PI/Supervisor Onboarding

University Policy: Health and Safety Policy

Read University Policy 5.1.14 regarding Health & Safety. Ensure all personnel in the workspace have read and understand the policy prior to starting work.

Complete an Emergency Contact Sheet and post by all lab entrance doors.
Biology: contact Amy Gilliland for the template.
Chemistry: contact Jean Jorden for the template.
Other Departments: contact EHS for guidance.

Depending on the activities occurring in the workspace, one or more of the following documents may need to be developed and kept on file for immediate PI/lab worker access (i.e., binder with paper copies or digital files on a shared drive). Contact EHS with questions regarding which document type is needed.

Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP)

• All lab workers must be aware of and trained on the contents of the CHP.

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

• Laboratories must perform a hazard assessment of the laboratory procedures to determine which SOPs must be developed. At a minimum, a laboratory must have laboratory specific SOPs for chemical and biological hazards, any agents which are used in approved animal studies, and when conducting work with high hazard chemicals or equipment. See Section 2 of the CHP for more information about SOPs.

Emergency Response Plan (ERP)

• Work with the building coordinator or your department administration to procure the most recent version of the ERP.
• Ensure evacuation areas are posted near lab/room exit door.

Chemical List

• Ensure that your chemical list is up to date. Utilize the template below to build your chemical list. Once finalized, please email to EHS and store in lab binder or lab shared drive.
• Chemical List Template.
• If the list changes, please update and email new version to EHS.

SDSs

• Biology: Work with EHS to upload all lab specific chemical SDSs to KHA.
• Chemistry: All SDSs are located on KNACK.
• Other Departments: Work with EHS to upload all lab specific chemical SDSs to KHA.

Biosafety Manual

• If the laboratory is approved for BSL-1 or BSL-2 work, a copy of the Biosafety Manual must be available to all lab workers.
• Ensure BSL sign is posted outside of lab. If the sign is not posted, contact EHS.

Training Documentation

• The Agreement to Adhere to Lab Safety Policies and OHS Training and Awareness Form
• This document must be reviewed and signed by all lab workers and their supervisors. The Agreement must be kept on file and made available upon request.
• CITI, Comevo, and Canvas Training as applicable.
• Site or equipment specific training as provided by the PI/Supervisor.

If any work involves animals, biological materials, or human subjects, please contact the appropriate committee below prior to starting work.

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)

• Prior to initiating research with vertebrate animals or vertebrate eggs please contact Research Ethics and Compliance to ensure the online submission system, Cayuse Animal Oversight, is prepopulated with the information necessary for your research.
• To request access to Cayuse (IACUC submission system), please fill out Request Access to Cayuse Modules form.
• Visit Vertebrate Animal Research website for information on submitting an IACUC protocol.
• Training requirements can be found on Vertebrate Animal User Training website.

Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)

• IBC approval may be required prior to initiating work with biological agents and certain toxins. Please contact the IBC office.
• To request access to Cayuse (IBC submission system), please fill out Request Access to Cayuse Modules form.
• Visit the Biosafety Website for information on training requirements.

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

• Prior to initiating research with human subjects an IRB protocol is required to be submitted and reviewed.
• For more information regarding submitting an IRB protocol please visit the Human Subject Research Website.
• For specific question regarding human subject research please contact The Institutional Review Boardfor more information.

Hazardous Waste

• EHS assists generators on campus to assure that hazardous waste is managed in accordance with regulations. However, the generator is ultimately responsible for managing their waste safely.
• All hazardous waste shall be labeled with a hazardous waste sticker that lists waste composition and generator information, stored in a safe, approved, and secure area, that is properly segregated to avoid incompatibilities, collected in a compatible storage container (closed and in good condition), and should have at least 10 to 20 percent headspace left.
• Once waste is generated, submit a waste pick up request by emailing the form to sysenvironmental@IllinoisState.edu.
• If hazardous waste labels are needed:
• Biology: contact Amy Gilliland.
• Chemistry: contact Chemistry Stockroom.
• Other Departments: contact EHS.

