Chemical Safety
Laboratory Supervisor/Principal Investigator
The front-line responsibility for ensuring that all work in Boston University laboratories is safe and in compliance rests with the Laboratory Supervisor/Principal Investigator (PI). These designations are used interchangeably, but refer to the faculty member or administrator responsible for work in a specific laboratory. This person must develop any laboratory-specific standard operating procedures to be followed in his or her laboratory. His or her duties also include the following:
- Define the location of work areas where toxic substances, potential carcinogens and other hazardous chemicals will be used;
- Ensure that an inventory of these and all other chemicals is properly maintained;
- Define all hazardous operations, alert employees to the hazards, and establish safe procedures for these operations by selecting suitable engineering controls and personal protective equipment and requesting assistance from OEHS, as necessary;
- Ensure all new laboratory workers attend Laboratory Safety Training before working unsupervised in the laboratory, and that all workers attend annually thereafter;
- Ensure all laboratory workers receive instruction in safe work practices, proper use of personal protective equipment and emergency procedures;
- Ensure that all laboratory workers are familiar with the Chemical Hygiene Plan and where it can be found;
- Designate a Safety Coordinator for their laboratory, as necessary;
- Provide safety information and specific training to laboratory workers for the hazardous chemicals with which they work (which may include training when the employee’s exposures changes or when new workers start in the laboratory);
- Ensure that the Chemical Hygiene Plan is supplemented with Standard Operating Procedures applicable to the hazardous chemicals or operations used in the laboratory, as necessary;
- Provide all appropriate and required personal protective equipment to laboratory workers and ensure that they utilize the protective equipment necessary for the safe performance of their jobs;
- Assist the Chemical Hygiene Officer and/or OEHS personnel in fulfillment of their duties with respect to his or her laboratory;
- Correct deficiencies identified during inspections, as appropriate
- Report all accidents or near-accidents which occur in his or her laboratory and take corrective measures so that these will not recur;
- Oversee proper disposal of all laboratory waste including hazardous waste, biological waste and sharps waste from his or her laboratory.
