Each employee who works with, or is potentially exposed to, hazardous chemicals will receive initial training on the Hazard Communication/Right-to-Know Law. Training will include the safe use of hazardous chemicals and will take place before initial contact with the chemical.
At the beginning of the fall term, a safety program is presented by the Environmental Health & Safety Department for entering graduate students, teaching assistants and as refresher information for other campus employees. Safety information is also incorporated in the teaching laboratory. For individuals conducting specialized experiments or using dangerous equipment or chemical reactions, the supervisor will instruct the employee or student on appropriate safe practices (e.g., laser or X-ray experiments). From time to time, fire extinguisher refresher classes are also offered. Notices will be posted in advance so students and staff can register.
In addition, the employee may be required to receive additional training from the laboratory director as different procedures are used.
All new personnel, including technicians, postdoctorals, graduate students, undergraduate lab assistants and other lab workers will be provided with information concerning the specific chemical hazards in their laboratory at the time of their initial work in the laboratory. A general training session on emergency procedures and general hazards will be offered at orientation by the Environmental Health & Safety Department. Refresher information and training will be given at 12-month intervals. Specific information will be given at other times by the individual laboratory supervisors if hazards are not already covered by the more general training sessions. These safety sessions will also be held when unusual hazards will be encountered by a lab worker.