Lab Safety

Providing support, in the form of risk assessment, review, consultation(link sends e-mail), training, and the necessary resources and guidance for research at UC Berkeley.

Lab Managers & Safety Coordinators

Laboratory managers and Laboratory Safety Coordinators (LSCs) are typically selected by a lab’s principal investigator, and serve a critical role with regards to lab safety. In many cases, the LSC is also the lab manager, though not always. LSCs serve as delegates for the principal investigator for many safety programs and applications including Lab Hazard Assessment Tool (LHAT) and Inspect.

Lab Safety Awareness Week: Makerspaces

February 10, 2025

CSHEMA's Lab Safety Awareness Week is held from February 10-14, 2025, and is intended to promote laboratory health and safety programs and offer information and ideas on how to keep our faculty, staff, and students safe.

Makerspace Safety at UC Berkeley

Makerspace safety is best achieved via a collaborative relationship between the responsible person and Environment, Health and Safety. Elements of safety-by-design, user training, and strategies for monitoring and access control are essential for...

Nanoscale Materials Information Form

January 15, 2025

Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S) is preparing the 2025 Manufactured Nanoscale Materials Disclosure for the City of Berkeley.

If you use nanoscale materials in your lab, and

a. you have never filled out the Nanoscale Materials Information Form,

or,

b. you have begun using new nanoscale materials, or a new class of nanoscale materials

Please...

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Template - General

Office of Environment, Health & Safety
Standard Operating Procedures

The library below contains standard operating procedure (SOP) templates for a variety of hazardous chemicals and operations.

Download: Chemical-Specific SOPs

Important: New UC Chemical Inventory Requirements

March 20, 2024
Office of Environment, Health, and Safety

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 ...

UC Berkeley Mold Awareness and Guidance

Overview

Mold is a type of fungus that can produce spores which are released into the air. Mold can be found everywhere and can be detected year-round, both indoors and outdoors. Persistent warm and humid conditions promote mold growth. Exposure to damp and moldy environments may cause a variety of health effects, or none at all. For people who are sensitive to mold, exposure can cause nasal stuffiness, throat irritation, coughing or wheezing, eye irritation, and in some cases, skin irritation.

No matter what type of mold is present it should be removed.

Please...

Coming Soon: New BUA Process

December 12, 2023
Office of Environment, Health, and Safety
Information for Biological Use Authorization (BUA) holders

We are modernizing the Biological Use Authorization (BUA) submission process by moving to the online UC Risk & Safety Solutions software system (“RSS BUA”).

RSS BUA improves the BUA submission process Easily add or remove information – for amendments or renewals. Easily address reviewer comments and questions found within the application. What to expect The biosafety team will transfer data from your BUA document into RSS BUA...

Order and purchase List I/II and CA precursors

Federal and State List I/II and CA Precursor Chemicals

List I/II and Precursor Chemicals that have legitimate uses in research but also have the potential to be used in the manufacture of controlled substances. State and federal laws require campus vendors to uphold stringent regulations regarding distribution of these chemicals.

The Federal List can be referencedDEA List I/II

The...

Precursor Chemicals

Precursor chemicals and List I Chemicals are chemicals that have legitimate uses and also have the potential to be used in the manufacture of controlled substances. State and federal laws require campus vendors to uphold stringent regulations regarding distribution of these chemicals.

Federal list (List I Chemicals)

Navigate to “Alphabetical Order” under the List I and II Regulated Chemicals section...

Updates to Hazardous Waste Recharge

August 26, 2024
Office of Environment, Health, and Safety

Please review important changes to hazardous waste disposal costs.

What’s new

Research labs, core facilities, and instructional labs will no longer be recharged for routine waste disposal. Subsidizing waste disposal is a part of the University’s strategy to reduce unsafe quantities of hazardous materials storage, and is a key recommendation from UCOP’s ...