Laboratory Safety:
Progress and Challenges
241 st American Chemical Society National Meeting
Anaheim Convention Center
March 29, 2011
James H. Gibson, PhD, MPH, Director
UCLA Office of Environment, Health & Safety

EH&S Immediate Response
1.
2.
Accelerated Inspections
Hazard Assessment Tool
3.
4.
5.
Revised Inspection Checklist
Revised Inspection
Procedures
Standardized Reports
6.
Performance Metrics

Accelerated Lab Audits
Top to Bottom Inspections
• Interdisciplinary team
• Completed in 30 days
Chemical Inventory
• Flammable solids
• Pyrophoric chemicals
• Other highly hazardous materials
Fire Safety Survey
• Fire extinguishers
• Emergency showers/eyewash
Hazard Assessment Tool

Hazard Assessment Tool
• Initial version issued
January 15, 2009
• Comprehensive version completed March 2009
• Online LHAT launched
August 2010
• Purpose
• Assess potential hazards
• Quantify risk level
• Specify PPE according to risk-based assessment
• Verify PPE training
• Data collection

Tailors PPE by Assessing Hazards

Expanded Version

Quantify Risk Level
Level A –
Very high hazard
Level B
–
High hazard
Level C -
Moderate hazard
Level D -
Low hazard

2010
LHAT Response Metrics:
Hazard Levels
Radiological
Chemical Biological
Physical
2492
821
1706
1143
Chemical
852
374
852
452
A D
86
1096 1320
2877 (88%) Hazards
3301
834
Physical
Radiological
2009
1451
430
768
636
522
286
211
511
589 758
1897
42
476

Response Metrics
Total known PI’s
PI’s completing LHAT
PI’s not completing LHAT
Labs reported in LHAT
Workers completing PPE training
2009 2010
827
489
338
1360
4021
858
693
165
2442
5941
09 /10
Change
31
204
-173
1082
1920

Revised Inspection Checklist
• New sections include:
• Documentation
• Training
• PPE
• Housekeeping
• 60 items added
• 23 critical items identified

Standardized Reports
• Standard
• New timelines
• 48 hours critical
• 30 days noncompliant
• Issued next business day
• Summary Table
• Photographs

New Inspection Procedures

Electronic Inspection Process
•
• Real time data acquisition
Automated report writing process
• Decrease Paper work
• Increase Inspections

Report to the Chancellor
•
•
•
•
•
Accountability & oversight
Outreach & training
Laboratory design
Inventory & recordkeeping
Strong safety culture

Laboratory Inspections
140%
74%
72%

Performance Metrics:
Inspection Reports
Non-Critical 30-Day Initial Inspections Critical 48-Hr Re-Inspections
2009
97%
Initial Inspections
96%
Critical 48-Hr Re-Inspections
80%
Non-Critical 30-Day
2010
99%
98%
95%

Employee Safety Handbook
• New Lab Safety
• Mandatory for all employees
• Important Tips for
Working Safely
• Door Postings
• EH&S Resources
• Expanded Training
• Safety Videos
• Course Offerings
• Requirement Guidance

Chemical Hygiene Plan

Safety Training Courses
Lab Safety Courses
40000
Classroom Online
12000
32%
30000
45%
8000
20000
77%
77%
4000
10000
0
0
2007 2008 2009 2010

Training & Outreach Improvements
• Centralized database
•
•
• PI/Lab Supervisor training
News and Notes
Video resources: http://map.ais.ucla.edu/go/100
4476
Departments Completed
Lab Safety for PI’s
 School of Engineering & Applied
Sciences
 Dept. of Chemistry & Biochemistry
 Dept. of Physics & Astronomy
 School of Public Health
 School of Medicine
 Physical Sciences
 661 PI’s Trained

Laboratory Design
Water-reactive cabinet & shower relocation

Mapping Initiatives

Center for Laboratory Safety
• Mission
• Support and sponsor research in lab safety
• Develop best practices
• Facilitate implementation of lab safety practices

• Full length pants and close-toed shoes
• Protective gloves, laboratory coats, & eye protection
• Flame resistant laboratory coats
• High hazard materials
•
• Pyrophorics
Flammables

PPE Selection Guide

Laboratory Safety PPE
Inspection Checklist
Laboratory Safety
Laboratory Inspection Checklist
501 Westwood Plaza, 4 th Floor • Los Angeles, CA 90095
Phone: 310-8255689 • Fax: 310-825-7076 • www.ehs.ucla.edu
Date
Lab Information
Department
Principal investigator (PI)
PI email address
Lab Safety contact person
Lab Safety contact email address
Building
Lab room numbers
Inspection Information
Phone
Phone
Inspector
Inspector email address
Common Laboratory Safety Issues
1 0 C N/A Inspected
Closed-toe shoes and long pants worn by laboratory personnel as required by campus PPE policy
Lab coats worn as required by campus
PPE policy
Gloves worn as required by campus
PPE policy
Eye protection worn as required by campus PPE policy
Comments
No food or drink in lab areas

Compliant
105
(58%)
Non-Compliant
76
Non-Compliant
76 (42%)
25%
19%
Compliant
105 (58%)
6%
17%
14%
11%
12%
Lab Coats
Food/Drink
Eye Protection
Open Toed Shoes
Gloves
Shorts/Skirts
Non-PPE

BSL-3 Laboratories
410%
497%

Universal Challenges
•
•
•
• Consistent safety standards
Evaluating safety risks and hazard assessments
Clear and explicit rules
Collaborative relationships

Acknowledgement