Research Safety News
Are you prepared for a Cal/OSHA inspection? View this flyer for inspection expectations. Contact EH&S (ehs@ucsc.edu) for more information.
ARE YOU PREPARED?
Lab Spring Cleaning Week April 28th-May 2nd: EH&S will help you recycle and dispose of unwanted materials in your lab.
Need a lab coat or eye protection? Lab coat doesn't fit? Come to PPE office hours in PSB 210:
Tuesday: 3:00 - 5:00
Wednesday: 10:00 - noon
Thursday: 3:00 - 5:00
The Laboratory Hazard Assessment Tool (LHAT) applies to all labs with any hazardous materials. Note that the PI (in some cases "Responsible Person") must login first and create the assessment, then all lab group members can login, view the assessment and a 5-minute training video, take a quiz, and print a voucher for FREE lab coats and eye protection. LHAT login: ehs.ucop.edu/lhat, LHAT info.- All researchers, including PIs, in all labs using any hazardous materials are required by the UC Office of the President Lab Safety Training policy to take this class. Lab Safety Fundamentals class: learningcenter.ucsc.edu, search "Lab Safety Fundamentals", take the class. Lab safety training info: Lab Safety Manual/Lab Safety Training.
- Please review the following letter from VCR Brandt regarding the new UC Office of the President lab safety policies, procedures for assurance of lab safety compliance, and chemical inventory and other lab safety and compliance tools.
Letter From VCR Brandt - The Vice Chancellor for Research has released specific procedures for the correction of laboratory safety issues. These procedures ensure that Principal Investigators are given sufficient warning to correct deficiencies, and that deficiencies do not remain uncorrected.
Procedures for Assurance of Laboratory Safety Compliance 
The online lab safety class has been renamed "Laboratory Safety Fundamentals." UCSC "affiliates," including visiting researchers, can access the class using these instructions:
Laboratory Safety Fundamentals eCourseBioMed: September 19 between 10:30 AM and 12:00 Noon
E&MS: September 17 between 9:30 AM and 11:00 AM
ISB, CfAO, NS2 & Annex: September 17 between 9:30 AM and 11:00 AM (Simultaneous)
PSB: September 18 between 9:30 AM and 11:00 AM
School of Engineering: September 18 between 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM
Sinsheimer: September 19 between 10:30 AM and 12:00 Noon
Thimann: September 18 between 9:30 AM and 11:00 AM
View the latest lab personal protective equipment videos:
"Outfit for Safety"
"Stay Protected"- Summer interns working in UCSC laboratories must follow the requirements of the new UCOP Laboratory Safety Training and Minors in the Laboratory and Shops policies (see policies below). The laboratory safety training process for summer interns is summarized here.
The UC Office of the President (UCOP) issued three new laboratory safety policies on June 12, 2013. Links to these policies are provided below:
UCOP Laboratory Safety Training PolicyEH&S recently developed fact sheets on fume hoods and reducing laboratory clutter. Follow the links below to view and/or download the fact sheets.
Fume Hoods
Chemical Fume Hoods - General
Chemical Fume Hoods - PSB (note that only fume hoods in PSB have Phoenix occupancy sensors)- UCOP will come to UCSC in late 2013 or early 2014 to provide lab coats to all lab researchers. These lab coats will be custom-fitted to each researcher. Coat choices include fire-resistant (Nomex IIIA), basic (65% cotton/35% poly blend), or liquid-impervious ("barrier") coats. See notes from the May 2013 Lab Safety Representative meeting here.
- Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) must be written and approved for all research procedures using particularly hazardous substances or any chemical on the UC Regents Settlement Agreement chemical list. See the UCSC online Laboratory Safety Manual for the current SOP template and related information.
- Background
On December 29, 2008, UCLA research associate Sheharbano (Sheri) Sangji was in the process of transferring a highly flammable chemical agent (tert-butyllithium, a pyrophoric chemical that ignites when exposed to the atmosphere). While conducting the transfer, the pyrophoric agent spilled onto her hands, arms, and torso; and ignited. Sangji was not wearing a laboratory coat, and suffered burns. She died from injuries on January 16, 2009.
Settlement
The Los Angeles District Attorney filed a complaint alleging three felony violations against the Regents of the University of California ("UC Regents"). On July 27, 2012 the UC Regents signed an agreement accepting responsibility. The terms of the settlement apply to any laboratory facilities within the departments of Biochemistry and Chemistry.
Laboratory Safety Manual and other resources
The Laboratory Safety Manual is intended to be the cornerstone of your safety program and is designed to aid faculty, staff, and students to better manage the risk and mitigate the hazard to maintain a safe environment to teach and conduct research. Each laboratory using hazardous materials is required to have a copy of this manual readily available to all laboratory personnel. Each laboratory worker must be familiar with the contents of the manual and the procedures for obtaining additional safety information needed to perform their duties safely.
Are You Prepared?
Lab Spring Cleaning Week
PPE Office Hours
LHAT is Here! - November 2013
Lab Safety Fundamentals Training - November 2013
Letter From VCR Brandt Regarding Laboratory Safety - October 2013
Procedures for Assurance of Laboratory Safety Compliance - October 2013
Updated "Affiliate" Access Instructions for Online Lab Safety Class - September 2013
Fall Quarter Building Evacuation Schedule - August 2013
New PPE Videos - August 2013
Lab Safety Training for Summer Interns - June 2013
UCOP Laboratory Safety Policies - June 2013
Fact Sheets - May 2013
Personal Protective Equipment Fitting Event - May 2013
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) - April 2013
UC Regents Agreement - September 2012
