Signage, Documentation, and Trainings

Contained in this section:

  • The signs that are required to be posted outside of your lab
  • Required documentation, both posted and non-posted
  • Information about Trainings and how to assign them

Required Signage Posted Outside of Lab Spaces

Below are the documentation labs need to have posted at the front door of the lab. There may be slight variations depending on the building you work in.

Emergency Laboratory Safety Information Card

All labs need to have an Emergency Contact Information form printed, filled out, and posted at the front door of the lab.  They look like this:

Download the form for McCourtney Hall here:

https://riskmanagement.nd.edu/assets/445072/mccourtney_contact_hazards_cards.pdf

Download the form for all other buildings (Stepan Chemistry, Harper) here:

https://riskmanagement.nd.edu/assets/444927/door_sign_updated_10_15.xlsx

Though not required, many labs also include a list of graduate students working in the lab along with their contact information in case of any emergencies.

PPE Certification

All labs need to have a PPE Knowledge Certification form printed, filled out by everyone that accesses the lab, and posted at the front door.  They look like this and a download can be found here:

The form declares what PPE is required by default, as well as any lab-specific PPE requirements.  All lab personnel that use the lab must sign this knowledge certification before entering.  

If your lab needs to determine what PPE should be needed, you can access the RMS Online PPE Assessment Form below. Okta sign-in is required.

https://nd.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0CUIS6GO9udF9rv

Biosafety Signage

If your lab works under any biosafety level (BSL-1, 2, or 3) you are required to have biohazard signage outside of your lab space with the BSL prominently displayed. In order to get BSL signage, you must reach out to RMS and the Institutional Biosafety Committee and pass an inspection. For more information of biosafety please look at our biosafety page or the ND Biosafety manual on this page.

Other Required Documentation

Custodial Services Request Form

Ensures that building staff can clean your lab space and prevents any accidents or interference with research materials.

Can be found here and looks like this:

Emergency Procedures

All labs need to have an Emergency Action Plan written.  RMS has a webpage with Emergency Action Plan templates specific to every building on campus.  You can download them from the LSO Drive (Drive/Resources/Emergency Action Plan Templates) or from the RMS website (link below).

https://riskmanagement.nd.edu/general-safety-programs/emergency-planning-program/building-department-emergency-actions-plans

These can serve as a good template to draft (with your PI) an EAP if you do not currently have one.  Most parts are already filled out, but you may need to fill in tables such as Critical Operations personnel.

It is a good idea to contact your building manager confirming where the emergency shelter location is for your lab in the event of a tornado. EAPs also benefit from having a map indicating where everyone is to meet during fire alarms (see example below).  Consider also having a role sheet to take to the meeting location. 

SOPs

Each lab should have standard operating procedures for dangerous chemicals (e.g. liquid nitrogen). Furthermore, lab specific training is also required, including “Chemical Specific Training is the responsibility of the PI and is required by OSHA.” Part of promoting laboratory safety culture includes ensuring SOP documents and chemical specific training are up to date for your lab. While crafting these documents is not a responsibility of the LSO, it is in the best interest of the PI and Lab personnel to generate lab specific safety documentation. 

Training Needs Assessment Form

Each lab needs to have 1 Training Needs Assessment Form filled out per unique worker type in a lab, i.e. 1 form for graduate students, 1 form for undergraduate students, etc.

The Training Needs Assessment Form can be found here. This form determines what types of training need to be completed by lab members in endeavor.

LSOs should apply for dotted line supervisor status here near the bottom of the page.