Training Requirements
General and specialized training is required before working in Rice University laboratories. Substitution of training from other organizations or institutes is not accepted as formal training since operational guidelines, emergency procedures, and waste management protocols are unique to Rice.
Use this document as a guideline to determine the types of training you are required to complete. All training courses are required ANNUALLY.
General Laboratory Safety
General Laboratory Safety training is designed to cover topics in general laboratory safety including personal protective equipment, the proper use of chemical fume hoods, hazardous chemical usage and segregation, hazard communication, proper waste segregation and disposal, proper gas cylinder use, spill response, and emergency response.
The activities performed which require this training are:
Conducting experiments in a laboratory where chemicals, biological agents, and/or physical hazards are present. Physical hazards include radiological, lasers or intense pulsed light, industrial machinery, and nanomaterials.
** The initial training class for this course must be in person. All annual refresher courses after the initial course can be completed online or in person. **
Biosafety and Bloodborne Pathogens
Biosafety and Bloodbourne Pathogens is designed to cover a broad range of biological safety concerns and familiarize research staff with the safety resources Rice University has to offer. This course covers the NIH/CDC classification of biological organisms and safety requirements for working with biohazards and recombinant DNA in research laboratories in addition to emergency procedures, waste management and spill response. It is designed to be compliant with the OSHA requirement for bloodbourne pathogens annual in person training.
The activities performed which require this training are:
Conducting experiments with potentially viable biological materials, including:
- Microorganisms (Biosafety Level 2)
- Cells or Cell Lines
- Tissue Cultures
- Viruses
- Human blood or body fluid.
- Unfixed human or animal tissue or organ.
- Potentially infectious material (unscreened cell lines, tissue cultures)
Any active users listed on an approved IBC protocol for work that is not exempt by NIH guidelines as provided in Section III-F.
** The initial training class for this course must be in person. All annual refresher courses after the initial course can be completed online or in person. **
Radiation Safety
Radiation Safety training is designed to cover topics in radiation safety including radiological theory, types of decay, detection, dosimetric calculations, potential effects on the human body, ALARA, administrative requirements, waste disposal, and emergency procedures.
The activities performed which require this training are:
Conducting experiments in any laboratory where radiological hazards exist. Radiological hazards can include radioactive material (RAM) or source materials. If your research does not use any radiological hazards but is located in a RAM use area you should attend training.
** The initial training class for this course must be in person. All annual refresher courses after the initial course can be completed online or in person. **
Laser Safety
Laser Safety training 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.
The activities performed which require this training are:
Conducting experiments in any laboratory where class 3B and 4 lasers are used.
** The initial training class for this course must be in person. All annual refresher courses after the initial course can be completed online or in person. **
X-Ray Safety Training
X-Ray Safety Training is designed to cover topics in radiation safety including radiological theory, detection, dosimetric calculations, potential effects on the human body, ALARA, administrative requirements, and emergency procedures.
The activities performed which require this training are:
The operation of a cabinet/minimal threat X-Ray device, or conducting experiments in any laboratory where an open beam X-Ray system is in operation.
Lab Specific Training
This document is intended to be completed by the PI or their designee and used to document laboratory specific training. Every member of the lab must be provided lab specific training and that training bust be documented by adding their training information to the bottom of this document. Training must also be updated anytime a major change is made to the document or a new hazard class is introduced in the lab.
A current version of this document must be updated and uploaded to the documents section of your lab Bioraft account.
It is recommended that this training be completed prior to the start of work in a laboratory. OSHA requires this training be completed within 30 days of new work practices.
Lab Specific Safety Plan and Training Checklist
NOTE: Rice University Office of Sponsored Projects and Research Compliance (SPARC) regulates certain research activities in order to comply with federal regulations and university policies. Compliance information can be found at https://sparc.rice.edu/
Schedules of safety training or to signup for training is found here.