Ensuring Safety in the Research Community
Dear Colleagues:
Safety is critical to conducting high-quality research, which is why I am writing to highlight three annual safety requirements identified in UCI’s Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP): 1) reconciliation and update chemical inventories, 2) safety self-inspections and 3) creating and training staff on Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Reconciliation and Update Chemical Inventories
Lab safety is paramount, which is why all labs using hazardous chemicals must regularly maintain and reconcile their chemical inventory as they dispose used chemical containers and when labs receive new chemicals. The lab’s Principal Investigator is responsible for managing the laboratories chemical inventory and validating (signing/approving) the chemical inventory at least once per year in UC Chemicals.
For more information related to the UC Chemicals Inventory Management System, please visit: Chemical Safety // Environmental Health & Safety // UCI, and refer to the resources under “Chemical Inventory Systems.”
Safety Self-Inspections
All labs covered by the CHP must perform safety self-inspections at least once every calendar year. The online tools and reference guide created by EHS can help labs fulfill this annual requirement. Information on how to conduct the yearly safety-self inspections can be found at: Laboratory Safety Program // Environmental Health & Safety // UCI. Once on the webpage, please refer to the self-inspection dropdown for additional information.
Please remember that EHS will look for updated chemical inventories and completed self-inspection results in your Lab Safety Binder during annually scheduled EHS-performed lab safety inspections. Please contact EHS at safety@uci.edu or your EHS School Coordinator for any questions or assistance with fulfilling these requirements.
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
All PIs with labs covered by the CHP must also ensure that SOPs are created to outline precautions related to hazardous operations or research. SOPs should be created for every hazardous process conducted in the lab and all Research staff and students should be trained on these SOPs. Information on SOP requirements, how to create SOPs, and SOP templates can be found at: Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) // Environmental Health & Safety // UCI. Once on the webpage, please refer to the categories of SOPs that apply to your research.
We all must do our part to make UCI’s research facilities safe workspaces. Thank you for your commitment to safety in research at UCI.
Sincerely,
Pramod Khargonekar, Ph.D.
Vice Chancellor for Research
Distinguished Professor of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science