Safety Training

As required under the OSHA Laboratory Standard, Texas Department of State Health Services and the Rice Safety Policy 313, researchers must attend training prior to working in the laboratory or before working with biological or radiological materials or equipment. In addition, Laboratory Safety Policy 313 states that the PI or a designated laboratory representative will be responsible for providing laboratory specific training. This training must include special handling and documentation procedures for each type of hazard present in the lab and the training should be documented in the safety binder.

Courses presented by Rice EHS staff include:

General Laboratory Safety - This course is designed to cover topics in general laboratory safety including personal protective equipment, proper use of a chemical fume hoods and biosafety cabinets, hazardous chemical usage and segregation, hazard communication, waste segregation and disposal, proper gas cylinder use, spill response, and emergency response.

Biosafety and Bloodborne Pathogens - This course is designed to cover a broad range of biological safety concerns including BSL1 and BSL2 work practices as well as the NIH/CDC classification of biological organisms and safety requirements for working with biohazards and recombinant DNA. It is designed to be compliant with the OSHA requirement for in person bloodbourne pathogens training and covers emergency procedures, waste management and spill response.

Radiation Safety - This course cover topics in radiation safety including radiological theory, types of decay, detection, dosimetry calculations, potential effects on the human body, ALARA, administrative requirements, waste disposal, and emergency response.

Laser Safety - This course is designed to cover topics in laser safety including basics of lasers and laser light, laser hazard classes, laser beam injuries, and hazard control measures.

Phlebotomy - The course is offered by a third party subcontractor qualified to teach basic knowledge on blood collection, handling and processing of samples, and safety.

Additional Safety Training videos have been produced to supplement our instructor led courses. Links to these videos are under the "Training Videos" menu in the side bar.