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Handbook of Operating Procedures
  • Policy Process

    • Handbook of Operating Procedures
    Chapter 10 - Research
    Publication Date: May 30, 2025
    Policy Reviewed Date: May 30, 2025
    Policy Owner: VP for Research


    10.20 Laboratory Safety

    I. POLICY STATEMENT

    The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) promotes a positive laboratory safety culture among research excellence, in which all members of the research community are responsible for their own safety. This is achieved by fostering trust and open communication between researchers and the Laboratory Safety division.

    II. RATIONALE

    UTSA is committed to advancing laboratory safety culture among the research community. To achieve this commitment, the Laboratory Safety division provides training, comprehensive laboratory evaluations, and manages regulatory compliance for the research laboratory community

    III. SCOPE

    This policy applies to all UTSA faculty, staff, students, contractors, visitors, and volunteers engaged in laboratory activities at UTSA.

    IV. WEBSITE ADDRESS FOR THIS POLICY

    http://www.utsa.edu/hop/chapter10/10.20.html

    V. RELATED STATUTES, POLICIES, REQUIREMENTS OR STANDARDS

    1. UTSA or UT System or the Board of Regents’ Rules and Regulations
      1. UTS 119 Compliance Programs
      2. UTS 135 Fire and Life Safety
      3. UTS 174 Environmental Health and Safety
    2. State Statutes
      1. Texas Hazard Communication Act
      2. Texas Radiation Control Act
    3. Federal Statutes
      1. 7 C.F.R. Part 331-Possession, Use, & Transfer of Select Agen&ts Toxins (Agriculture)
      2. 9 C.F.R. Part 121-Possession, Use, & Transfer of Select Agents & Toxins (Animals and Animal Products)
      3. 42 C.F.R. Part 73-Select Agents & Toxins (Public Health)
    4. UTSA HOP Policies
      1. HOP 9.05 Environmental Health and Safety
      2. HOP 10.10 Human Research
      3. HOP 10.11 Use of Animals in Research, Teaching, Testing, or Public Exhibitions
      4. HOP 10.13 Minors in Laboratories or Similar Facilities
      5. HOP 10.16 Hazardous Waste Management Program
      6. HOP 10.17 Controlled Substances in Research
      7. HOP 10.18 Compliance with the Texas Hazard Communication Act

    VI. CONTACTS

    If you have any questions about this Laboratory Safety policy, contact the following office:

    1. Office of Laboratory Safety
      2. LabSafety@utsa.edu

      If you have questions regarding laboratory generated hazardous waste, contact the following office:
    2. Office of Hazardous Materials Management
      HMM@utsa.edu

      If you have questions regarding fire prevention or risk management, contact the following office:
    3. Office of Safety & Risk Management
    4. fire@utsa.edu
      riskmgt@utsa.edu
      Safety@utsa.edu

    5. If you have questions regarding Occupational Health, contact the following office:
      UTSAohp@utsa.edu

    VII. DEFINITIONS

    1. Laboratory:
      1. A laboratory at UTSA can be defined as any space conducting research, teaching lab, and studio activities within each college.

    VIII. RESPONSIBILITIES

    1. Office of Laboratory Safety:
      1. Training
        1. Laboratory safety training will be offered online specific to the hazards found in each laboratory.
        2. Training requirements and frequency will be outlined in the laboratory safety plans and/or guides on the laboratory safety website.
      2. Evaluations
        1. Laboratory evaluations will be conducted by a staff member(s) of the laboratory safety division on a periodic basis.
        2. Laboratory evaluations may include staff members of Hazardous Materials Management, Fire Prevention and Occupational Safety when further consultation is needed to remediate specific hazards.
        3. Evaluation frequency will be determined by specific laboratory hazards and outlined in the laboratory safety plans and/or guides on the laboratory safety website.
      3. Respond to accidents, incidents and near misses to evaluate and provide prevention strategies
      4. Interface with local, state, and federal agencies for regulatory compliance
      5. Sponsor and support Laboratory Safety Committees
        1. Institutional Biosafety Committee
        2. Chemical Safety Committee
        3. Physical & Engineering Safety Committee
        4. Radiation & Laser Safety Committee
      6. The laboratory safety committees serve as a platform for researchers and other stakeholders to discuss and approve research-based protocols or applications in regards to hazardous material or environment such as:
        1. Highly hazardous chemicals or gases;
        2. Nanomaterials
        3. Research involving recombinant and/or synthetic nucleic acid molecules;
        4. Radioactive materials
        5. Class 3b & 4 Laser containing instruments;
        6. X-ray producing machines;
        7. Equipment, instruments, or activities with physical hazards
    2. Laboratory Principal Investigator and/or Laboratory Manager:
      1. Establish and promote a culture of safety within the laboratory.
      2. Ensure staff and students are aware of and adhere to University laboratory safety policies, trainings, plans, procedures, and regulations.
      3. Provide and ensure the proper use of personal protective equipment and laboratory engineering controls (i.e., biological safety cabinets, fume hoods, exhaust snorkels)
      4. Monitor and respond to safety evaluations, reporting all injuries, incidents and near misses as per University procedures.
      5. Identify job functions at risk of exposure to various hazards, communicate these hazards to staff and students, and ensure the use of established work procedures and controls.
      6. Responsible for reporting all incidents to Lab Safety.
      7. Collaborate with Lab Safety to investigate incidents involving direct report staff and/or students and ensure participation in required safety training.
    3. Faculty, Staff, Students, Contractors, Visitors, and Volunteers:
      1. Promote a culture of safety within the laboratory.
      2. Conduct laboratory research activities in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, guidelines, University rules, and best practices.
      3. Promptly report unsafe practices, conditions, accidents, incidents, and near misses to supervisors and Laboratory Safety. Engages department faculty on the needs and expectations for Department Chair/School Director

    IX. PROCEDURES

    1. Laboratory safety plans, guides, procedures and online training instructions can be found on the following website:
      1. https://research.utsa.edu/compliance/lab-safety/
    2. Laboratory safety committee information can be found on the following website:
      1. https://research.utsa.edu/compliance/safety/

    X. SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR INITIAL IMPLEMENTATION

    None

    XI. FORMS AND TOOLS/ONLINE PROCESSES

    None

    XII. APPENDIX

    None