The University of Minnesota requires documentation that all laboratory personnel have received Lab-Specific Safety Training annually. This training is provided by the Principal Investigator (PI) or their designee. Lab-specific training involves meeting with your research group and reviewing experimental procedures and potential hazards within the lab. This training should be completed, as a group, annually. Additionally, when a new member joins the group, the training should be repeated for them. All of this should be documented and saved.
Lab-Specific Training
It is the responsibility of each PI/Lab Manager to:
- Identify workplace hazards (chemical, physical, and biological)
- Identify affected employees
- Provide employee access to appropriate hazard information (i.e., Safety Data Sheets (SDSs), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), etc.)
- Provide training regarding the specific hazards present in an employee's laboratory work area, including methods to control such hazards
- Keep training records for five years (see Documentation)
Training must include required procedures and personal protective equipment to reduce the risk of exposure. Training must be provided at the time of an employee's initial work assignment, prior to assignments involving new potential exposure situations and annually thereafter. In the case that only one employee is working in the lab, that employee must review lab-specific training material annually and document that it has been done.
Resources:
Lab-Specific Training Document
Lab-Specific Training Fact Sheet
Below is a description of other records that you may be required to keep on file, including the duration of time they need to be kept (if applicable). You are not required to keep the documentation in your LSP, but the records must be readily accessible by all lab staff.
Eyewash Fact Sheet (records must be kept for one year)
Autoclave Testing Log (records must be displayed in the autoclave room or available upon request during inspection)
Lab Self Inspection Form (documentation is optional)