PERIODIC LABORATORY SAFETY INSPECTION FORM
WORK UNIT_________________________
Room__________ Lab Supervisor______________________ P.I.________________________
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Postings
1. How to Access Required Safety Info
2. Corridor door "Emergency" placard
3. Emergencies flip-chart
4. Clean Area Identification
5. Specific hazard warnings current
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Chemical Hygiene Plan Elements
6. Access to Hazardous Chemical SOPs
7. Chemical/Hazardous Materials Inv
8. Access to Material Safety Data Sheets
9. Activities Requiring Prior Approval
10.Lab Core Safety Training
11.Site Specific SOPs (See CHP 5.0)
12.Site Specific SOPs Training
13.Inspection Records
14.First Aid Kit
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Housekeeping
15. Cluttered/Messy/Obstacles
16. High Storage
17. Illumination
18. Storage of Food & Drink
19. Absorbent Material for Spills
20. Use of Absorbent Paper
21. Sharps Containers
22. Shelf Restraints
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Protective Clothing
23. Lab Coats
24. Gloves
25. Eye/Face Protection
26. Dust Masks/Respirators
27. Hearing Protection
Fume Hoods
28. Annual Check
29. Flow Indicator Working
30. Sash Missing/Damaged
31. Hood Overloaded
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Biological Safety Cabinet
32. Annual Check
33. Flow Indicator Working
Electrical and Fire Safety
34. Extension Cords
35. Worn Cords/Plugs
36. Electrical panels unblocked
37. Fire Extinguisher Checked/Charged
38. Door Closers Functional
39. Exit Visible/Accessible
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Hazardous Materials
40. Biohazards
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a.
SOP training record (>RG2)
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b. Annual BBP training record
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41. Radioactive Materials
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a. EH&S report OK
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42. Compressed Gas Cylinders
a. Properly Secured/Upright
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b. Protective Caps in Place
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c. Contents Labeled
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43. Chemicals
a. Flammable Cabinet Used
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b. Flammable Limit Observed
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c. Proper Segregation
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44. Wastes
a. Properly labeled
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b. Properly Contained/Capped
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c. Secondary Containment
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d. Storage < 9 mos.
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e. Medical waste properly disposed
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f. Comments _________________________________
Other
45. Disaster Plan/Evacuation Area current
46. New Research Approval Needed
47. Select Agent Approvals
48. Controlled Substances Reqs. Met
49. Dangerous Goods Shipping Training
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Comments:____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Date:_______________ Inspector(s) Signatures:______________________________________________________
Lab Supervisor or Safety Representatives Comments: __________________________________________________
Lab Supervisor signature: ___________________________ P.I. signature: _________________________________
Date Deficiencies Corrected:_________ Lab Supervisor or Safety Representative Signature: ___________________
Key to Laboratory Safety Biannual Inspection Form
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Post visibly the sign "How to Access Required Safety Information"; a good place is the central lab information
board. http://www.ehs.uci.edu/programs/iipp/tools/HowtoAccessRequiredSafetyInformation2010.
Check the corridor door "Emergency Notification Information" placard for correct information. Update with
correct information. Create new placard if getting too messy or unclear. Update at ucirvine.ecompliance.net
(CiBRTrac). Contact EHS Coordinator for assistance.
Make sure lab has posted the multi-page "UCI Emergencies Procedures" flipchart. The first page should be
completed. Zone information is at: http://www.ehs.uci.edu/em/zonemap.html.
Check to make sure your lab's clean areas are identified with "CLEAN AREA" signs. Contact EHS
Coordinator if you need signs, 824-6200.
Look around lab to make sure that hazardous materials storage areas are properly marked (e.g.
FLAMMABLES; CORROSIVES; POISONS; BIOHAZARD; RADIOACTIVE). If unmarked storage areas are
found, post signage. If marked areas are found, but materials are no longer stored, then remove/deface signs.
Make sure lab staff has functional access to the URL where the CHP is located:
http://www.ehs.uci.edu/programs/lsg/TABLEofCONTENTS.pdf#page=069.
Verify that the chemical/hazardous materials inventory is being maintained whenever changes greater than 10%
occur or at least annually. Use inventory system CiBR-Trac at http://ucirvine.ecompliance.net.
