Equipment and Tool Safety

Providing resources and guidance for the safe use of tools by UC Berkeley personnel.

Laser Safety

Ensuring the safe use of lasers, laser systems, and non-ionizing radiation sources. How Do I: collapse all expand all Get authorized to use a laser? Please go to the UC Learning Center and enroll in the course titled EHS 301 - Laser Safety. If you have questions, contact us at ehstrain@berkeley....

Noise: Controlling Your Exposure at Work - Fact Sheet

Office of Environment, Health & Safety
2020

There are several ways to protect against exposure to excessive noise levels. Engineering controls involve changes in the work area or equipment; administrative controls involve changes in work procedures. Usually one or the other provides sufficient protection. The law requires that these controls be considered before employees are made to wear hearing protection. If engineering and administrative controls are not feasible or will not provide adequate protection, hearing protection devices, training, and audiometry must be provided to employees.

Electrical Safety

Office of Environment, Health & Safety
2021

Fall Protection: Equipment and Inspection Fact Sheet

2007

UC Berkeley Fall Protection Safety Program

Office of Environment, Health & Safety

In 2009, nationally there were fatal 520 falls, while in California there were 54 fatal falls of which 41 would have been prevented with adequate fall protection. Cal/OSHA has Fall Protection Safety regulations that ensure safe-work activities when the possibility of falling is present. The University of California, Berkeley (UCB) has developed this Fall Protection Safety Program to manage the safe selection, procurement, use of and safe work practices, inspection and record keeping of all fall protection equipment (FPE). Included are guidelines for identification and correction of...

Shops and Trades

Policies, procedures, and training materials for any type of shop-work activities.

Learn about the various EH&S Safety Programs or download Frequently Used Forms.

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Respiratory Protection Program

Office of Environment, Health & Safety
2018

EH&S evaluates workplaces for possible airborne hazards and recommends ways to reduce these hazards when found. When appropriate, EH&S will fit campus workers with respirators and provide annual training on their proper use. This program is administered in cooperation with University Health Services. UHS evaluates a person's ability to safely wear a respirator prior to a respirator being issued. For more information contact EH&S at ehs@berkeley.edu.

Shop Safety Program

UC Berkeley has over 50 shops that provide academic and research support to the UC Berkeley community. This program is intended to cover any space where materials are fabricated, maintained, modified, repaired or tested, including:

Academic shops in which student instruction and use are major components Professional shops in which research support, fabrication and facilities maintenance are major components

The UC Berkeley Shop Safety Program provides guidance and direction for establishing and maintaining a safe and healthy environment in these shops. This program applies to anyone...

Electrical Fire Caused by Heat Gun Connected to Power Strip

March 6, 2025
Office of Environment, Health, and Safety
What happened?

A small fire broke out in a laboratory in the Department of Physics when a service technician plugged a heat gun into a power strip that was plugged into an isolation transformer. When a transformer is overloaded, the transformer can experience high operating temperatures, causing it to overheat. In this case, the overheated transformer caused a small fire to break out.

Fortunately, there were no injuries and damage was very minimal. The service technician notified the lab manager as soon as they noticed smoke. The Lab Manager...

Equipment and Tool Safety

hammer and wrench icon Providing resources and guidance for the safe use of tools by UC Berkeley personnel.