Safety training is required to ensure all laboratory employees are informed and aware of the hazards with which they will work and the activities they will conduct. Hazards may including chemical, biological, radiological, and physical hazards in addition to any waste lab activities may generate. 

Laboratory personnel are first required to complete Basic Lab Safety Training, including 4 online and 2 classroom trainings. Basic training information may be found under Lab Safety Training Requirements below. Additional safety trainings may be required based on specific hazards you will encounter in your lab, the materials or equipment with which you will be working, and/or the activities you will be conducting. Links to login for online training or sign up for classroom training are located in the Quick Links to the right. If you are unsure which trainings you should complete, contact your Supervisor or Lab Safety Coordinator.

Laboratory Supervisors are ultimately responsible for ensuring that all lab personnel receive the appropriate safety information and training before conducting work in a lab or whenever new procedures or hazards are introduced. 

The Orientation/Training Checklist for New Laboratory Workers (PDF) is a tool to use to orient new lab workers to the lab. 

Safety Training Components

Several topics should be included in the training of laboratory workers. The following list is a starting point; it is not inclusive and may or may not apply to your specific work area. 

  • Emergency response procedures appropriate to individual laboratories
  • Building-specific safety features
  • UVM Laboratory Safety Trainings
  • Review of all Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) (PDF)
  • Review of Safety Data Sheets including recognition of signs and symptoms associated with exposure.
  • Methods of detecting the presence of hazardous chemicals (observation, signage and labelling, odor, real-time monitoring, air sampling, etc.)
  • Best practices designed to reduce personal exposure and to control physical hazards
  • Mechanisms and warning systems associated with specific lab equipment

Supervisors must also ensure that lab personnel are informed about and have access to the following informational resources:

  • Safety data sheets (SDS) for laboratory chemicals and biological agents. These are available from the chemical manufacturer or supplier, though internet sources, such as Wikipedia and Technical Data Sheets for specific chemicals, can also provide more detailed information. SDSs must be available to employees at all times and can be kept in a digital file on a lab computer or in printed form in a Lab Safety Notebook.The UVM Chemical Hygiene Plan and lab-specific standard operating procedures.
  • An introduction to the UVM Environmental Management Plan and Lab Waste Management procedures.
  • The contents of the OSHA lab standard, Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories, and its appendices (29 CFR 1910.1450).

Lab-Specific Training

Lab-specific trainings should be completed for hazardous materials used in the lab, specific procedures/protocols (SOPs, IBC protocols, IACUC protocols, etc.), and safe operation of lab equipment. These lab-specific trainings should include the following:

  • Training outline/description of the contents of the training;
  • Date the training was completed;
  • The trainer (person delivering the training); and
  • Training attendees.

The outline/description of the contents of the training should be detailed enough to explain exactly what was covered by the training. 

One example of lab-specific training is the initial training or orientation to the lab, which should be completed before work begins. The following information should be covered during the basic orientation to the lab:

  • Information about all hazards in the lab, including risks of exposure and signs/symptoms of overexposure;
  • How to reduce the risk of exposure to lab-specific and procedure-specific hazards;
  • Where to find information on hazardous materials e.g. Safety Data Sheets (SDSs), Chemical Use Planning Forms (CUPFs), or written Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs);
  • Safe use of laboratory equipment or apparatus; and
  • Demonstration and teaching of specific laboratory procedures.

Keep these documents in the Lab Safety Notebook so they may be reviewed during a lab audit or after an unexpected event has occurred in the lab (e.g. injury or near-miss).

**Lab Safety Training Requirements

Basic Laboratory Safety Training:

Lab Workers must complete these basic laboratory safety trainings: 4 online and 2 classroom. Online course should be done prior to working with hazardous materials. Classroom courses should be completed as soon as possible and prior to working with hazardous materials without direct supervision. If lab specific training is used instead of these courses, follow the directions for documenting lab-specific training.

As of 1/1/2020, undergraduate students and visiting workers are no longer required to complete the two classroom trainings (Keeping Your Lab Safe and Emergency Response for Laboratory Workers), provided they are actively supervised while working in the lab. "Actively supervised" is defined as follows: A lab supervisor or lab safety officer, who has completed all required safety trainings, is present AND in the lab where the student is working, and understands the work that the student is conducting.

*A lab supervisor may continue to require these two classroom safety trainings at their discretion. All lab workers must still be oriented to the lab, including emergency procedures. The lab orientation must be documented.*

Undergraduate teaching assistants (TAs) are still required to complete all six basic lab safety trainings, as well as any other specific trainings that apply to the lab/activities. TAs are considered to be in a supervisory role, ensuring the safety of a group of students. 

