Principal Investigators (PI's) are responsible for conducting and overseeing research activities that protect the safety of all persons working in or visiting their laboratory facilities. PI's may delegate certain safety-related tasks, such as annual lab self-inspections, Chemical Hygiene Plan maintenance, or safety training, to others working in the laboratory. However, the PI must ensure that these tasks are completed correctly. The compliance and safety responsibilities of PI's and other managers are described in a campus policy entitled Responsibilities for Environment, Health, and Safety.

All laboratory personnel are responsible for conducting research in a safe manner, and identifying and reporting hazards to the PI or laboratory manager for correction. In some cases, this communication may flow through a designated Chemical Hygiene Officer (laboratory safety coordinator).

The campus Office of Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S) develops and maintains a wide variety of campus laboratory safety programs, provides guidance on effective research compliance and safety, and provides health and safety consultation for non-routine laboratory activities. Programs and services offered by EH&S are available on the unit’s website.

Please contact EH&S immediately (642-3073) in the event of a serious injury (that is, one involving hospitalization), a hazardous material spill that is too large to be cleaned up by lab workers, or any environmental release. Researchers should also contact EH&S immediately if government inspectors (such as from Cal/Osha or the City of Berkeley) want to inspect your laboratory; EH&S specialists should accompany such regulatory inspectors.

A summary of research compliance programs and training requirements can be found online.

last updated on 3/20/07