New Labs

Getting Started

1. Email rstrobel@calpoly.edu to have your new lab set up in our database.
2. Fill out the Lab Hazard Assessment Tool (LHAT) PDF, then go into the online RSS Laboratory Hazard Assessment Tool and complete a hazard assessment.
3. Find out what trainings you are required to take.

Required Training

• Please visit the Research Safety Training page to see all required trainings for lab faculty.
• It is recommended that you take PI Responsibilities to understand what your responsibilities for safety are as a PI on campus.
• Learn more about Required Safety and Compliance Training for Researchers.

• If your lab uses chemicals:
  1. You and all members of your lab must take spill response and Hazardous Waste Generator training.
     • See page 21 of the Chemical Hygiene Plan for what to do following a major chemical spill.
  2. Set up chemical inventory in RSS. See Cal Poly's RSS page for more information on how to use the site.
  3. Print and post door signs and hazardous waste labels.
  4. Complete, review, and sign your Chemical Hygiene Plan.
  5. Generate Standard Operating Procedures.
  6. Familiarize yourself with the hazardous waste pick-up procedures on campus by visiting Cal Poly's Hazardous Waste page.
  7. Verify that fume hoods have been certified in the past year and that they have a functioning real-time monitor.
• If your lab does animal research:
  1. Review the Instructions for Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) Proposal Submission as well as the Office of Research's site regarding animal use.
  2. Submit a Protocol for Animal Use Form to Dan Peterson at dpeterso@calpoly.edu and to research-compliance@calpoly.edu.
  3. Depending on the scope of your research, you may be required to complete an Animal Contact Review and Initial Health Surveillance Questionnaire (ACRIHSQ). Please see the Cal Poly Animal Handler Occupational Health & Safety Program for more details.
• If your lab uses bloodborne pathogens, recombinant DNA, or transgenic animals:
  1. Request a Biological Use Authorization (BUA).
  2. Enroll to take the Fundamentals of Biosafety, Safe Use of Biological Safety Cabinets, and CSU Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) Compliance Training courses via the CSU Learning Hub.
• If your lab works with radioactive materials or radiation-producing machines:
  1. Request a Radiation Use Authorization (RUA).
  2. Complete Radiation Safety Training via the CSU Learning Hub.
• If your lab uses lasers or non-ionizing radiation sources:
  1. Submit a Laser Use Registration (LUR).
  2. Enroll in the CSU Laser Safety course using the CSU Learning Hub.
• If your lab will be doing research using human subjects:
  1. Contact Human Subjects Research at Cal Poly.

Other Resources

• Laboratory Safety Policies
• Ergonomic Assessment