Safety and Environmental Management Requirements for Operating Laboratory Facilities at UM
Warning signs must be placed at doors to all laboratories and lab support spaces (cold rooms, equipment rooms, spectroscopy rooms, etc.). Signs may be requested by lab managers online at: http://www.des.umd.edu/programs/enslab.html
or information may be supplied directly to an Environmental Safety representative by calling 405-3960.
The signage program is available at: http://www.des.umd.edu
Review elements of the Lab Personnel Safety Check List with each lab employee and sign off when completed. Return signed copies of the Check Lists to the appropriate departmental Compliance Officer. The Check List is available at: http://www.des.umd.edu
A list of Compliance Officers may be reviewed at: https://des.umd.edu
Implement procedures in the UM Personal Protective Equipment Program. The program is available at: http://www.des.umd.edu/os/ppe/ppe.pdf
Required elements of program include:
Written hazard assessments
Provide necessary protective equipment
Train employees in the proper use and care of protective equipment
Implement procedures in the UM Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) which is available at: http://www.des.umd.edu/os/ch/chp.pdf
Develop and insert the necessary lab-specific elements:
Chemical inventory
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
Identify carcinogens, teratogens, mutagens, & acute toxins and establish designated location(s) for their use
Define conditions that require prior notification to the lab manager (e.g., substitution of process reagents, unattended reactions, working alone at night, etc.)
Establish requirements for use of Personal Protective Equipment
Specify when engineering controls (e.g., fume hood) are necessary
Emergency procedures
Contact information
Chemical safety data (e.g., Material Safety Data Sheets, or instructions for their access)
Specify prior approval conditions
Submit copy of completed Chemical Hygiene Plan to Environmental Safety and applicable Compliance Officer.
If chemical exposure is suspected, contact Environmental Safety (301) 405-3980 to coordinate exposure assessment
Insure that employees report (suspected) chemical over-exposures or injuries and seek medical attention
Coordinate training of all lab employees:
Chemical Hygiene Training Program for Laboratory Workers is available online at: https://des.umd.edu/Training/ch/login.cfm
Lab Manager must provide training to lab employees concerning the implementation of CHP and SOPs
Obtain a spill kit for containment of minor spills in laboratories. Kit and replacement supplies are available from General Stores. Description and part numbers are available at: http://www.des.umd.edu/hw/spill/generalstores.html
If regulated wastes are generated (chemical, biological, radiological):
If research involving infectious agents, transgenic plants or animals, human blood or tissue, or recombinant DNA is conducted:
Notify the Biosafety Officer of your intent to conduct this research by completing the appropriate registration form which is available at: http://www.des.umd.edu/general/form.html
If working with human blood, unfixed human tissues or human cell cultures, take Bloodborne Pathogens for Researchers training annually which is available online at: https://des.umd.edu/training/bbp/login.cfm
and implement procedures of the UM Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan which is available at: http://www.des.umd.edu/biosafety/bbp/bbp1.html
Consult the Radiation Safety Officer/staff ((301) 314-8336) or the Radiation Safety Web Page for additional information concerning X-Ray devices, particle accelerators, transportation of radioactive materials: http://www.des.umd.edu/rs/index.html
If research involves Class III or Class IV lasers: