Any individual working in a laboratory to include laboratory personnel and support services staff must complete safety training commensurate with their level of participation in laboratory activities and the duties they perform. Laboratory safety training includes classes provided by EHS and laboratory-specific training provided by Principal Investigators and Laboratory Supervisors.
EHS laboratory safety classes are offered on a routine basis at the Fairfax and Science and Technology campuses. To view the class schedule and register for training, visit EHS Assistant.
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What Training Classes do I Need?
Laboratory Safety Orientation
Required for all laboratory personnel before beginning work in university laboratories; laboratories with chemical, biological, or physical hazards present.
Biological Safety for BSL-2 Laboratories
Required (in addition to Laboratory Safety Orientation) for laboratory personnel who work in laboratories operating at Biosafety Level 2 with infectious agents, human or primate material, recombinant or synthetic nucleic acids, before beginning work in a BSL-2 laboratory.
Annual Refresher Training
Required for all laboratory personnel. If you register within 15 months of your previous training date, you may attend of our refresher courses.
- Personnel who work in BSL-2 laboratories should attend BSL-2 Biosafety Refresher
- Personnel who work in any other laboratory should attend Laboratory Safety Refresher
NOTE: Annual Refresher Training MUST be completed within 15 months of your previous training.
Animal and Vivarium Safety
Required for personnel involved in the care and use of laboratory animals and must be renewed every three (3) years.
Hazard Specific Training
Provided to laboratory workers on an as-needed basis for the following:
- Work with ionizing radiation
- Work with lasers
- Working Safely with HIV
- Shipping Class 6.2 Infectious Materials and Dry Ice
- Environmental Field Safety
- Biosafety Level 3 containment
- Autoclave equipment
Lab-specific Training
- All researchers, students, staff, and volunteers who work with hazardous materials or processes in the laboratory must receive training specific to laboratory where they work and commensurate with their laboratory duties and activities.
- It is the responsibility of Principal Investigators and Laboratory Supervisors to ensure that adequate and appropriate training is provided, and personnel have the necessary knowledge and proficiency to work safely in the laboratory.
- It is the responsibility of laboratory personnel to make sure they have sufficient knowledge, understanding, and experience to conduct work in a safe manner.
- A Principal Investigator or Laboratory Supervisor may authorize another person to conduct training on their behalf, provided that this person has the appropriate knowledge and experience to provide training and instruction for the given material. However, the Principal Investigator or Laboratory Supervisor remains ultimately responsible for training of personnel working in their laboratory.
- Lab-specific training should include information about the hazards present in the laboratory, laboratory security procedures, lab hygiene and housekeeping practices, personal protective equipment, general laboratory policies and procedures, proper use of equipment, waste management procedures, contact information for key personnel, and experimental protocols. The Laboratory Training Checklist is available to assist personnel in identifying their training needs.
- The Laboratory Training Log should be used to document laboratory specific training and should include who was trained, the date training occurred, and the topics covered. Documentation should be retained for as long as the individual continues to work in the laboratory.
- Training must be provided initially when the individual joins the laboratory, whenever the hazards or processes change, or whenever the individual’s tasks, duties, or responsibilities change.
