Laboratory Safety

Useful Links for Lab Safety

15 Common Laboratory Inspection Violations

Chemical Hygiene Plan

Emergency Planning for Research Laboratories

Emergency Response Plan for Hazardous Substances Release — Uptown Campus & Downtown Campus

Emergency Response Plan for Hazardous Substances Release — Health Sciences Campus

Emergencies that May Impact UAlbany Research Laboratories

ETEC Laboratory Entrance Sign

Laboratory Decommissioning Checklist

Laboratory Entrance Sign

Laboratory Emergency Storm Preparedness Checklist

Laboratory Safety Startup Checklist

Laboratory Security Policy

OSHA Lab Standard

Additional Links

Biosafety

The Biosafety Program's mission is to support a safe and compliant environment for research and teaching activities involving biohazardous materials.

We work closely with UAlbany's Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) and Office of Regulatory & Research Compliance (ORRC) to ensure that all biological work is conducted in a manner that protects researchers, staff, students, and the broader community.

The Biosafety Program provides essential support and guidance in the following areas:

IBC Protocol Assistance
Laboratory Safety Surveys
Biohazard Spill Response
Biohazard Exposure Follow-up and Reporting
Infectious Substance Shipping Training
Biosafety Consultation and Hands-On Training

For questions or concerns related to any of these topics, please contact Biosafety Officer Rahim Ullah.

biosafety

Biological Safety Manual, Guidance Documents and Training

Biosafety Manual

Comprehensive Risk-based Laboratory Inspection Program

Managing Your Biological Waste at UAlbany

For training information, please visit the IBC webpage and Required Training webpage.

Preparing for your upcoming lab visit

Personnel

Ensure that the registration is up to date.
Ensure that the required training for all listed personnel is up to date. For training information, please visit the IBC webpage and Required Training webpage.
To check the training dates or expiration of your laboratory personnel, please contact the Biosafety Officer at 518-442-3495.

Laboratory Preparation

Bench tops are clean, organized and free from clutter.
Laboratory trash is not over-filled and trash cans are covered when appropriate.
Sharps containers are replaced when full.
Eye washes are flushed, with monthly records filled out and available.

Registration, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Biohazardous Agent Reference Documents (BARDs):

Ensure that the registration is up to date and that all lab personnel know how to access the IBC Registration through PACS Safety Module.
SOPs, BARDs and any other safety information should be readily available to all laboratory personnel.

Biohazardous Materials and Biosafety Controls:

Biosafety Cabinets should have current annual certifications.
All laboratory equipment must be in safe operating condition.
All materials should be stored appropriately.

Waste, Safety and PPE:

All PPE is available and used as described in the registration.
All laboratory waste is disposed as described in the registration.
No biohazard waste is in the regular trash.
All biohazard waste is labeled appropriately.

IBC - Preparing for your upcoming lab visit PDF

Recombinant DNA Guidance

Biological Materials: Permits, Shipping & Transport

Transportation and Shipment of Biological Materials

Permitting of Biological Materials

Shipping Acknowledgement Statement

Shipping Classification Guidance for Biological Materials

If you are neutralizing or inactivating the sample/specimen, contact EH&S for shipping guidance. Otherwise, proceed as follows:

Is your sample one of the following: a clinical specimen, a laboratory sample (culture) containing pathogens, or a laboratory sample containing human/private material (including established cell lines)?

If you answered yes to, or you're unsure about, the above text, does your sample/specimen contain (or is it suspected to contain) micro-organisms that may be pathogenic to humans or animals?

If you answered yes to the above, is your sample/specimen capable of causing permanent disability, life-threatening or fatal disease in otherwise healthy humans or animals (e.g., Category A infectious substances)?
- If you answered yes: UN 2814/2900 Infectious substance, affecting humans / animals. Anyone classifying a regulated biological material must be current with shipping training. Shipments involving dry ice or other dangerous goods (e.g., chemical preservatives) in addition to the biological material must follow the shipping regulations for those materials.
- If you answered no: UN 3373 Biological substance, Category B. Anyone classifying a regulated biological material must be current with shipping training. Shipments involving dry ice or other dangerous goods (e.g., chemical preservatives) in addition to the biological material must follow the shipping regulations for those materials.
If you answered no to the above bullet, is it a human/animal specimen for which a professional judgement has determined that it has good likelihood of containing pathogens? In determining if a patient specimen has a minimal likelihood that a pathogen is present, an element of professional judgement is required. This judgement should be based on known patient medical history, symptoms and individual circumstances of the source, human or animal, and endemic local conditions.
- If you answered yes: Exempt human specimen or Exempt animal specimen. Anyone classifying a regulated biological material must be current with shipping training. Shipments involving dry ice or other dangerous goods (e.g., chemical preservatives) in addition to the biological material must follow the shipping regulations for those materials.
- If you answered no: Contact EH&S

If you answered no to the above text, is your sample a genetically modified organism or micro- organism (non-pathogenic)?

