Chemical Safety

Ensuring the safe and compliant use of chemicals on campus.

Alan Bolind

Lab Safety Specialist
Lab Safety
EH&S Inspections

Drain Disposal Restrictions for Chemicals

Office of Environment, Health & Safety
2024

Disposal of chemicals into the sanitary sewer is regulated by federal and state laws and regulations, by the local East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) Wastewater Control Ordinance and by the EBMUD Wastewater Discharge Permit issued to the campus. These laws and regulations prohibit any drain disposal of hazardous wastes and limit the allowable wastewater concentration of a number of specific substances. The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) is committed to protection of the local community and the environment through strict compliance with these laws and regulations...

Resources and Guides

Job Safety Analysis (JSA)

A JSA describes job tasks in step-by-step fashion, identifies associated hazards at each step, and outlines proper hazard controls that minimize the risk of injury or illness to the individual(s) performing that task.

JSAs Listed by Topic: Body Mechanics ...

New labs

How do I set up a new lab?

Note: Your department's Department Safety Coordinator (DSC) may have their own practices and guidelines. It is strongly suggested that you contact them for guidance. Not sure who your DSC is? Use the "Who's your DSC?" tool to find out!

Getting Started Email labsafety@berkeley.edu to have your new lab set up in our database. If you are a new Principal Investigator,...

Ren Ramos

Lab Inspection Program Coordinator / Lab Safety Specialist
Lab Safety
EH&S Inspections

Lab Decommissioning

Lab Equipment Decontamination Protocol Departments must identify equipment desired for release by creating a list for Equipment Management (contact: betshelp@berkeley.edu). Department equipment listings must provide a BETS #, Serial #, building and room number of the equipment intended for release. Departments must also include: equipment history, associated chemical use, biological use or radiation use authorizations - where applicable. Verify and update equipment building, room and description to...

How do I get access to 'Chemicals'?

If you work in a lab that uses hazardous chemicals, you can get access to the inventory by being added to your lab’s roster in Labs @ Berkeley (L@B). If you need access to a chemical inventory but are not working in a lab, contact cheminv@berkeley.edu to be manually added.

Why does our lab's inventory in 'Chemicals' show substances we didn't have in our inventory before?

When the data was migrated over from the former inventory system, CIS, some items were matched to incorrect substances. You may be seeing substances such as STRONTIUM TITANIUM DOUBLE METAL ALKOXIDE, Cacodylic acid sodium salt trihydrate solution, 1.0M, pH 6.2, or others unfamiliar to you, show up in your inventory. We are working to...

Labs At Berkeley (L@B)

Labs At Berkeley (L@B) is a web application, created by Berkeley EH&S, that allows any campus laboratory member to view and edit information about researchers in their lab.

Getting started with L@B

Log into L@B using your CalNet ID and you will see your lab’s roster. If you belong to more than one lab, select the name of the lab you wish to view or update from the pull-down list in the upper left corner of the page. To add or remove members,...

Lab Hazard Assessment Tool (LHAT)

Lab Hazard Assessment Tool (LHAT) is a web-based application that enables researchers to identify hazards in their labs or research areas. Upon completion of LHAT, you will receive a Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) recommendation voucher—based on your lab’s assessment—that will make you eligible for the EH&S free PPE giveaway program.

Note: It may take up to a day for roster changes on L@B to reflect on LHAT. Please contact service@...