Office of Research: Environmental Health and Safety

What's New?

Content Last Update: 05/02/13

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Biological Safety:

Safety Update  / Infectious Agent Shipping and Transport Policy

April 10, 2013

Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations require that UCSF laboratory personnel be trained to properly package and ship any biohazardous samples used in research.  In addition, non-hazardous biological materials must also be properly packaged to avoid loss or spill during transport.

Infectious Shipping

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Chemical Safety:

Safety Update  / Hazard Communication Standards

May 1, 2013

New changes to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Hazard Communication Standard are bringing the United States into alignment with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). The new OSHA Standard requires employers to train all employees on new label elements and Safety Data Sheet (SDS) format by December 1, 2013.

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Laboratory SOP  /  UCSF Lab SOP Dropbox

Feb. 6, 2013

UCSF Lab SOP Dropbox (for UCSF only; to join contact your EH&S Specialist)

Drop Box

Safety Update  /  Executed Settlement Agreement

Jan. 23, 2013

On July 27, 2012, the UC Regents and the Los Angeles District Attorney reached a settlement to remove the criminal charges against the UC system in connection with the fatal lab accident that occurred in December 2008. As part of the settlement, UCLA and the other UC campuses are required to provide and document certain lab safety training and resources.

Policies & Manuals  /  Chemical Hygiene Plan

Jan. 9, 2013

The purpose of this plan is to assist laboratories to implement practices which will ensure the safety of all concerned and allow compliance with regulatory requirements.

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Safety Update  /    Mandatory Chemical Use Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

Mar. 26, 2013

Create lab specific standard operating procedures (SOPs) for all laboratory work that includes use of high hazard chemicals (HHC) and known human carcinogens (KHC).  SOPS must include a description of lab specific chemical handling operations including safety procedures for each HHC and KHC planned for use.

SU Man SOP Button

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Ergonomics:

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Facilities Management:

Policies and Manuals / Operating Procedures Outline Sheets (OPOS)           

January 8, 2013

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Policies and Manuals  /  Control of Hazardous Energy Sources (Lockout / Tagout)

Jan. 15, 2013

Lockout Tag out (LOTO) is a critical process designed to prevent employee exposures to hazardous energy sources and from equipment that might otherwise start up un-expectantly. The process ensures that those potentially exposed to this type of risk, have knowledge and control over its activation and/or release of energy.

UCSF LOTO Work Button

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General Safety:

Policies and Manuals (ALL Disciplines)  /  UCSF Addendum to UC EH&S Laboratory Safety Design Guide          

January 4, 2013

This addendum is prepared to insure all UCSF specific requirements are met.

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Safety Updates  /  Refresher Requirements for LSR Training

April 1, 2013

Effective May 1, 2013, all UCSF laboratory workers must complete Laboratory Safety For Researchers (LSR) training every 3 years.

Training copy

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Industrial Hygiene:

Programs  / Hearing Conservation Program

Feb. 13, 2013

Exposure to excessive noise in the workplace can cause permanent hearing loss. The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) attempts to control noise exposures to UCSF workers at a level below the Cal-OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 90 dBA average over an 8 hour work day. It is not anticipated that UCSF employees are exposed to noise levels above the Cal-OSHA PEL or Cal-OSHA action level of 85 dBA averaged over an 8 hour work day.

Hearing Conservation buttons

Respiratory Protection Program (RPP)  /  Respirator & Mask Guide (Campus)

May 2, 2013

Guide to the campus mask and respirator sorted by Names, Purpose, Fit Testing Requirements, Manufacturing Part Number, and Identifying Features.

Respirator Poster CampusButtonSm

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Public Health:

March 18, 2013


 Exposure Information /  Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV)

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Radiation Safety:

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