If you answered yes: UN 3245 Genetically modified organisms and micro- organisms. Anyone classifying a regulated biological material must be current with shipping training. Shipments involving dry ice or other dangerous goods (e.g., chemical preservatives) in addition to the biological material must follow the shipping regulations for those materials.
If you answered no: Not Regulated. Shipments involving dry ice or other dangerous goods (e.g., chemical preservatives) in addition to the biological material must follow the shipping regulations for those materials.

For an infographic representation of this process, please review the Flowchart for the Classification of Biological Materials.

DURC and PEPP policy

For detailed information on DURC and PEPP policies, please visit the IBC webpage and consult the Biosafety Manual.

Select Agents and Toxins Reference Pages

Federal and State Resources, Biosafety Regulation, Safety Policies & Guidelines

Biological Risk Assessment Resources

Biosafety Topics in Laboratory Spaces

10 Basic Safety Tips to Prevent Sharps Injuries

Never overfill a sharps container! Close for disposal in RMW boxes at 2/3's full.
Do not recap a needle or modify by bending, breaking or removing a needle
Always use sharps with integrated safety devices where available
Before starting work, ensure the sharps container is close by, and the lid is open and clear
Immediately after use, activate the safety device and discard in to a sharps container
Be trained in the procedure and the device
Never rush an experiment or procedure
If you drop a sharp, never leave it for someone else to pick up
Ensure a sharps container is closed before it is relocated
Never pass a sharp by hand, use a neutral zone if it is necessary

Chemical Safety

Chemical Laboratory Safety Policies, Protocols & Guidance

Chemical Hygiene Plan

Chemical Laboratory Safety and Security by The National Academies of Sciences - Engineering - Medicine

Controlled Substance Use Policy

Emergency Response Plan for Hazardous Substances Release — Uptown Campus & Downtown Campus

Emergency Response Plan for Hazardous Substances Release — Health Sciences Campus

Emergencies that May Impact UAlbany Research Laboratories

Formaldehyde Policy

Hazardous Waste Flowchart

Hazardous Waste Training

How to Recycle Empty Balloon Time Helium Tanks

Policy for Purchasing or Transferring Hazardous Materials to UAlbany

Universal Waste Disposal Policy & Guidelines

Waste Minimization Policy

Laboratory Chemical Inventory Tools

Department of Homeland Security Chemicals of Interest List

Sample Chemical Inventory Spreadsheet

UAlbany Chemicals of Interest Inventory

Laser Safety

UAlbany has developed a program to provide guidance and instruction to faculty, staff and students for the safe use of lasers and laser systems and to ensure compliance with the American National Standard for Safe Use of Lasers (ANSI 136.1).

The Laser Safety Officer is designated to monitor, evaluate and control all laser radiation hazards. Class 3b and 4 Lasers and Laser Systems must be registered with the Office of Environmental Health & Safety using the Laser Registration Form.

laser

Radiation Safety

Radioactive materials and radiation producing devices are important tools in modern scientific research. However, the various types of radiation emitted by these materials or devices have been shown to be potentially hazardous to human health.

UAlbany is licensed to use radioactive materials and radiation producing devices by the New York State Bureau of Environmental Radiation Protection within the Department of Health.

Under these agreements, authority to review and approve the use of regulated radioactive material and radiation producing equipment is delegated to the University's Radiation Safety Committee.

The RSC and Radiation Safety Officer implement and maintain a Radiation Protection Program to ensure that:

Any hazard associated with the use of radioactive materials or radiation producing devices are minimized and work related radiation exposures are maintained As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA).
All uses of these materials and devices are in strict compliance with applicable state and federal regulatory requirements.
A safe and healthy research environment is available to faculty, staff, students and visitors by providing training, supervision and support and establishing policies by which radioactivity may be safely used.

radiation

Radiation Safety Policies, Forms & Guidance

Application For Use of Radiation Producing Equipment

Application For Use of Radioactive Materials

Contamination Survey Report

Program Funding Form

Radioactive Material Transfer Form

Radiation Safety Annual Refresher Training

Radiation Safety Manual

Request for Personal Exposure Monitoring

Statement of Training and Experience

Radiation Safety Committee

UAlbany's Radiation Safety Committee (RSC) is mandated as a condition of federal and state licenses for the use of Radioactive Material and Radiation Producing Devices on the University campuses.

The RSC has been granted authority by the President of the University and is the governing body for all aspects of radiation protection at the University.

The Committee provides oversight of the policies, procedures and responsibilities of University's Radiation Protection Program, which functions through the Radiation Safety Staff and the Office of Environmental Health & Safety.

The goal of the RSC is to ensure that the University's possession, use and disposition of radioactive sources and radiation complies with all federal and state regulations and with the specific conditions of licenses issued to the University, and to ensure the protection of all University personnel, students, visitors, members of the general public and the environment regarding the safe use of radioisotopes and radiation.

Contact the Radiation Safety Officer.