• • • Georgia State Laboratory Safety Manual
    • Laboratory Safety Manual, Geosciences Department
    • Laboratory Safety Manual, Biology Department
    • Laboratory Safety Manual, Neuroscience Department
    • Laboratory Safety Manual, Chemistry Department
    • Laboratory Safety Manual, Art Department
    • Laboratory Safety Manual, Physics Department

The Office of Research and Environmental Safety (RES) is committed to a collaborative, proactive research safety program at Georgia State. Our goal is to conduct annual and as needed assessments of laboratories and support areas to assist in maintaining compliance with federal, state and local regulations, standards and policies.

The self-assessment checklist posted below can assist you in continual improvement and provide a baseline for your laboratory’s compliance and safety. Assessments are performed by RES staff members electronically and an assessment report is generated detailing any findings. Laboratory personnel are asked to address findings in the form of corrective actions. A summarized version of the assessment findings will be provided to the Laboratory Safety Committee, Institutional Biosafety Committee and/or Radiation Protection Committee.

Laboratory Assessment Checklist

Laboratory caution signage indicating the hazards present in the laboratory, personal protective equipment required to enter and emergency contact names and telephone numbers are required at the entrance of each laboratory or support area. Any changes in hazards, PPE or emergency contacts will need to be reported to RES and the laboratory caution sign updated. Please follow the steps in the Laboratory Door Signs guidance document linked below to make necessary changes/updates.

• • • Laboratory Door Signs
    • Georgia State Critical Event Guide

The Office of Research and Environmental Safety (RES) requires that an inspection be performed when opening a new laboratory. These procedures were established to ensure compliance with all state and federal regulations. For new or existing faculty members who are planning to open a new laboratory, it is recommended that you schedule an inspection two weeks prior to beginning work in the laboratory.

RES also requires an exit inspection to be performed when closing an existing laboratory. For any faculty moving from one laboratory to another within Georgia State, follow the Laboratory Opening procedures (see below). For any faculty that is leaving Georgia State, it is recommended that the closing process be started no later than 30 days before the final day of employment.

The checklists below outline the procedures that must be completed by the lab personnel for opening or closing a laboratory. Once the steps listed on the checklists are completed, RES will conduct a final walkthrough to confirm that the steps have been completed.

Contact RES or call 404-413-3540 for an on-site inspection of your laboratory. RES will assist the laboratory supervisor in the areas of chemical, radiation, and biological safety to open or close the laboratory. RES will process the request and notify all pertinent safety programs.

• • • Laboratory Opening Checklist
    • Laboratory Decommissioning Checklist
    • Laboratory Equipment Removal Checklist
    • Chemical Move procedures

Laboratory Extended Closure Procedures
The laboratory checklists below can be used to prepare for the annual Winter Break shut down or other temporary or extended laboratory closure events.

• • • Downtown Campus Checklist
    • Georgia State Perimeter Campus Checklist

Security and access control to buildings containing laboratories, hazardous/infectious materials, dangerous laboratory equipment, or substances requiring restricted access is of utmost importance. In an effort to maintain the integrity and security of the research conducted at Georgia State the following controls are in place:

Mandatory Training

Access to Petit Science Center and Research Science Center is restricted to only those individuals who have completed Georgia State Security Awareness Training and have received approval from the Georgia State Biosafety Office. All personnel working and/or visiting a secured research area including administrative staff working in secured areas, but not in laboratories, must meet this requirement. You must request access to the course by email. After completion, please notify the Designated Department Representative (DDR) for your department.

Minors (under age 18) in Laboratories

If you or your program will require access for minors working in laboratories, please complete the following document to comply with the requirements of the Minors in Laboratories Policy. All minors must have the document completed a minimum of five working days BEFORE the minor begins to work or volunteer at Georgia State University.

Chemical Waste Management is the regulation of the generation, storage, treatment, and disposal of hazardous waste. Chemical waste can be in solid, liquid, or gaseous forms and can contain a mixture of chemicals. When managed improperly, chemical waste can be detrimental to human and environmental health.

Chemical Waste Management is a large part of maintaining a laboratory or art studio on Georgia State University campus. Per the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), which is administered by the USEPA, generators of hazardous waste are responsible for the tracking and handling of the waste from the time it is generated to the time it is disposed of. Therefore, it is the responsibility of all laboratory personnel, art studio personnel, and principal investigators to ensure that chemical waste is being handle safely and properly per USEPA regulations.

The Office of Research & Environmental Safety handles chemical waste pickups and offers training on hazardous waste management. For questions about chemical waste management, training, and disposal, please contact our office or call 404-413-3540.

If you have, suspect, or notice a spill of hazardous material, call the Research and Environmental Safety Hotline at 404-413-3540 for assistance. Procedures for spill clean up are below:

1. Accidents happen and you should be prepared for them. Ask the Principle Investigator or someone within the academic department about how to obtain a spill kit for the laboratory space(s). All spill kits should include the following:

• • • Absorbent spill booms
    • PPE, such as gloves, shoe covers, etc.
    • Absorbent powder, such as sodium bicarbonate for acids, sodium bisulfate for bases, activated charcoal or sand for flammables, etc. Always make sure you are neutralizing the chemical with the proper absorbent.
    • Plastic broom and dust pan
    • A container to put the debris in after clean up

2. Post the Georgia State Critical Event Guide in areas where chemical spills can happen and refer to it when needed.

3. Always alert the appropriate people when a spill occurs in the laboratory. Never be afraid to ask for help with handling a spill. If necessary, alert emergency responders if you need medical or fire assistance.

4. When contacting Georgia State University Police, Research & Environmental Safety, or any other emergency responder for assistance, be ready to provide the following information:

• • • What material or chemical spilled?
    • What is the location of the spill?
    • Do you have the Safety Data Sheet in hand?
    • Is anyone injured or is there a fire?

5. After spill clean-up, be sure to submit the spill debris and clean-up materials in Chematix for a waste pick up. Contact the Georgia State University Office of Safety & Risk Management to report any injuries within 24 hours of the incident. If there is any damage to the facilities, contact Georgia State University Facilities Management for repairs.

Important Emergency Contacts

• • • Georgia State University Police: 404-413-3333 (dial 3-3333 from any on-campus office phone)
    • Emergency: 911
    • Research & Environmental Safety: 404-413-3540
    • Office of Safety & Risk Management: 404-413-9549
    • Facilities Management: 404-413-0700

If you require the use of a barcode scanner to perform an inventory or for other purposes within your laboratory, please fill out the Barcode Scanner Loan Request Form.

Use this form to request the temporary use of a bar code scanner.