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 (301) 405-8755.
The signage program is available at: http://www.des.umd.edu/ls/labsignage/index.html
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/compliance/forms/checklist.pdf
A list of Compliance Officers may be reviewed at: https://des.umd.edu/compliance/list.cfm
If chemicals are to be used:
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
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 any prior approval conditions believed necessary for safe operation of the lab (e.g., substitution of process reagents, unattended reactions, working alone at night, etc.)
Submit copy of completed Chemical Hygiene Plan to Environmental Safety and applicable Compliance Officer
If chemical exposure is suspected, contact Environmental Safety (301) 405-8755 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 Chemistry Stores (Chemistry Building, Rm 0202)
Implement procedures in the UM Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Program. If a Chemical Hygiene Plan is implemented for the lab, the PPE Program requirements are satisfied by specifying necessary PPE in the written Standard Operating Procedures. The PPE Program is available at: http://www.des.umd.edu/os/ppe/ppe.pdf
If research involves use of infectious agents; select agents or toxins; recombinant DNA; human cell culture, blood or unfixed tissues from humans or non-human primates; or generation of transgenic animals:
You must submit an application to be authorized by the Radiation Safety Officer and Radiation Safety Committee for possession and use of radioactive materials as described at:
http//www.des.umd/rs/material/manual/1.html#three
You must complete the Radiation Safety Training for Radioactive Materials' Users and receive a signed certificate as described at: https://des.umd.edu/Training/BasicT.cfm
If research involves X-Ray devices or Electron Microscopes:
You must submit an application to be authorized by the Radiation Safety Officer and Radiation Safety Committee to possess and use X-Ray devices as described in the UM Radiation Safety Manual available at: http//www.des.umd/rs/material/manual/1.html#three
You must complete the Radiation Safety Training for Radiation Producing Devices' Users and receive a signed certificate as described at: https://des.umd.edu/Training/BasicT.cfm
You must register your X-Ray devices or Electron Microscopes with the Department of Environmental Safety and the Maryland Department of the Environment.
If research involves Class III or Class IV lasers:
You must be authorized by the Laser Safety Officer to possess and use Class III or Class IV lasers as described in the UM Laser Safety Plan which is available at: http://www.des.umd.edu/rs/laser/laserplan.html
If researchers ship hazardous materials off campus they must:
For hazardous materials other than infectious agents or radioactive materials, coordinate packaging, labeling and shipments through Central Shipping (301) 405-5852 or through DES Environmental Affairs (301) 405-3960
Contact DES (301) 405-3961 to coordinate shipment of radioactive materials
For infectious agents, Contact DES (301) 405-6513 to schedule further training