Environmental Health and Safety

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Requirements for faculty, staff, and students to comply with environmental health and safety and occupational health and safety standards 

Faculty

1. Chemical Hygiene Plan:
   All PI’s performing laboratory research must have an approved Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) in place.  Information for getting started on your CHP can be found at: http://ehs.osu.edu/ResBioSafety/ChemHP.aspx.

   A link to the EHS Online User Guide can be found below:
   https://ehs.osu.edu/resources?title=user+guide

   You will need your OSU login to get started on the interactive CHP. If you need assistance, please contact Mitch Baker at baker.779@osu.edu.
    

2. Chemical Inventory:
   Labs are required to submit a chemical inventory to Environmental Health and Safety.  If you would like an Excel template for your chemical inventory, please contact Toni Hoepf.           

   Once the inventory is submitted, EHS will upload it to EHS ASSIST on their website.  Additions or deletions of chemicals should be registered online.  Any changes regarding Dept. of Homeland Security chemicals of interest must be made within 30 days.  Below is a link to the list of these chemicals.  This is a federal government requirement.

   https://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/chemsec_appendixa-chemicalofinterestlist.pdf
    

3. Material Safety Data Sheets:
   Material Safety Data Sheets received with chemicals must be kept in a notebook in the lab.  Hard copies of common chemicals must be kept in a notebook in the lab.  Hard copies of common chemical MSDS should be kept.  If you do not receive a MSD, they can be electronically accessed via the EHS website.  EHS recommends saving electronic MSDS on media such as a flash drive. 
   http://ehs.osu.edu/research-biosafety
   You will find a link for ChemWatch under Chemical Safety.
    
4. Chemical Spill Supplies and First Aid Kits:
   All labs must have basic chemical spill supplies and a first aid kit.  Kitty litter may be used as a good general purpose absorbent.  Kits should also contain bleach, gloves and protective eyewear. Acid and base absorbents are also recommended.
    
5. Biohazard and Recombinant DNA Protocols:
   The Institutional BioSafety Committee (IBC) requires approved protocols for working with biohazardous agents/recombinant DNA.  Information and forms can be found at the Office of Responsible Research (ORRP) website: http://orrp.osu.edu/.

   The main page for the ORRP is: http://orrp.osu.edu

   For more information on BioSafety Levels see the Institutional Laboratory BioSafety Manual at: https://ehs.osu.edu/sites/default/files/complete_bsm.pdf.pdf

   Additional  BioSafety Websites:
   https://www.osha.gov/bloodborne-pathogens/standards
   https://www.cdc.gov/csels/dls/locs/2020/cdc_releases_6th_edition_of_biosafety_in_microbiology_and_biomedial_labs.html
    

6. Animal Use Protocols:
   Forms and information can be found at the ORRP website:
   http://orrp.osu.edu/
    
7. Human Subjects:
   Forms and information can be found at the ORRP website:
   http://orrp.osu.edu/
    
8. Radiation Safety:
   For information on obtaining a radioactive materials license, regulations and training, please see the Radiation Safety page on the Environmental Health and Safety website:
   http://www.ehs.osu.edu/RadSafety/default.aspx
    
9. Infectious Waste Disposal:
   Infectious waste should be disposed of according to your approved Institutional BioSafety Protocol.  For more information see Appendix C of the Institutional Laboratory BioSafety Manual:
   https://ehs.osu.edu/sites/default/files/complete_bsm.pdf.pdf.
   Infectious waste will be picked up free of charge by Environmental Health and Safety.  Supplies (burn boxes, bags, carboys, buckets) are also free of charge. 
   http://ehs.osu.edu/service-requests

NOTE:  An approved CHP and Animal Use Protocol must be in place for access to the ULAR animal facilities.

Training

All faculty, staff, graduate students and undergraduate students working in labs are required by OSHA to take the basic Lab Standard Training.  All personnel working in BSL-2 or BSL-1 labs are required to take the Biological Safety Training for BSL2 or BSL-1.  All personnel working with bloodborne pathogens and/or human material (not including fixed tissue) are required to take the Bloodborne Pathogens course. 

Additional training may be required dependent upon your lab’s specific protocols.
The OSU Building Emergency Action Plan is also a training requirement for all personnel.

In addition to the required training courses, EHS offers a number of online courses that may be beneficial and pertinent to your research.  An example would be Formaldehyde Safety, as this is a hazardous chemical used in many research applications.

All EHS courses are accessed through the EHS Assist link on the EHS home page.

https://ehs.osu.edu/

Below are the courses.

Lab Standard
Biological Safety Training for BSL-2/BSL-1
Bloodborne Pathogens*
*This course is required on an annual basis.
Building Emergency Action Plan

Radiation Course: Radiation Safety
All personnel working with radioactive material are required to take this training.  Training specific to the isotopes used in your laboratory should be given by the PI on an annual basis.

Completed courses should show up as a transcript.  Please print this page for all lab personnel and place in training section of the CHP.

Lab Animal Use:
If you are listed on an approved animal use protocol there are three requirements that must be met.

1. Registration with Occupational Health and Safety:
   You will be required to fill out the Online Risk Assessment Tool which is accessed from this page.
   http://orrp.osu.edu/iacuc/occhealth/
    
2. The CITI course "Working With IACUC" is required by all participants using animals in research.
   http://orrp.osu.edu/iacuc/training/

           Responsible Conduct of Research is also required.
           http://orrp.osu.edu/iacuc/study-team-requirements/

1. Contact ULAR for ID access to the Sisson Hall animal facility.
   Monica Smith: smith.286@osu.edu
   See the ULAR webpage for more information regarding their policies and services: http://ular.osu.edu/

   Note:  ULAR also offers animal handling and techniques classes on an as needed basis.  Call 292-5494 for more information.