In accordance with Policy 3108: Health and Safety, lab personnel are responsible for complying with and enforcing all safety regulations and procedures that apply to their respective areas.

Labs can prepare for an inspection and remain compliant by:

• Reviewing Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP)
• Verifying chemical inventories
• Checking training records
• Confirming deficiencies identified during the previous lab safety inspection have been addressed
• Conducting regular self-inspections

Lab managers should regularly conduct self-inspections of their areas to ensure compliance with applicable regulatory requirements.

Self-assessments are intended to supplement inspections conducted by Risk Management and to facilitate a shared responsibility for laboratory safety and compliance.

The Laboratory Safety Self-Inspection Checklist should be used as a guide for maintaining a safe, healthy, and compliant laboratories.

*The checklist does not include every possible safety issue.

Unannounced Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) inspections are periodically conducted by Risk Management.

EH&S inspections are used to evaluate the implementation of appropriate laboratory safety principles and practices, identify any deficiencies, and provide guidance to assist lab personnel to create a safer laboratory environment.

Principal Investigators (PI) are responsible for initiating corrective actions for potential hazards or safety deficiencies identified during both self-inspections and EH&S lab inspections.

After an EH&S inspection, PIs will have two weeks to address safety concerns.

During this period, lab safety representatives are encouraged to consult with their Lab Coordinator, Risk Management (Marcella Mullenax) or the Office of Research Integrity (Mike Love and/or Jessica Herring) for guidance on appropriate corrective actions.

Most deficiencies should be resolved within two weeks; however, if deficiencies take longer than two weeks to correct, then PIs must notify Mike/Jessica with an anticipated completion date.

If a facility-related deficiency is identified, the submission of a work order request will qualify as an attempt to correct the deficiency.

Mike/Jessica will conduct follow-up inspections two-weeks and one day after the initial EH&S inspection.

Lab safety deficiencies that are not addressed by that time will be reported to the Academic Unit Head (AUH). PIs will then be given 1-week to implement corrective actions.

Any corrections that are still not made after an additional 1-week will be written up in a notice to the AUH and Vice Provost for Research, Economic Development and Innovation.

Failure to make corrective actions shall result in sanctions that will depend on the severity and/or frequency of the offense.