Ensure lab staff has functional access to MSDSs. This could be via the WWW or hard copies in lab. An
expectation is to include the review of MSDSs (either on-line or as a hard copy) as part of planning an
experiment or learning a procedure for the first time. MSDSs are available at http://www.ucmsds.com/.
Verify that applicable staff has obtained written prior approval to perform highly hazardous tasks. See UCI
Chemical Hygiene Plan Section II.C for list of activities requiring prior approval. Consider if any newly added
activity warrants a person obtaining prior approval from PI before performing it.
Check with SOS Representative (SR) to ensure that lab staff have completed required safety including safety
training on hazards unique to work-unit. Ensure all lab employees have set up a user account and completed
Safety Training Self Assessment at http://www.uclc.uci.edu/.
Check Tab 6 of S.O.S. binder to ensure that all lab specific "Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for
Particularly Hazardous Substances" are on file available as training to those who work with them. Visit SOP
Library at: http://www.ehs.uci.edu/programs/sop_library/.
Check Tab 6 of S.O.S. binder to verify that each current lab person working with Particularly Hazardous
Substances has reviewed SOPs and initialed the form.
Check Tab 7 to verify that previous lab inspections are available.
At a minimum, you should have access to basic 1st aid supplies at your local department office. If you have one
in the lab, make sure any expired items are removed or replaced. The minimum 1 st aid kit should include
bandages and a means of disinfecting minor cuts and abrasions. More serious incidents should seek medical
attention as quickly as possible.
Housekeeping should be sufficient to reduce trip and fall hazards, over storage of combustibles (paper,
cardboard), blockage of aisleways and exits, and seismic hazards.
Avoid storing heavy/hard items overhead. Store chemicals below eye height, with liquids below solids.
Report any poorly lit conditions to Facilities Management, X4-5444.
Store food and drink separately from hazardous materials and samples. Limit eating/drinking/cosmetic use to
Clean Areas.
Provide a storage place for basic spill clean up/sorbent items. If you use large amounts of acids/bases, it is
prudent to have a neutralizing kit available. Kits available from Physical Sciences Storehouse or safety
vendors.
Isotope use requires the use of sorbent pads at the bench. Check around for this.
Take out of service and dispose any sharps containers at or above the fill-line. Request pick-up from EH&S.
Verify existing shelf restraints are in good condition. Install seismic restraint lips on storage shelving where
lacking.
Ensure staff working with hazardous materials has access to lab coats.
Ensure staff working with hazardous materials has access to gloves.
Ensure staff working with hazardous materials has access to eye/face protection.
If applicable, ensure staff has access to dust masks/respirator. Note: use of respirators requires enrollment in
Campus Respiratory Protection Program or completion of Voluntary Use form--contact Alvin Samala at 8244817.
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If applicable, ensure staff has access to hearing protection. Note: generally, a high noise environment requires
people to raise their voices to be heard. Please submit an online concern to evaluate noise risk.
Check for a green inspection sticker on fume hood. If missing or indicating a date for the last inspection of over
24 months, contact EHS Coordinator X4-4660.
Each fume hood has a flow indicator of some type. Check that yours are working. If not, contact Facilities
Management at 824-5444 immediately (at UCIMC 6-5700).
If the glass sash or doors are damaged, contact Facilities at 824-5444 (at UCIMC 6-5700).
Chemical fume hoods work less and less effectively the more and more things are stored in them. Avoid
permanently storing items in fume hoods. Look for opportunities to reduce storage in fume hoods like storing
waste in tubs below the fume hood and removing equipment when not in use. Always place volatile chemicals
at least 6 inches inside the hood, the further in the better.
If your lab uses the biosafety cabinet for human materials work or infectious agents, then annual certification is
required. Contact TSS at: 800-877-7742 to schedule service.
Make sure that the flow gauge is working.
Extension cords are rated for temporary use only, typically with hand held tools. If your lab is using extension
cords as a substitute for permanent wiring, place a work order with Facilities Management, 824-5444, to install
an outlet for the device.
Check around for signs of cord/plug wear and damage. Some common items where this has been seen are
heating plates, old freezer and refrigerators.
The gray electrical panels must be kept clear 36" in front of them all the way to the floor. Note: many panels
have an outdated sticker indicating a clearance requirement of 30", which is no longer the case.
Check the State Fire Marshal's inspection tags on the fire extinguishers. The tag should have a punch-date
within 12 months. Report expired or missing Fire Marshal tags to Facilities Management, 824-5444. Verify
that the gauge indicates "Charged" or "Full".
