Principal Investigators (PIs) are a critical link in the safety management program at UC Davis.  As the front line manager for their research group, they play a vital role in implementing the campus safety management program.  To meet this challenge, it is important that PIs have access to all the information and training they need.  A brief summary of the elements of the Safety Management program are included in this SafetyNet.  A checklist follows as a quick overview of PI safety responsibilities under campus policy.

• Evaluate and identify workplace hazards
• Assure research group/laboratory workers (including employees, visiting scholars, post doctoral fellows, students) are properly trained and the training documented
• Develop, review and update, as necessary, standard operating procedures
• Develop, review and update, as necessary, the laboratory-specific Chemical Hygiene Plan (applicable only to laboratories)
• Pay fines resulting from citations for failure to comply with health, safety and/or environmental laws and regulations

SAFETY PROGRAM COMPONENTS

UC Davis Policy and Procedure 290-15 outlines the UC Davis Safety Management Program and defines the PI responsibilities for this program.  The basic safety program responsibilities of the Principal Investigator are defined in this P&P, however departments may further define expectations and/or specific responsibilities, over and above the Policy and Procedure.

Illness and Injury Prevention Program (IIPP): Each Department on campus is required to have an Injury and Illness Prevention Plan in place.  This plan defines the key elements of a department’s safety program.  EH&S provides a basic IIPP template on our web site that each department must individualize depending on the work activities and hazards present in their department.  In many departments, the development of the department-specific IIPP is the responsibility of the Department Safety Coordinator.  All department employees must have training on the provisions of the IIPP.

Emergency Action & Evacuation Plan: It is extremely important that employees know how to get out of their building and where they should gather if they are evacuated from the building.  Every room is required to have an evacuation map posted in a prominent place.  PIs must assure that their employees are familiar with the Departmental Emergency Action Plan and its details.  A lab-specific emergency action plan must be included in the chemical hygiene plan.

Incident Investigation: In the event of an incident or injury, PIs need to contact their department office and refer to their department’s IIPP for proper response.  EH&S will assist PIs/departments in notifying Cal-OSHA whenever there is an illness or injury that must be reported to Cal/OSHA. Please refer to SafetyNet # 121 for further details on these reporting requirements. PIs may be asked to conduct a detailed investigation following an injury or illness. The purpose of the investigation is to identify direct and contributory causes for the incident and define and assign preventative actions. Department Chairs are responsible for reviewing and signing the completed Employers First Report of Occupational Injury or Illness.  Implementation of preventative action must also be documented in the lab-specific Chemical Hygiene Plan.

Research Group/Laboratory Meetings:  Within the research group, regular meetings to discuss safety topics, potential issues, hazardous activities by research personnel, etc. are an important component of research group/laboratory safety program.  These meetings are also a training opportunity and should be documented.

Safety Training for Research Group/Laboratory Employees:  One of the key elements of a department’s Safety Management program is to define training that is required for each employee or category of employee in the department.  Each supervisor has responsibility for defining, implementing, and documenting training for their employees.  DSCs may be asked to provide assistance to supervisors in meeting this requirement.  The campus Ergonomics Program policy outlines the roles and responsibilities of PIs in reducing musculoskeletal injuries.

Field Safety:  Field research activities range from on-campus agricultural or animal research to off-campus research sites of nearly infinite variety.  The field safety issues for a research group/laboratory may entail very unique hazards related to specialized research.  Principal Investigators and the Department Safety Coordinator review these hazards to ensure that the department’s IIPP includes all known hazards and is updated whenever new hazards are introduced or recognized.  If boat-supported research is planned, visit the boating safety webpage.  For scientific diving activities, P&PM 290-80 describes those requirements.

