WSU SpokaneResearchLaboratory Safety

Laboratory Safety

WSU Spokane’s Laboratory Safety Program strives to develop a culture of safety that minimizes the risk of injury or illness to laboratory workers by assisting principal investigators and laboratory managers with the development of a comprehensive, specific safety program.

Laboratory Services

509-358-7621
spok.labservices@wsu.edu

Required Training Content

The OSHA Laboratory standard requires that individuals who will be working with chemicals in the laboratory be provided with sufficient training to enable them to conduct their work safely. Training must be provided prior to the time when individuals begin their duties involving chemicals and whenever there is a significant change in the types or quantities of chemicals used. Departments and, ultimately, principal investigators, lab managers or lab supervisors are responsible for ensuring that all individuals working in their laboratories have been adequately trained.

The general training topics required by the Laboratory standard are:

  • Laboratory safety, including the content of the OSHA Laboratory Standard.
  • Hazard communication training
  • Location and availability of the Laboratory Safety and Chemical Hygiene Plan (i.e., Chemical Hygiene Plan).
  • How to read a safety data sheet (SDS), including the location and availability of known reference material on the hazards, safe handling, storage, and disposal of chemicals.
  • Measures that laboratory workers can take to protect themselves from chemical hazards, including control measures, personal protective equipment, standard operating procedures, and emergency procedures.

WAC 296-823-100 requires that employees who may be exposed to blood or other potentially infectious materials that may contain bloodborne pathogens complete bloodborne pathogen training. Examples of bloodborne pathogens are the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus.

Safety Training: Laboratory Safety | Blood-borne Pathogens | Hazardous Chemicals

Laboratory Safety

Standard Operating Procedures

Blood-borne Pathogens

All laboratory personnel must complete an initial, in-person blood-borne pathogen training before starting assignments that involve potential exposure to human blood or other potentially infected materials. Following the initial training, they must also complete an annual refresher, which is available online, on-demand. Contact Spokane EHS to schedule your initial training and submit your training completion certificate.

Hazardous Chemicals

All laboratory personnel must complete an initial chemical hazard communication training upon hiring and an annual refresher. Both are completed online, on-demand. As part of the training, you will learn about the hazardous chemicals being used in your laboratory and what measures you should take to protect yourself from them.

To complete the training, please log into Skillsoft Percipio. Once logged in, click on “My Profile” (at top right of page) and select “compliance” from the drop-down menu. You’ll find the trainings under “Optional Compliance Assignments.” The initial training is titled “Hazard Communication.” The annual refresher training is listed as “Laboratory Safety Refresher.”

Safety Resources

Laboratory Safety

Blood-borne Pathogens

Report an accident

Inform the safety committee of the incident by forwarding a copy of the report to Environmental Health & Safety (spokane.ehs@wsu.edu).

Hazardous Chemicals

Safety Forms and Templates

Laboratory Safety

Blood-borne Pathogens

Hazardous Chemicals

Secondary label templates

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