UVM Lab Safety Training Courses
Name of TrainingRequired By:WhenWhen To Update
Laboratory Safety Roles and Responsibilities (on-line course)All lab personnelbefore working in labonce or as directed by lab supervisor
Chemical Safety in the Laboratory (online course)All lab personnelbefore working in labonce or as directed by lab supervisor 
Laboratory Chemical Waste Disposal (online course)All lab personnelbefore working in labonce or as directed by lab supervisor 
Laboratory Ventilation and Chemical Fume Hoods (online)All lab personnelbefore working in labonce or as directed by lab supervisor 
Emergency Response for Laboratory Workers (classroom - sign-up)All lab personnel (except supervised undergrads/visitors)within 3 months of starting work in a UVM labonce or as directed by lab supervisor
Keeping Your Lab Safe (classroom - sign-up)All lab personnel (except supervised undergrads/visitors)within 3 months of starting work in a UVM labonce or as directed by lab supervisor 

 

 

Annual Training:

Lab personnel are required to take the annual training each year. These courses inform you of changes in regulations and policies as well as highlight incidents and issues relevant to lab work at UVM. EHS personnel may provide this training to groups or departments in person in place of this on-line option.

UVM Lab Safety Training Courses
Name of TrainingRequired By:WhenWhen To Update
Annual Training 2024 (online course through SciShield)All lab personnelbefore working in labAnnually

 

 

Basic Biosafety Training:

Please note that some of the biosafety trainings have been replaced with CITI (Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative) modules. Instructions for signing into CITI can be found here.

Every UVM lab worker handling biological agents is required to complete the first three trainings in this orange section. Note: it is not necessary to complete both BSL-1 and BSL-2 CITI courses. Complete the CITI course that applies to your lab.

Anyone at risk for being in contact with blood, tissues, primary cell lines or other potentially infectious material must complete the CITI OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens training.

UVM Lab Safety Training Courses
Name of TrainingRequired By:WhenWhen To Update

CITI BSL-1 Basic Course (online)

LOG IN THROUGH MY INSTITUTION

All Lab personnel working in BSL-1 laboratoriesbefore working in labevery 3 years or as directed by lab supervisor or biosafety officer

CITI BSL-2 Basic Course (online)

LOG IN THROUGH MY INSTITUTION

All lab personnel working in BSL-2 laboratoriesbefore working in lab and before attending BSL-2 classroom trainingevery 3 years or as directed by lab supervisor or biosafety officer

Safe Use of Biosafety Cabinets (online)

All Lab personnel using risk group 2 biological agents at BSL-2 containmentbefore working in labonce or as directed by lab supervisor or biosafety officer
Biowaste Management Procedures (online)All Lab personnel using biological agentsbefore working in labonce or as directed by lab supervisor or biosafety officer
Biosafety for Work at BSL-2 Containment Level (classroom - sign-up)Required for anyone working in a BSL-2 lab, using Risk Group 2 or Risk Group 3 agents, prions, viral vectors, gene-editing technologies, biological toxins, human cell lines and tissues, and the use of any of these with animals

within 3 months of starting work in a UVM lab

Every three years, or as directed by lab supervisor or biosafety officer

CITI OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens (online)

LOG IN THROUGH MY INSTITUTION

Workers at risk for contact with human blood, tissues, primary cell lines or other potentially infectious material (OPIM)before working in labannually, as required by OSHA standard

 

Fire and Life Safety Training
Name of TrainingRequired By:WhenWhen To Update
Fire Safety Training (online)Anyone taking Hands-On Fire Extinguisher Training must take this beforehand.Recommended for anyone working with flammable liquids.as directed by lab supervisor
Fire Extinguisher Hands-on Training (register through classroom - sign-up): Held in warm weather onlyRecommended for anyone working in a laboratory.Recommended for anyone working with flammable liquids.as directed by lab supervisor
Evacuation Procedure Training (online)Recommended for anyone working in laboratory buildingsRecommended for anyone working in laboratory buildingsas directed by lab supervisor

 

Specialized Laboratory Safety Training
Name of TrainingRequired By:WhenWhen To Update
Laser Safety (online)Anyone working with lasersBefore working in a lab with lasersonce or as directed by lab supervisor or laser safety officer
Lock-out Tag-out Training (online)Anyone repairing or maintaining their own equipmentPrior to commencing repair or maintenanceonce or as directed by lab supervisor
Working at Heights (online)Anyone lab researcher working on the Votey or Aiken roofPrior to commencement of roof workonce or as directed by lab supervisor
Working Safely with Formaldehyde (online)Workers in the Anatomy Lab. Recommended for anyone working with formaldehyde, formalin, or paraformaldehyde.Prior to working with formaldehyde or formaldehyde soultions.annually, as required by OSHA standard

 

Disposable Respirator Use in the Lab Training
Name of TrainingRequired By:WhenWhen To Update
Voluntary Use of Disposable Respirators (online)Workers who choose to wear a disposable respirator at levels below the Permissible Exposure Level.Follow the 4 steps of the Respiratory Protection Program.once or as directed by lab supervisor

 

Safety Training Transcripts: View or Download

Supervisors and/or Lab Safety Officers are responsible for checking safety transcripts to ensure that required lab safety trainings have been completed by all lab personnel. Supervisors should also document any lab-specific training delivered in the lab safety notebook. Details about how to document lab-specific training can be found on the Lab Safety Notebook page.

Online or classroom safety training is recorded by EHS staff into a central UVM database. Individual safety training records can be viewed and/or printed on the Laboratory Safety Training transcripts page. Enter a UVM NetID or a guest name to view or download individual lab safety training records.

Records for online trainings completed through the CITI program can be viewed on the CITI Course Completion page. Records of Animal Research Trainings can be viewed on the CITI Lab Animal Research Training page.