News

Important Reminder for Principal Investigators and Laboratory Safety Coordinators

Complete a self-inspection

• Submit your self-inspection online through Inspect, an RSS web application. 

To ensure new lab members can obtain PPE, please review the following reminders.

1. Make sure your lab's hazard assessment is certified

A new Field Hazards section was added to LHAT earlier this year. If you have not already done so, please complete the field hazards section by following these directions:

Please review important changes to hazardous waste disposal costs.

Please review the following lab coat reminders and share this information with your lab members.

Get a bulk replacement of clean coats

EH&S is now offering bulk lab coat replacements. This time of the year is a good time to exchange your lab coat for a clean one, even if there are no visible stains or spillage on it.  

• To request bulk lab coat replacements (5 or more coats), email ppe@berkeley.edu

UC Berkeley EH&S is offering to match the University of California Office of the President's Be Smart About Safety (BSAS) funding to provide limited support for machine guard purchases in campus shops. The BSAS funds will allow EH&S to match the cost of one guard up to a certain limit in order to distribute funds as equitably as possible across all shops.

Following are the instructions for receiving and applying the funds:

Environment, Health and Safety (EH&S) is in the process of tagging all chemicals in all buildings on campus in response to new chemical inventory requirements issued by the UC Office of the President (also see MAQ project page). 

What happened?

A researcher walking towards an optical table was exposed to a laser beam that reflected off a hex ball driver tool.  Another researcher at a nearby bench was installing an optical component on a breadboard when the hex ball driver he was using inadvertently moved into an active beam path. The hex ball tool had a reflective surface.

Radiation Safety Awareness Training (EHS 404) is required for all staff who work in areas where radioactive materials and/or radiation producing machines are located. This training was recently integrated into the Fundamentals of Laboratory Safety training (EHS 101)

The annual material handling and storage safety self-inspection period is here! As a reminder, facilities are asked to conduct self-inspections each year to supplement EH&S inspections in order to promote safety awareness and safe work practices. These inspections are also in compliance with the UC Berkeley Workplace Safety Program and thus, Cal/OSHA annual safety inspection requirements.

Complete a self-inspection via RSS Inspect by Friday, June 7, 2024.

Working in high temperatures can be dangerous and potentially life-threatening. It is important to take precautions and to be prepared for high heat conditions. Please share this information with supervisors and employees in your department that work outdoors or may be exposed to high temperatures indoors during their workday. 

Need a clean lab coat?

Get it by campus mail or in-person

• Get your clean coat via campus mail:

• Fill out the Lab Coat Request Form to request a clean lab coat. 

A NEW Field Hazards section is now live in UC Berkeley's Lab Hazard Assessment Tool (LHAT)

What to expect? 

During recertification of existing assessments, PIs will see a new fieldwork screening question. If any members of your research group conduct fieldwork or research off-campus, mark "Yes."  

Example fieldwork activities include:

• specimen collection

Following these simple steps supports safe and successful research.

Five reminders for the Spring/Summer fieldwork & travel season

1. Register all University travel >100 miles via UC Away (Calnet login required) for travel insurance documentation, 24/7 travel assistance, and a destination-specific trip brief. 

The California Retail Food Code regulates food service for Non-Profit Charitable Organizations. This includes Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) at UC Berkeley. The Code restricts organizations from holding more than four events per calendar year where food is served to the public and requires approval by a Local Enforcement AGENCY (LEA).

In response to a directive from the UC Office of the President on December 15, 2023, Environment, Health and Safety (EH&S) will be working closely with campus departments to establish appropriate practices for both initial tagging and ongoing maintenance of chemical inventories as part of multiyear implementation of UCOP’s 

The Biological Use Authorization (BUA) submission process is moving to the Risk & Safety Solutions (RSS) software system, RSS BUA, in time for the April CLEB Meeting! EH&S will be transferring your existing BUA data into the new system.

The beginning of the year is the perfect time to review the following key points to help prevent contamination of food and beverages.

Leaking cylinders can pose serious hazards, including: oxygen displacement, release of toxic or other hazardous gas, and/or fire/explosion due to flammable or reactive gas release. If your lab works with compressed gas, please be aware that older cylinders are prone to leaking at the valve.

What to do

Please follow the precautions below to prevent gas cylinder leaks:

EH&S needs your extra lab coats!

When researchers leave the lab or the university, many lab coats are left behind and remain unused. This occupies valuable space and prevents EH&S from reissuing coats.

1. Return Surplus Lab Coats.

To sustain our campus-funded lab coat program, please return any surplus coats by following the instructions.