Laboratory Safety Compliance and Enforcement Policy

Policy Number: EHS-4200-001

Policy Title: Laboratory Safety Compliance and Enforcement Policy

Vice Chancellor/Associate Chancellor: Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services

Unit Responsible for Policy: Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHSO)

Effective Date: April 16, 2018

Contacts: Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services, Director of EHSO

Policy Statement:

The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) is committed to providing a safe and healthy laboratory environment for all members of the UIC community. In addition, state and federal laws and regulations govern UIC laboratories. These laws and regulations cover areas including, but not limited to, occupational safety, environmental health, safety training and emergency preparedness. All members of the UIC community must comply with these laws and regulations and this policy.

This policy applies to all teaching and research laboratories on UIC’s Chicago campus. It also applies to activities that support teaching and research activities such as student organization fabrication shops, shared research support facilities, and machine shops. It does not apply to UIC Facilities Management shops, campus construction sites, and other non-research related operations. Nothing in this policy is intended to supersede other related regulations, requirements, and stop work authority provided in other UIC policies.

UIC has and will continue to establish procedures for the inspection, identification, and correction of non-compliance with this policy and applicable state and federal laws and regulations. Laboratories and shops that are out of compliance with federal or state laws and regulations are subject to closure as outlined in the UIC Laboratory Safety Compliance and Enforcement Procedures.

Reason for Policy:

UIC is obligated to provide a laboratory workplace that complies with state and federal environmental, health, and safety laws and regulations and is free from recognized health and safety hazards. This policy is intended to ensure that UIC students and employees including but not limited to, Principal Investigators (PI), Department Heads, and College Deans, who either direct or oversee teaching and research laboratory activities, comply with applicable state and federal laws and regulations and University policies on environmental, health and safety standards. Faculty, staff, students, visiting researchers, and volunteers who work in laboratories are required to follow all applicable environmental, health and safety laws, regulations, and UIC policies.

The impact to UIC for violating applicable state or federal laws and regulations can include the risk of injury to students, faculty, and staff, monetary fines, loss of research grant funds, and reputational damage.

Minority Impact Statement: The policy has no disproportionate or unique effect on UIC’s minority students, faculty, or staff.

Who Should Read the Policy: All UIC faculty, staff, students, visiting researchers, and volunteers who work in UIC teaching or research laboratories and related shops and facilities.

Definitions:

College Dean: an individual who is the head of a UIC college who oversees all academic departments within the college.

Department Head: an individual appointed or elected by a UIC department to oversee the department's operations.

Laboratory: any space or part of campus used or intended to be used for research or other scientific activity including but not limited to teaching laboratories, research laboratories, and research-supported shops.

Principal Investigator: the individual designated by the grantee, and approved by UIC, who will be responsible for the scientific or technical direction of a project.

Shop: a place on campus where machinery, equipment and tools are used to support academic research, either through training, fabrication, or through the modification of items used for research. Shops include the maker’s space, 3-D printers, and other supported research activities. Shops do not include UIC Facilities Management shops, construction sites, or other non-academic work operation sites.

Procedures: View the Laboratory Compliance section of the Laboratory Safety section on the EHSO website for the UIC Lab Safety Compliance and Enforcement Procedures.

Forms: N/A

Related Laws, Regulations, Statutes, and Policies:

Illinois Occupational Safety and Health Act (820 ILCS 219)
Illinois Radiation Protection Act of 1990, 420 ILCS 40/1-49
Illinois Laser System Act of 1997, 402 ILCS 56/1
US Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
US Federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (1970)

Document History

Approved by: Committee on Policy, CVC
Approval date: April 16, 2018
Approved as: New Policy