Principal Investigators (PIs)

The PI has primary responsibility for keeping their lab safe and in compliance.

• Fire Extinguishers Inspection: PIs or their designees should conduct a visual inspection monthly to ensure adequate pressure is available. Any deficiencies should be relayed to the Facilities team. This includes verifying that fire extinguishers have an up-to-date annual inspection tag. The PI must submit the Work Order to Facilities.
• Emergency Eye Wash Flushing: PIs or their designees are responsible for flushing each eye wash station weekly to ensure proper functioning between semiannual inspections. The PI must put in Work Order to Facilities Services if problems are identified.
• Life Safety Systems: PIs are responsible for ensuring that life safety systems, such as fire alarm devices and sprinkler water flow, are not obstructed. Storage within labs should be limited to 18” below ceiling height to allow for proper sprinkler discharge.
• Chemical Inventory and Door Signs: PIs are responsible for maintaining updated ChemTracker inventories for their lab. Changes in hazardous materials require both ChemTracker updates and Door Sign updates. Both OARS and your College Safety Officer (CSO) can print updated door signs.
• NFPA 704 Door Signs: Hazards within each laboratory must be properly identified on the placard on the door as well as within the 704-diamond. Any modifications to the laboratory equipment or Chemical Inventories must be accompanied by updates to the door signage and 704-diamond.
• Updated Emergency Contact Information: is required on each door placard. Emergency Contacts must understand their responsibilities during a lab emergency and be able to provide critical information to first responders.
• Safety Data Sheets (SDSs): must be linked to ChemTracker entries in each laboratory space. For high hazard or high-volume chemicals only, paper SDSs should be stored in a binder in the lab.  OARS can assist the PI to identify high hazard or high-volume chemicals.
• Chemical Storage: It is the responsibility of the PI to enforce proper storage of chemicals and gases. This includes:
  • properly labeling cabinets,
  • ensuring incompatible chemicals that can create a reaction (such as oxidizers and flammables) are not stored in the same cabinet and have proper separation,
  • gas cylinders are properly secured, and other similar items.
• Emergency Spill Kits: are required in each laboratory. This kit must be specific laboratory hazards present within the space. Spill Kits must be visible and easily accessible by all lab members. Lab members must be trained in the use of the spill kit. OARS provides start-up kits and PIs must refresh any supplies used.
• Work Orders: It is the responsibility of the PI to identify items that create safety hazards and to respond to them by a Facilities Work Order. Once the Work Order is submitted, Facilities will be responsible for resolving the issue. The PI will be responsible for tracking Work Orders. PIs can follow up with their CSO (or DSO) if repairs are not being completed in a timely manner.
• Satellite Accumulation Areas (SAA): should be clearly identified and labeled. These areas should also be clearly delineated from other work areas when sharing a fume hood or flammable cabinet. No storage of chemicals are permitted in these areas other than hazardous waste.
• Waste Container Management: Incompatible waste materials must be separated, and secondary containment should be used with all waste collection containers in the SAA.
• Dispensing: Hazardous material dispensing must be completed in a ventilated hood. These areas should be clearly identified and labeled as dispensing areas, and this cannot be permitted inside flammable cabinets or on countertops.
• General Housekeeping: Large amounts of clutter, especially when combustible (e.g. cardboard), create increased hazards for laboratories. Clutter within laboratories should be minimized and good housekeeping enforced by PIs.
• Hallway Storage: Gas cylinders, including cryogenic Dewars, are not allowed to be stored in the hallway. This will be the responsibility of all parties to enforce and find an acceptable location for storage.
• Emergency Preparedness: Emergency preparedness guidelines must be reviewed during lab meetings. PIs must ensure that all researchers know the risks associated with the materials, equipment, and processes they work with. Researchers must be trained to recognize abnormal conditions that indicate a potential for injury or material release and what steps to take to safely stop the process and eliminate the problem. Researchers must know what steps to take for small and large spills, fire, injury, and hazardous material exposure when in the lab.
• Fume Hoods: PIs must ensure that researchers verify that fume hood is working properly, know how to operate the hood and sash to provide the best protection, and do not use fume hoods as storage for hazardous materials not currently in use.
• Chemical Hygiene Plan: PIs must:
  • be familiar with NUs Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP),
  • follow all CHP requirements where applicable,
  • ensure that researchers are familiar with the CHP,
  • ensure that all work performed  is in compliance with the CHP.