Corridor doors in most buildings require a door closer for fire safety. Verify that the closer has not been
defeated or damage and is still able to close the door on its own. Request repairs at Facilities Management,
824-5444.
Check that exiting from the lab is not blocked. One should not have to pass through more than one room to get
to the corridor. Look down the hallways/corridors to ensure clear pathway to the exterior exits. Report blocked
exits and stairwells to EHS Coordinator, 824-6200.
a. For those working with Risk Group 2 or Risk Group 3 agents, ensure that they have trained on the
laboratory's Standard Biosafety Procedures found in the UC Irvine Biosafety Manual and approved IBC
Protocols.
b. Ask the Safety Representative (SR) to verify that employees covered by the Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP)
Standard are up-to-date on the annual refresher BBP training. BBP pertains to those employees working with
human materials, HIV, HBV.
a. Check that any radiation use issues reported in the most recent EHS Radiation Survey have been corrected
and that the records are in order.
a. Compressed gas cylinders need to be secured against tipping. Typically, this entails two straps--one in top
third and one in bottom third of cylinder--attached to screw mounted brackets.
b. When in storage, both full and empty gas cylinders must have the protective cap in place.
c. Usually not a problem, but if the label is missing from the cylinder, do not accept it. If it is noticed after the
fact, contact the vendor immediately for instructions. Do not allow staff to use unmarked gas cylinders.
a. When necessary, store flammables in a "rated" flammables cabinet. Usually these are yellow or red metal
double-walled cabinets. An exhausted non-combustible cabinet is also acceptable. Avoid permanently storing
flammables at the bench.
b. Generally, the limits to flammable storage are 5 gallons per lab room outside of an approved storage cabinet.
Total flammables allowed per lab is 25 gallons unless a variance is approved by EH&S in writing.
c. Look for mineral acids improperly stored with flammables. Also, it is best to store poisons and particularly
hazardous substances separately from other chemical groups. As always, store acids separately from bases.
Organic acids (e.g. acetic acid) should be stored separately from mineral acids (e.g. sulfuric acid). Other
storage groups are: pyrophorics, organic peroxides, water reactives, oxidizers, reducers. See the Laboratory
Safety & Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) for more information located at
http://www.ehs.uci.edu/programs/lsg/TABLEofCONTENTS.pdf#page=137.
a. Ensure waste containers have the EHS Waste label affixed, and that the label is filled out including the start
date. For waste labels visit: http://www.ehs.uci.edu/programs/enviro/.
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b. Check that the container cap is in place when not in use.
c. All waste must be stored in a secondary container (plastic tub) that has a volume sufficient to hold the
material should the primary container break.
d. Check waste tags for the "Date Waste First Generated" field and transfer to EHS any containers > 6 months
old.
e. If your lab is BSL2 or higher, then you must dispose of bioresearch waste as Medical Waste. See
http://www.ehs.uci.edu/programs/biosafety/medwasteguide.pdf for details.
f. Write down any observations or comments that you want to discuss with staff.
Visually verify that the Evacuation Assembly Area for your lab is not impacted by construction, etc. If it looks
questionable, contact your Zone Crew Building Coordinator to verify your Evacuation Assembly Area. To
determine Zone Crew Building Coordinator visit: http://www.ehs.uci.edu/em/zonemap.html
Confer with PI whether any new research requires approvals from any of the campus committees. Refer to
Basic Research Requirements Matrix at: http://www.ehs.uci.edu/programs/labres/lrmatrix.html.
Ensure that any Select Agent work is reviewed and approved by Campus Biosafety Officer. For definitions and
procedures visit: http://www.ehs.uci.edu/programs/biosafety/SAoverview.html.
If your laboratory has DEA scheduled materials (controlled drugs) on the premises, program requirements like
inventory records and security must be strictly maintained. For a complete explanation of requirements, visit:
http://www.ehs.uci.edu/programs/occhlth/control.html.
Persons shipping dangerous goods via commercial carriers like FedEx or UPS must receive training to properly
package and mark containers. Some goods have export restrictions. For shipping dangerous goods
requirements visit: http://www.ehs.uci.edu/programs/dgoods/. For export restrictions, visit:
http://www.research.uci.edu/ora/exportcontrol/index.htm.