Each month the assigned buildings are split between

 Each month, the assigned building(s) are split between the team of LSPs equally (or as
equally as possible). All assessments in the building will be completed and results
reported to researchers within the month.
 The master schedule is placed on the ORS website and copies are provided to the
Director of Biosafety (DOB), the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO), and the DORS as
requested.
 Approximately one month prior to the beginning of the assessments for a particular
building, the SSCO or their designee sends a courtesy notification to all PIs and
laboratory supervisors currently listed as having spaces in that building according to
Chematix.
i. If the PI would like to schedule their assessment in order to be present, they may
request a specific date and time and these will be accommodated if possible.
ii. If no email is received, then it is assumed that the laboratory does not need to
have someone present for the assessment and the assigned LSP will simply
perform the assessment at some point within the month.

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Lab Safety Assessments |4
 The SSCO or their designee also offers to host training seminars either by department,
building, or for individual laboratories. For those that are interested, these seminars are
held typically 1-2 weeks prior to the beginning of routine assessments.
V.
Conducting Assessments
A typical laboratory safety assessment will take anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours
depending upon the type of hazards present in the laboratory. This includes travel time to
the lab, time to complete the assessment, and reporting of the assessment findings to the
PI.
Reports are typically filled out via electronic tablet or on paper and then entered into
Chematix upon returning to the office.
The following items are reviewed as part of a typical laboratory safety assessment:
 Immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH) conditions – a safety violation that
poses an immediate threat to life or would interfere with an individual’s ability to
escape from a dangerous situation. Labs with these types of deficiencies must
either correct the issue or develop a detailed action plan for addressing the issue
within 24-48 hours of receiving notice.
 Critical conditions – potentially dangerous conditions primarily resulting from
physical hazards or blocked/inoperable safety equipment. Labs with these types of
deficiencies are given 5-7 days to either correct the issue or develop a detailed
action plan for addressing the issue.
 General laboratory conditions – includes ingress/egress concerns, safety postings,
sink conditions, the presence of food/drink, personal protective equipment, and the
use of appropriate lab attire.
 Chemical storage and documentation – includes chemical storage and labeling,
including hazardous waste compliance
 Safety equipment – includes verifying the most recent assessment dates for safety
showers, eyewashes, fume hoods, and fire extinguishers as well as the presence of
first aid kits and spill kits, safety data sheets, and training documentation.