Safety, Hazards, & Environment

For folks who work in the lab only.

There have been a few inquiries about OH202 and its recent expiration on your UT Learn Transcripts. The class was updated in January 2022 to reflect the new waste regulations and all lab personnel have to take the new version, regardless of whether they have taken it in the past. In our 2022 Spring Safety Bulletin, EHS notified all labs that the updated course must be completed by the end of February 2022. On 5/12/2022, we updated the training requirements in UT HERD to reflect this due date for all employees that have not completed the new course.

Please see the attached instructions if you are unfamiliar on how to take a class in UT Learn.

UT Environmental Health & Safety EHS Lab Safety Manual, 2017.

Laboratory Attire in Research & Teaching Labs, PDF.

• Flammables, > 10 gallons need to be stored in flammable cabinet
• Compressed gas, oxidizers and flammables need to be at least 20 ft apart when not in use
• No daisy chaining extension cords
• Empty containers, throw away in regular trash (if no drops/solids come out after tipping)
• Mercury thermometer exchange program
• Keep chemical inventories current and safety training up-to-date

Eye Wash Stations

• Need to be tested monthly
  • run station for a few minutes, record that test was performed
  • maintenance personnel regularly tests shower pull stations
• Do not block or impede access to eye wash stations

• Maintenance, custodial & grounds
  • Be aware of potential hazards when entering labs, read placards outside of lab
  • Report unsafe chemical / waste storage
  • Report unusual smells, evidence of spills etc. 
  • Caution when removing inner-bags of trash cans
  • Radiation lab tape, work outside of these areas