Hazardous Materials

Helping campus units manage their hazardous materials by providing assistance with shipping, waste pick-up and disposal, and chemical inventory needs.

Maximum Allowable Quantities (MAQ) Project

The California Fire Code establishes requirements for Maximum Allowable Quantities (MAQ) of hazardous materials, which ensures amounts used and stored within buildings do not pose fire and life risks. Following the management of hazardous chemicals guidelines issued by the University of California Office of President in 2023, EH&S is implementing the directives outlined in...

Environmental Protection

Helping to protect and enhance the campus environment and providing permit and compliance management services. How Do I: collapse all expand all Get rid of waste?

Visit the Dispose of Waste...

Campus Laboratory Safety Policies

The University of California, Berkeley is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for the campus community. Faculty, students, and other personnel in laboratories and other academic settings may work with hazardous materials, equipment, and processes. With regard to safety and environmental protection, this teaching, and research work is governed by state and federal regulations and University policies.

New UC Systemwide Laboratory Safety Policies...

Shipping Research (Hazardous Materials)

All materials regulated in transportation must be shipped by an individual trained and certified by UC Berkeley EH&S Specialist to meet the requirements of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Hazardous Materials Requirements and the International Civil Aviation Technical Instructions on identifying, marking, labeling, documenting and offering the material to...

Chemical Inventory Spot Check Inspections

August 22, 2025
Office of Environment, Health, and Safety

The following message is meant for labs:

Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S) will be performing audits of groups on campus with chemical inventories to check for chemical inventory accuracy. Maintaining chemical inventories to at least 90% accuracy is a prerequisite to UC Systemwide MAQ compliance

How can I prepare?...

Brian Olson

Hazardous Waste Manager
Hazardous Materials
Hazardous Waste
Waste Disposal
Medical / Bio Waste
Environmental Protection

EH&S Safety Newsletter - Vol 3, July 2025

July 7, 2025
Office of Environment, Health, and Safety

We are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all employees, and your role as safety coordinators is instrumental in achieving this goal. This Safety Newsletter is intended to build community and raise awareness about safety topics.

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Dispose of Waste

Master list of waste types is displayed below. Note: If you cannot find the item that you are trying to get rid of in this list, please contact EH&S at ehs@berkeley.edu or (510) 642-3073. collapse all expand all Aerosol Cans

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Biological Safety

Providing support, in the form of risk assessment, review, consultation and training, for research at UC Berkeley that involves the use of recombinant DNA, biohazardous materials and biological toxins.

Biosafety How Do I: collapse all...

Understanding Sharps Safety and Handling

June 25, 2025
What Are Sharps?

Sharps are any items with pointed edges or projections capable of cutting, puncturing, or piercing the skin. Common examples include:

Hypodermic needles

Syringes with attached needles or tubing

Razor blades, scalpels, and X-Acto® knives

Glass Pasteur pipettes

Broken glass items

Glass microscope slides and coverslips

Sharp instruments...