Departmental Safety Training Policy Revised: 11/13/2017

Department of Chemical Engineering, Virginia Tech

The safety of students, faculty, staff, volunteers and others working in Chemical Engineering laboratories at Virginia Tech is of paramount concern. As a result, up-to-date Laboratory Safety training is required of all those who work in a research, teaching or other scientific capacity in laboratories in the Chemical Engineering Department. All individuals associated with the Chemical Engineering Department in a laboratory capacity need to follow the guidelines outlined in this document. This includes, but is not limited to: undergraduate and graduate students performing research; post-doctoral fellows; visiting scholars; volunteer lab workers; and anyone working in any research or teaching laboratory. Undergraduate students taking CHE 4014: Chemical Engineering Laboratory are also required to complete this training.

Each individual must complete the required safety training within 20 business days of enrollment or employment, or before any work is performed in a laboratory setting (whichever comes first). Additional courses may be required by the individual’s research supervisor, instructor, or laboratory coordinator.

Exceptions to the time requirement may be granted by joint decision of the department safety officer and the research supervisor.

Required Training

General Laboratory Safety – Online Course: This online training must be taken upon enrollment/employment and must be renewed every 2 years. Registration for the course can be found at: http://www.ehss.vt.edu/detail_pages/training_details.php?training_id=1540

Lab Specific Safety Training – Research supervisors are responsible for ensuring that individuals working in their laboratories are aware of hazards and safety concerns specific to those laboratories. New lab workers must read and sign off on the Chemical Hygiene Plan prior to starting work in the lab, and all workers must re-read and sign off on the CHP when any updates are made. Lab specific training should be done every year, and research supervisors are responsible for maintaining records of training.

Other Courses or Training: Research Supervisors may require additional training prior necessary for laboratory work. Examples include, but are not limited to: radiation safety, blood borne pathogen training, flammable liquid safety, fire extinguisher training, compressed gas cylinder training, and hazardous waste management training.

Record Keeping

Records of each individual's compliance with the General Laboratory Safety requirement will be maintained by the research supervisor through the Safety Management System (SMS - https://secure.hosting.vt.edu/www.ehss.vt.edu/programs/LMS/inventory_entry.php). Research supervisors are also responsible for maintaining lab-specific training records and CHP compliance for workers in their laboratories.

Non-Compliance:

Any individual not completing “General Laboratory Safety - online course” in the allotted time, or renewing the training within 2 years will be notified by e-mail. Copies of the notification will be provided to the appropriate supervisor and the Department Chair. An individual with a training deficiency must cease working in any laboratory or on any laboratory procedures under the jurisdiction of the department. When the deficiency is corrected, the individual, supervisor and Department Chair will be notified by e-mail and the individual may resume working.

Incident Reporting

Laboratory incidents (hazardous material spills, explosions, injuries, unsafe lab practices or conditions), no matter how minor, MUST be reported to the Chemical Engineering Department Main Office using the forms listed below. This should be done as soon as it is safe to do so after the incident has been resolved.

Updated November 13th, 2017

Updated February 6th., 2012

Updated May 21st., 2009