Safety Training
Research Safety Affairs provides training on campus procedures and standard practices for handling hazardous materials in labs. Researchers working where there are hazardous materials (chemicals, biohazards, or radiological agents) must complete the Laboratory Safety Training. Additional courses are determined based on the hazards encountered in your lab.
If you are new to UTHSC, review the UTHSC Researcher/Staff Training Requirement Checklist with your supervisor or senior laboratory personnel to determine safety courses you need.
Our training is done through Blackboard. Email your completed checklist to Research Safety Affairs. We will enroll you in your assigned courses; they will appear under your assignments when you log into Blackboard. In-person training can requested by emailing labsafety@uthsc.edu.
Safety Training covers general regulatory requirements and institutional procedures. Principal investigators or laboratory supervisors should provide training that addresses the specific work area hazards and procedures.
- Who is required to take this? Everyone working in a lab.
- When: At the time of hire. Laboratory Safety Annual Refresher (ORSSAR19) required.
| Content | Availability | Duration | Prerequisites | Contact Information |
| Hazard identification, basic chemical hygiene, intro to biosafety (BSL1), hazardous waste management, emergency response |
Blackboard (online): Laboratory Safety Training (ORS-LST) |
90 minutes
|
None |
labsafety@uthsc.edu |
- Who is required to take this? Personnel handling human materials (blood, cells, other potentially infectious body fluids)
- When? Prior to handling human blood, cells, or other potentially infectious body fluids. Annual refresher required (BPT22-Refresher)
| Content | Availability | Duration | Prerequisites | Contact Information |
| Standard precautions for handling human blood, human cells, other potentially infectious human materials (meets OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen training requirements) | Blackboard (online): Bloodborne Pathogens Training (BPT22-Initial) |
Initial Training: 34 min. Refresher Training: 12 min. |
None |
- Who is required to take this? Personnel working on IBC protocols requiring handling BSL2 agents that are infectious to human or recombinant DNA.
- When? Prior to working on a protocol requiring the handling of BSL2 agents.
| Content | Availability | Duration | Prerequisites | Contact Information |
| BSL2 facilities requirements, standard precautions, proper use of biosafety cabinets, emergency response, NIH guidelines |
Blackboard (online): Principles of Biosafety-BSL2 (ORS-PB) |
|
Laboratory Safety Training (ORS-LST) |
- Who is required to take this? Personnel working in LACU facilities or using biological safety cabinets
- When? Prior to entering LACU facilities or working in a biological safety cabinet
| Content | Availability | Duration | Prerequisites | Contact Information |
| How to properly use and work in a biological safety cabinet |
Blackboard (online): Use of Biological Safety Cabinets (BSC) |
20 minutes | None |
- Who is required to take this? Personnel who need to ship infectious materials and dry ice. Contact Mr. Barton for shipping of hazardous chemicals
- When? Prior to preparing packages for shipment. Must be renewed every two years
| Content | Availability | Duration | Prerequisites | Contact Information |
| IATA Dangerous Goods and DOT hazmat training for shipping of infectious materials and dry ice | In-person via Zoom, 10:00am on third Wednesdays of every month | 60 minutes |
None |
- Who is required to take this? Personnel handling radioactive materials
- When? Prior to handling radioactive materials. Annual refresher required.
| Content | Availability | Duration | Prerequisites | Contact Information |
| Radioactive material handling practices, dosimetry, emergency response procedures, surface wipe sampling | In-person | 120-180 minutes | None |
- Who is required to take this? Personnel using X-Ray generating equipment
- When? Prior to using X-Ray equipment
| Content | Availability | Duration | Prerequisites | Contact Information |
| X-ray equipment use, dosimetry and safety | In-person | 60 minutes | None |
- Who is required to take this? Personnel using Laser Systems in which the lasers are not fully enclosed
- When? Prior to working with lasers
| Content | Availability | Duration | Prerequisites | Contact Information |
| Laser fundamentals; beam and non-beam hazards engineering; administrative controls and PPE | In-person or live via Zoom | 41 minutes | None | Mr. Barton |
- Who is required to take this? Personnel handling DEA controlled substances in research
- When? Prior to handling controlled substances. Refresher every 3 years.
| Content | Availability | Duration | Prerequisites | Contact Information |
| Proper handling of controlled substances in research, requirements for compliance with DEA and TN Board of Pharmacy, UTHSC procedure for handling of controlled substances in research | Blackboard (online): Controlled Substance Handling in Research (ORS-CSHR) | 20 minutes | Laboratory Safety Training (ORS-LST) | labsafety@uthsc.edu |
- Who is required to take this? Personnel who require the use of respirators
- When? Prior to wearing a respirator. Annual refresher required.
| Content | Availability | Duration | Prerequisites | Contact Information |
| How to properly use different types of respirators (N95 or Powered Air-Purifying Respirators) |
Blackboard (online): N95 Respirator Training (ORS-RT) OR Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR) Training (ORS-PAPRT) |
20 minutes for each training | None. Visit Respiratory Protection website for more information. | Mr. Hutton or labsafety@uthsc.edu |