REQUIREMENTS FOR DEPARTMENTS WITH LABORATORIES

• Chemical Hygiene Plan:  A laboratory-specific Chemical Hygiene Plan is required under P&PM 290-15.  This plan defines the safety program in the lab and describes lab-specific requirements for hazardous materials use.  Detailed requirements of this plan and a template can be found in the Chemical Safety Manual published by EH&S on the EH&S website.
• Chemical Inventory System (CIS) and CUPA Self-Audit Program:  Hazardous materials located in laboratories and chemical storage areas on campus must be included in the Chemical Inventory System.  See the CIS web page for more information on these requirements.  Annual hazardous materials inventory reporting is required for the laboratory, through the CIS program.  The Yolo County CUPA program monitors this inventory and inspects campus laboratories to verify compliance with hazardous materials and waste storage and handling as well as required training.  The CUPA Self-Audit program detailed on the EH&S website was established to help campus facilities comply with these requirements.
• Authorization Program:  If the research will include radioactive or biological materials, or research lasers, a Radiation Use Authorization (RUA), a Biological Use Authorization (BUA), or a Laser Use Authorization (LUA) may be required.  Please contact your Department Safety Advisor for assistance.  If the research includes animal use, an animal use protocol may be required.  Contact the Institutional Animal Use and Care Committee for assistance.
• Carcinogen Use Program:  The campus is required to report use of California-regulated carcinogens annually.  Laboratories possessing campus recognized carcinogens are required to report carcinogen use through the CIS program.  PIs will then be required to perform a self-audit to help the lab comply with the regulatory requirements.  The Chemical Carcinogen Safety Manual details the requirements for proper carcinogen management.
• Hazardous Waste Disposal:  Hazardous waste on campus is picked up for disposal by EH&S.  The EH&S website provides information on hazardous waste disposal and how to request a pick-up.  The EH&S website also provides information on allowable drain disposal including links to the waste water treatment plant local limits program which addresses permitted sewer disposal.
• Material Safety Data Sheets:  Access to MSDSs is required for all employees who might use chemicals.  EH&S recommends hard copy MSDSs be maintained in the lab for chemicals that are used routinely or in large quantities and for those chemicals that are particularly hazardous or toxic.  All employees must be trained on how to access MSDSs.  The University of California Office of the President maintains a subscription to a comprehensive on-line MSDS database.  Access is free to any UC Davis IP address.  If an MSDS doesn’t appear to exist for a chemical, please contact your EH&S Safety Advisor.
• Shipping Hazardous Materials:  All shipments of hazardous materials must comply with state and federal laws.  Please contact the Mail Division for assistance with mailing hazardous materials.  Transfers and shipments of radioactive materials must be coordinated by EH&S.  Call (530)752-1493 for assistance with shipping requirements.
• Safety Training for Laboratory Employees:  All employees must be trained, at least annually, on the hazards to which they might be exposed and how to protect themselves from those hazards.  Employees also need to be trained on the provisions of the lab-specific chemical hygiene plan.  Regular lab meetings are an excellent opportunity to provide needed training.  All training must be documented – even “informal” training sessions, lab meetings, etc.  EH&S recommends that all new lab employees take Chemical and Laboratory Safety Training, offered through EH&S.

Hazardous Materials Training and Management FOR NON-LAB DEPARTMENTS

• Hazard Communication Plan:  Employees shall have training on the chemical hazards to which they might be exposed.  This training must include how to access and interpret a material safety data sheet (MSDS), where to get help for chemical hazards and how to respond to chemical emergencies.  Access to MSDSs is required for all employees who might use chemicals.  EH&S recommends hard copy MSDSs be maintained in the work area for chemicals that are used routinely or in large quantities and for those chemicals that are particularly hazardous or toxic.  The University of California Office of the President maintains a subscription to a comprehensive on-line MSDS database.  Access is free to any UC Davis IP address.  If an MSDS doesn’t appear to exist for a chemical, please contact your EH&S Safety Advisor.

SAFETY PROGRAM SUPPORT AND RESOURCES

EH&S Web Site: The EH&S website is continually being updated to include the latest information in a user-friendly format.  In addition to serving as the source for all EH&S program documents, there are also useful links to other sites to help PIs get answers to a wide variety of questions.

SafetyNets:  Over one hundred SafetyNets are available at the EH&S website to provide detailed information on many typical safety questions.  New SafetyNets are frequently developed based on safety needs of the campus community.

FireNets:  FireNets are available at the Fire Department’s website and provide detailed information on a variety of fire-related safety topics and requirements.  FireNets are updated and developed based on information needs of the campus.

UC Davis Police Department Resources:  The Police Department website provides information on crime prevention, recent criminal activity on campus, and other Police Department services.  Alert bulletins are distributed to campus via department mail and fax, and posted on the Crime Prevention website.  To subscribe to receive alert bulletins via email, send a message to crimeprevention@ucdavis.edu.

EH&S Safety Advisor:  The EH&S Health and Safety Advisor Program is structured to assist departments in finding solutions to safety problems.  An EH&S Specialist has been assigned as a Department Safety Advisor (DSA) to work with each department and administrative unit on campus.  The DSA will work with their assigned departments to provide information, training, technical expertise, and interpretation of regulatory requirements.  PIs can look up their department’s Safety Advisor on our web site or contact EH&S at (530)752-1493.

Equipment Specific Requirements: Some equipment used by your department may have additional regulatory requirements for permitting, certifications or inspections.  Contact your DSA for further information.

Training Provided by EH&S:  EH&S also offers a wide range of classes on Animal Safety, Biological Safety, Chemical/Laboratory Safety, Ergonomics, Hazardous Waste Management, Physical Hazards, Radiological Safety and much more. PIs and their employees/students can sign up for these classes on the EH&S web site.  All EH&S classes are free to UC Davis staff, students and faculty.

For additional information, contact your EH&S Safety Advisor, EH&S at 530-752-1493 or ehsdesk@ucdavis.edu.

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