RESEARCH AREA INSPECTIONS
Laboratories and other research areas are regulated by OSHA laboratory safety standards and general industry regulations, EPA and DEC hazardous waste regulations, DOH regulations, NFPA life and fire safety standards, and building codes. Additionally, accreditation and granting agencies such as CDC, NIH and USDA are increasing scrutiny over researchers and their compliance with state and federal laws. To assist researchers to be in compliance with these regulations and standards, Environmental Health & Safety will conduct required inspections of all campus research areas beginning in the spring of 2009.
The purpose of the inspections is to assist responsible faculty and staff members in identifying and correcting potential regulatory compliance issues or other issues that could affect granting activities, and to identify potential health and safety hazards that could pose an unreasonable risk to laboratory personnel, students, and the campus community. EH&S will schedule inspections by working with college-level contacts, Department Safety Representatives, Building Coordinators and staff throughout the colleges, departments, and buildings.
The Research Area Inspection program will replace the former Lab Consultation program. Some highlights of the changes that will be implemented include:
- Inspections will be required for all research areas on an annual basis.
- The inspection report will be streamlined and will be submitted electronically while the EH&S inspector is in the research area.
- The inspection report will clearly identify who is responsible for correcting deficient items (ie. the researcher, EH&S, and/or the Building Coordinator).
- EH&S inspectors will bring a "tool kit" with them to correct numerous types of deficiencies on the spot during the inspection.
- A corrective action program will be implemented and tracked by EH&S to ensure any potential compliance issues are corrected.
- EH&S will work with and rely on Colleges and departments to arrange for scheduling of inspections - preferably by building - to ensure an efficient process.
- Research areas will know when EH&S inspections will be occurring in their buildings and are strongly encouraged to conduct self inspections before the inspections by EH&S.
The process that will be used for corrective actions can be viewed here:
Corrective Actions Process For Research Area Inspections
Flowchart For The Corrective Actions Process
SELF INSPECTIONS
Research areas are strongly encouraged to conduct their own self inspections prior to EH&S conducting an inspection of their research area to address any potential issues before the EH&S inspection and to provide a training opportunity for research staff. To facilitate the self inspection process, EH&S is providing research areas with the following self inspection checklist and explanation key which identify the same topics covered during an EH&S inspection:
EH&S strongly recommends that research areas perform regular self inspections on an ongoing basis. Research areas should conduct a formal self inspection (using the checklist above) ideally on a monthly basis, but at least once per semester. EH&S will conduct research area inspections on an annual basis.
EH&S also offers the online training class – Laboratory Inspections - this class is also available for a live session upon request. If you have any questions about the Research Area Inspection program, then please contact Jerry Gordon at EH&S for more information.
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