scientist that plans and/or conducts the laboratory research and assumes the overall supervisory responsibility for laboratory operations and project completion.

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Sanctions

Failure to follow the requirements of this Policy can subject the employee to progressive disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal. Failure of the employee's supervisor to enforce the requirements of this Policy may result in temporary or permanent closure of the laboratory and subjects the supervisor to progressive disciplinary action, in accordance with University policies. Work may be halted in laboratories where lack of compliance with requirements represents a danger to individuals.

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Additional Contacts

EHS Campus Information

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History

This policy was established in 2015.

Updated definition of Laboratory; February 2016.

Updated contacts and definition of Lab Safety Coordinator; May 2018.

A substantive review of the policy was conducted by University Environmental Health and Safety and minor non substantive changes were made in October 2023.

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