Biohazardous Waste:

• Red Bag Non-Sharp Biohazardous Waste.
• Examples include: used gloves, gauze or bandages soaked in blood, suction canisters, surgical sponges, PPE contaminated with infectious materials, etc.
• Container holding red bag waste must be closable.
• Fill out a hazardous waste pickup request and email to EHS.

Autoclave Waste:

• Orange Bag Waste.
• Before use of the autoclave, ensure that yourself and all lab personnel have gone through documented autoclave training.
• Biology: contact Amy Gilliland.
• Chemistry: contact Jean Jorden.
• Other Departments: contact EHS.
• Ensure waste is in a closable container. The lid must be closed when not actively adding waste.
• Fill out the autoclave log every time a load is run.

Sharps Waste

• Red Container Sharps Waste.
• Examples include: needles, syringes, lancets, scalpels, pipettes and capillary tubes, razor blades, etc.
• Container must be hard-sided and leak-resistant with a puncture-resistant lid.
• Fill out a hazardous waste pickup request and email to EHS when container is full.
• Chemical Contaminated Sharps Waste.
• Chemical contaminated needles and syringes, razor blades, scalpels, pipettes and capillary tubes, glass slides and broken glass with chemical residue, etc.
• Container must be hard-sided and leak-resistant with a puncture-resistant lid.
• Fill out a hazardous waste pickup request and email to EHS when container is full. On the form, state that the sharps are contaminated and list out the chemicals that the waste is contaminated with so EHS can determine disposal.
• Glass Disposal.
• Cardboard boxes.
• For glass and broken glass disposal that is NOT CONTAMINATED WITH CHEMICALS OR BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS, throw into a cardboard glass disposal box. Contact EHS for any questions.

EHS must be contacted before any use or changes to RAM and/or X-ray areas occur. Please see the Radiation Safety webpage for more information.

Contact EHS if lasers or UV sources will be installed or relocated. All Class 3b and 4 lasers must be registered through Illinois Emergency Management Agency, Office of Homeland Security (IEMA OHS).

Individuals are responsible for registration, approval, proper handling, storage, and disposal of controlled substances in research and teaching to ensure compliance with federal and state laws. EHS must be notified of controlled substance use at ISU and will offer assistance to ensure compliance throughout the lifecycle of a controlled substance.

Shipments: If it is necessary to ship chemicals and/or biological materials, contact EHS as soon as possible to allow for correct categorization of the materials.

Note: Hazardous materials require a certified/trained shipper for packaging and shipping in accordance with federal and international transportation and shipping regulations (DOT & IATA). All hazardous materials will need to be shipped through EHS.

Export Control Policy

Export Control Website

Questions regarding export control related items can be sent to export@IllinoisState.edu.

• Review locations of safety equipment.
• Ensure first aid and spill kits are readily available and stocked. Request a chemical spill kit from EHS if the lab does not have one. Designate locations that are visible and easily accessible. Communicate kit locations and review spill procedures with personnel.
• Designate Personal Protective Equipment storage areas in the workspace and communicate the location to personnel.
• Segregate chemicals by hazard class for storage. Alphabetical or CAS number segregation solely does not ensure safety.
• Flammable materials must be stored in labeled flammable cabinets/flammable rated refrigerators. Storage of flammable materials outside flammable cabinets, such as on the bench, must not exceed the amount that can be used in one day’s operation.
• Ensure appropriate labeling of refrigerators, incubators, etc. Labels may include Biohazard, No Food/Drink, Not for Flammable Materials, etc. This includes labeling all equipment used with BSL-1 & 2 materials with biohazard stickers.
• Maintain 3 feet of clearance in all aisles.
• Storage requirements for ceiling clearance are 18” for rooms with sprinklers and 24” for rooms without sprinklers.
• Electrical panels and disconnects should be kept clear.