Laboratory work is essential to all academic programs, starting with introductory-level undergraduate courses. It is vital that students develop a strong foundation in the basic principles and procedures of laboratory safety and to expand their knowledge throughout their academic career. It is important that that both undergraduate and graduate students are able to recognize hazards, assess risks, minimize risks, and prepare for proper execution of potentially hazardous processes. Safety considerations should be woven into every part of the curriculum, from basic familiarity with common hazards for undergraduate students to the ability to predict and prepare for hazards of unknown materials at the graduate and professional level. Safety training should be treated as a critical component of preparing students to be successful as professionals. Below are documents that help set the minimum standard for managing safety within instructional laboratory courses.
Guidance Document: Developing a Standardized Safety Approach to Instructional Labs
Required Documents:
- Faculty/Instructor/Academic Coordinators
- TAs
- Students
Optional Tool for Faculty/Instructor/Academic Coordinators:
Instructional Lab FAQs
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How do we determine the responsible person?
In most cases, the responsible party is the faculty instructor for the course. If department chairs have questions about assignment of responsibility in unique situations, contact EH&S at ehslaboratory@ucr.edu.
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Do we need to make a class LHAT if the space already has a LHAT?
Yes, a class LHAT outlines specific hazards and who is responsible for the course content.
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Where do I keep all the signed documents?
College and/or Department chairs will need to establish a recordkeeping mechanism. Documents will need to be made readily available upon request or in response to an incident.
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Is EH&S approving or moderating course materials?
No. EH&S is happy to help review but the required documents are for faculty and department to meet safety requirements. Documents should be readily available upon request or in response to an incident.