West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
Laboratory Safety
WVSOM is committed to providing a safe working environment for its researchers. WVSOM achieves this goal through multiple programs, plans and committees, as described below. Any laboratory safety incidents should be promptly reported to the Human Resources (HR), utilizing the appropriate form.
Principal Investigators (PIs) are responsible for ensuring the use of safe practices by all personnel in their labs, as well as training personnel on lab specific practices. See the sections below for more information, or contact the ORSP.
Laboratory Safety Programs, Committees, and Resources
- Research Laboratory Chemical Safety
WVSOM has established the research laboratory chemical hygiene plan (CHP) in accordance with OSHA regulation 29 CFR 1910.1450. Below are links to WVSOM's CHP, templates for PIs and external content.
- Chemical Hygiene Plan
- Individual lab chemical hygiene templates
- National Research Council Prudent Practice in the Laboratory
- All new PIs must submit a Lab CHP for review and approval by the Chemical Hygiene Officer
- Research Lab Chemical Inventories must be completed annually.
- Research Laboratory Biological Safety
Biological safety is achieved through multiple plans, as described below.
- OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP)
- Infectious Medical Waste
- Institutional Biosafety Committee
- IACUC Occupational Health and Safety Program
- Research Laboratory Security
WVSOM has procedures in place to address the security of research laboratories. Only authorized personnel are permitted access to research laboratories. The WVSOM Safety and Security Committee reviews safety and security practices on campus and is advisory to the Vice President of Finance and Facilities.
For more information, see the WVSOM Safety and Security overview webpage.- Institutional Biosafety Committee
Biological samples may be potentially hazardous. The Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) makes recommendations to the WVSOM administration regarding best practices to ensure that potential biological hazards are identified, contained, and utilized properly. This ensures the safety of WVSOM employees and students, as well as visitors who may be in areas with potential biological hazards. The IBC makes recommendations on work with Biological hazards, OSHA Bloodborne pathogens, and Infectious medical waste as described below, and makes determinations regarding work with rDNA.
- Institutional Biosafety Manual
- Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories, 6th Edition
- NIH Biosafety and recombinant DNA Policy
- All work with rDNA must be approved in advance through review by the IBC.
- All work with primate tissue, infectious agents, pathogens, biological toxins, or oncogenes requires review by the IBC.
Next IBC meeting: none scheduled
- OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Guidelines and Exposure Control Plan
The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP) standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) describes safeguards that employers must provide to protect employees against health hazards posed by BBP. Part of the standard is a requirement for an exposure control plan, universal precautions, engineering and work practice controls, personal protective equipment, etc. WVSOM's Exposure control plan is provided below, as well as links to reference guides by OSHA.
WVSOM BBP Guidelines & Exposure Control Plan
OSHA BBP Safety and Health Topic Home page
OSHA Fact Sheet on BBP
OSHA Quick reference guide to the BBP standard- Infectious Medical Waste Management Plan
WVSOM has established an infectious medical waste plan in accordance with the state of West Virginia's rule 64 CSR 56 and OSHA's Exposure to Bloodborne pathogens.
- IACUC Occupational Health and Safety Program
WVSOM has established an occupational health and safety program (OHSP) as part of its overall program of animal care and use.
- WVSOM utilizes the Occupational Health and Safety in the Care and Use of Research Animals, published by the National Research Council, as its guide for maintaining this program.
- See the Animal Care and Use Program page for more information.
- Additional Laboratory Safety Resources
The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), an Institute of NIH, provides a wealth of training resources for general laboratory safety. Please review the resources here for additional information, training, and responsible conduct of research.