Roles and Responsibilities

Laboratory safety is a shared responsibility. All individuals who conduct, supervise, support, or oversee laboratory activities are responsible for understanding and following the requirements of the LSP, applicable SOPs, and other University safety requirements.

Students

Students who work in or may be exposed to laboratory materials, equipment, or hazards must review and follow the LSP and applicable SOPs and complete required laboratory safety training before beginning work. Students are expected to:

  • Follow all laboratory safety procedures and instructions.
  • Use required PPE and laboratory safety equipment.
  • Maintain clean and orderly work areas.
  • Report hazardous conditions, unsafe practices, incidents, and concerns to faculty or laboratory staff.
  • Treat laboratory spaces, materials, and equipment responsibly.
  • Complete required laboratory safety training, including applicable course or laboratory-specific training.

Student Workers

Student Workers are University employees when performing work within the scope of their University employment and must comply with all applicable LSP, SOP, training, and safety requirements.

Research Students

Research Students conduct laboratory or research activities under the supervision of a Faculty/PI or qualified supervisor as part of an academic program.

Student Interns

Student Interns participate in laboratory activities as part of an internship, practicum, or other educational experience. Interns may perform assigned laboratory support activities but may not independently conduct research unless they are specifically authorized and appropriately trained.

Faculty, Principal Investigators, Qualified Supervisors and Laboratory Staff

Faculty, Principal Investigators, qualified supervisors, and laboratory staff are responsible for implementing the LSP within the laboratories and activities under their supervision. Their responsibilities include the following:

  • Complying with and reinforcing LSP and SOP requirements.
  • Ensuring students and other personnel receive required safety training before beginning laboratory work.
  • Ensuring appropriate PPE and safety controls are used.
  • Providing appropriate supervision of laboratory activities.
  • Ensuring visitors and other authorized personnel understand applicable safety requirements.
  • Maintaining safe laboratory conditions and conducting routine safety and housekeeping inspections.
  • Ensuring proper chemical inventory, procurement, storage, and disposal practices.
  • Reporting hazards, incidents, and unsafe conditions.
  • Obtaining required authorization before supervising laboratory research activities.

Laboratory Safety Coordinator

The LSC provides day-to-day coordination and oversight of the LSP within designated laboratory areas. The LSC is responsible for:

  • Implementing and overseeing LSP requirements.
  • Ensuring required laboratory safety training is completed and documented.
  • Maintaining access to training records.
  • Monitoring compliance with applicable SOPs.
  • Conducting required laboratory inspections.
  • Monitoring laboratory safety equipment and engineering controls.
  • Supporting corrective actions when deficiencies are identified.
  • Participating in the review and continuous improvement of the LSP.

Environmental Health and Safety

The Office of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) provides University-wide technical and regulatory oversight of laboratory safety. EHS responsibilities include:

  • Supporting compliance with applicable federal, state, and local health and safety requirements.
  • Providing technical guidance on laboratory hazards, controls, PPE, training, and safe work practices.
  • Conducting and documenting laboratory safety inspections.
  • Supporting the certification, maintenance, and operational readiness of laboratory safety equipment.
  • Reviewing laboratory safety aspects of new construction, renovations, and engineering controls.
  • Assisting with laboratory incident investigations and corrective actions.
  • Coordinating with regulatory agencies, vendors, and University departments as necessary.

Risk Management

The Office of Risk Management provides institutional oversight of laboratory-related risks and supports the University’s risk mitigation and compliance efforts. Responsibilities include:

  • Evaluating laboratory safety risks and potential regulatory gaps.
  • Supporting the University’s enterprise risk management framework.
  • Advising University leadership on laboratory-related risk mitigation.
  • Coordinating, as appropriate, with EHS, Human Resources, legal counsel, insurance representatives, and other stakeholders regarding laboratory incidents, claims, and workers’ compensation matters.

Department Chairpersons

Department Chairpersons or equivalent administrators are responsible for supporting implementation of the LSP within academic or administrative areas under their oversight where laboratory hazards or activities are present. Responsibilities include:

  • Providing administrative support for laboratory safety.
  • Supporting required LSP and SOP implementation.
  • Notifying EHS of significant changes to laboratory operations, locations, or personnel.
  • Supporting required training and recordkeeping.
  • Working with LSCs and EHS to address safety equipment and laboratory needs.
  • Reviewing laboratory inspection findings and ensuring identified maintenance or corrective actions are addressed.

Laboratory Safety Committee

The Laboratory Safety Committee (LSC) serves as the University’s multidisciplinary advisory and oversight body for the Laboratory Safety Program. Responsibilities include:

  • Reviews the effectiveness of the LSP and laboratory safety procedures.
  • Conducts an annual review of the LSP and recommends revisions as appropriate.
  • Reviews laboratory safety concerns, incidents, regulatory issues, and program performance.
  • Recommends improvements to laboratory safety practices and procedures.
  • Promotes consistent laboratory safety practices across University operations.

Facilities

Facilities support laboratory safety by maintaining the building infrastructure, utilities, ventilation systems, and engineering systems necessary for safe laboratory operations. Responsibilities include:

  • Maintaining laboratory ventilation and exhaust systems.
  • Supporting the inspection and maintenance of fume hoods and local exhaust systems.
  • Maintaining building utilities and infrastructure serving laboratories.
  • Supporting emergency safety equipment and systems.
  • Performing preventive maintenance and corrective repairs.
  • Responding to facility-related conditions that may affect laboratory safety.
  • Coordinating with EHS regarding hazardous conditions, shutdowns, maintenance, construction, and renovation activities.
  • Maintaining required inspection and maintenance documentation.
  • Supporting laboratory waste infrastructure and spill-control systems.
  • Ensuring laboratory-related construction and renovations incorporate applicable safety requirements.

Public Safety

Public Safety supports emergency responses involving laboratories and hazardous materials by assisting with evacuations, maintaining safe access and egress, controlling access to affected areas, and providing emergency responders with access to laboratories when necessary. Public Safety also supports the University’s portable fire extinguisher program, including inspection, maintenance, testing, and documentation in accordance with applicable requirements.