To improve management of laboratory safety, ensure personal and property safety of students, faculty, staff, and maintain a safe working environment, this policy has been developed based on specific conditions at Institute of Eco-Chongming.
I Guiding Principles
Laboratory safety plays an important part in university governance and safe campus. It is the responsibility of all students, faculty and staff to create and maintain a safe and clean working environment. Institute of Eco-Chongming shall organize educational and promotional activities about laboratory safety on a regular basis to establish a culture of laboratory safety, enrich staff members’ safety knowledge, and raise safety awareness.
II Laboratory Safety Management System and Responsibilities
With different levels of management, Institute of Eco-Chongming implements the following policy and principle to ensure that safety responsibilities are defined and assigned to individuals at all levels:
1) people-oriented, safety first, prevention foremost, and comprehensive management;
2) those who work in the laboratory will take responsibility; those who are in charge of supervision will take responsibility.
a. Director
Director of Institute of Eco-Chongming has primary responsibility for laboratory safety. The director assumes overall responsibility for laboratory operations as follows:
i. designate laboratory supervisors, full-time and part-time laboratory staff;
ii. establish responsibility system for laboratory safety;
iii. develop and implement laboratory safety plans;
iv. conduct both periodic and unannounced safety inspections; ensure that all corrective actions are completed.
b. Laboratory Safety Officer
Laboratory safety officer is responsible for:
i. daily management and supervision of laboratory safety;
ii. ensuring that security guards, cleaning workers, and laboratory personnel are on duty;
iii. maintaining inventory ledger for laboratory items;
iv. providing safety education and training for laboratory personnel and external personnel;
v. conducting both periodic and unannounced safety inspections; ensuring that all corrective actions are completed.
vi. construction and management of laboratory safety facilities.
c. Supervisors and Principal Investigators
Supervisors and principal investigators are accountable for the safety of individuals working under their direction or supervision. Supervisors and principal investigators are required to:
i. raise laboratory safety awareness and strengthen safety education and management;
ii. implement safety measures;
iii. assure compliance with relevant requirements and sign the Letter of Responsibility.
d. External Personnel
It is the obligation of external personnel to receive and complete laboratory safety education and training, sign the Letter of Responsibility, and conduct activities in compliance with laboratory policies, rules, and regulations.
e. Laboratory Personnel
Laboratory personnel who studies and works in the laboratory is responsible for laboratory safety and his or her own safety. All laboratory personnel must comply with pertinent laboratory policies, rules and regulations, follow standard operating procedures strictly, and cooperate with laboratory safety staff at all levels to promote a culture of laboratory safety, eliminate safety concerns, and avoid accidents.
III Laboratory Safety Management
Various aspects of laboratory safety include but are not limited to the following: fire safety, safety issues related to electricity and water, personal and property safety, instruments and equipment, chemical hazards, disposal of waste, food and environmental health, and network information.
a. Intentional damage to laboratory facilities and equipment is strictly prohibited. Tampering with fire alarms or firefighting equipment and block of emergency exits are strictly prohibited. Anyone who causes damage to facilities and equipment due to misuse will be charged for the replacement or repair cost of damaged facilities and equipment.
b. Disassembling or assembling instruments and equipment, taking instruments and equipment out of the laboratory without permission are strictly prohibited. Special cases shall be considered with prior approval from the administration office.
c. Smoking, drinking, shouting, cooking over an open flame, connecting electrical wires without permission are strictly prohibited. Activities that pose a threat to laboratory safety are strictly prohibited.
d. Staying overnight in the laboratory is strictly prohibited. If there is indeed the necessity to conduct experiments at night, please apply to the administration office and get prior approval.
e. Conducting experiments that are toxic and harmful in the laboratory is strictly prohibited. Liquid waste, solid waste and gas waste must be handled and disposed of properly. Minimize pollution emissions. Anyone who causes environmental problems resulting from random dumping of liquid waste, solid waste or discharge of gas waste will be held accountable.
f. Laboratory specimens should be properly stored and labeled. Anyone who causes contamination to other’s specimens resulting from improper storage will be held accountable.
g. Take good care of your personal belongings. Consequences of loss of articles due to improper safekeeping shall be borne by the owner himself or herself. Protect the environment in and around the laboratory. Do not litter. Household garbage shall be classified and disposed of in compliance with relevant policies of Shanghai Municipal Government and the People's Government of Chongming District.
h. Activities such as high-altitude operations, live-line working, and water related operations are strictly prohibited. If there is indeed the necessity, hazardous operations shall be carried out by professionals who hold pertinent qualification certificates. Firefighters, electricians, elevator operators and anyone on special posts are required to have obtained corresponding certificates before taking the job.
i.Conducting activities involving construction, excavation work, electrical wires connection, installation of instruments and equipment in or around the laboratory, etc., is strictly prohibited. If there is indeed the necessity, please submit detailed plans for implementation and the feasibility report to the administration office to be reviewed.
j. For anyone who violates laboratory rules, regulations, and policies, laboratory staff has the authority to halt or shut down any experiment and ask the violator to leave the laboratory. Associated personnel will be held accountable. To conduct experiments in the laboratory again, the violator is required to make a commitment by signature on the Disciplinary Action Form, and get confirmation from his or her supervisor.
k. Laboratory related matters that are not covered in the above provisions shall be implemented in accordance with national laws, rules, and regulations.
IV Laboratory Safety Inspection, Corrective Action and Emergency Response
Safety management system for hazard identification and correction will be established and developed. Safety inspections will be performed on a regular basis. In the event of potential safe hazards being identified, corrective actions shall be taken in a timely manner.
Laboratory personnel is required to learn cases about safety warnings and other workplaces which have been a model of quality in safety in Shanghai. To improve the capacity to handle emergencies, emergency plans will be developed and revised continuously and emergency drills will be carried out regularly. In the event of accidents, prompt actions will be taken to correct any unsafe acts or conditions and analysis and reports will be submitted accordingly.
V Documentation of Laboratory Safety
Documentation system for laboratory safety will be established to keep records of implementation of laboratory safety policies, regular inspections and corrective actions, analysis and reviews of accidents, statistic reports, etc.
VI Rewards and Penalties
Teams and individuals with outstanding work in the management of laboratory safety will be commended and rewarded. In the event of accidents that occur in the laboratory, personnel involved and parties concerned shall be held accountable.
VII Institute of Eco-Chongming is responsible for the final interpretation regarding this policy. Laboratory and related matters that are not covered in the above provisions shall be implemented in accordance with national laws, rules, and regulations.