Principal Investigator

As the Principal Investigator (PI) overseeing a research group or laboratory course you have many responsibilities. One of the primary responsibilities within your lab space is epitomizing and enforcing the safety rules of the University.

The University Laboratory Safety Manual outlines the responsibilities of the PI and all other parties who interact with lab spaces including EHS, lab personnel and the Responsible Research Committees . You as the PI have the most influence in the safety culture of your lab spaces.

Responsibilities

The responsibilities listed below are organized into similar categories for ease of reading. A printable version of this list is available here. Below are the responsibilities outlined in the Chemical Hygiene Plan. There are additional responsibilities in the Lab Safety Manual for PIs who work with biological materials, radition producing materials, lasers, or conduct field work.

General Safety

Responsible for implementing all aspects of the University Laboratory Safety Manual
Ensure all individuals who enter their work area(s) know and follow the University Laboratory Safety Manual
Ensure that facilities and training for any material being ordered or used are adequate
Supply all appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to all individuals, including visitors and workers, entering your work area(s) and ensure that the PPE is used and in good working order
Additional responsibilities are outlined in the Biosafety, Radiation and Laser manuals for research that falls under these policies

Writing

Prepare and implement a Work Area Safety Plan through the RRAMP website.
Prepare written standard operating procedures (SOPs) for all operations conducted and all equipment used in the work area (see Section A12)
Determine required PPE and administrative and engineering controls and document this information in written procedures
Submit applications for work requiring institutional oversight to the pertinent responsible research committee and get approval prior to work commencing.
- Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC): see the IBC webpage for list of agents and materials
- Institutional Laboratory Safety Committee (ILSC): Protocols involving the laboratory use of energetic materials
- Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC): Protocols involving any live vertebrate animals for research, instruction, demonstration, production, or maintenance purposes, whether the animals are in facilities at TTU or elsewhere.
- Institutional Review Board (IRB): Protocols involving human subjects (including sample collection)
- Institutional Radiation and LASER Safety Committee (IRLSC): Protocols involving the use of radioactive materials, radiation producing equipment and/or lasers

Chemicals

Ensure chemical containers are labeled with all required information, barcoded, segregated by their hazard class (see Appendix AA) and stored in an appropriate manner
Perform a hazard determination of chemicals generated within the laboratory
Date receipt and track the age of peroxide forming compounds (see Appendix AH)
- Test peroxide-formers for peroxide formation at a minimum every six months after opening
- Contact EHS for disposal of any peroxide former if the peroxide test yields 30 ppm or more or if there is visible crystallization, discoloration, or stratification
Ensure all individuals who enter their work area(s) are aware of the hazards that are present in the area(s), not just what they will be working with directly

Lab Management

Appoint a member of the laboratory as the Laboratory Safety Captain (LSC)
- This individual should be someone well-versed in the procedures of the lab and familiar with safety policy of the University. They will work with EHS, the DSO and you to oversee safety in your work areas.
Ensure that all personnel with access to work area(s) have taken and passed the required EHS safety training(s) outlined in CHP Section A14.2 prior to being given permission to enter the work area (registration for safety training is done through EHS)
Provide regular chemical hygiene and housekeeping inspections, including routine inspections of emergency equipment using the Lab Safety Survey Checklist available on the Tools & Templates page.
Ensuring chemical hygiene and housekeeping issues are corrected and ensure completion of a Work Order for issues that the PI needs assistance in fixing
Check eyewashes weekly to make sure they are running properly. If they need maintenance, contact TTU Building Maintenance and Construction at 742-2102 for repair
Check fire extinguishers in your work area(s) to make sure they are charged and in date; if they have not been inspected within the last year or they are not charged, contact Physical Plant at 742-4677 to have them serviced
Ensure that equipment being removed from the work area for disposal, Surplus, or transfer is appropriately decontaminated and cleared by EHS (attach completed Equipment Decontamination Form)

Reporting

Notify the DSO and CHO of the need for medical monitoring, consultation and / or examinations
Submit a completed Incident Report in the event of injury or damage to property to the DSO or EHS within 24 hours after incident
Injuries that require or result in medical attention must be reported to EHS immediately
Inform EHS by email to ehs.lab.safety@ttu.edu of non-TTU inspectors (e.g., USDA, CDC, etc.) planning to enter research work areas when the time is known
- Notify EHS immediately by phone if non-TTU inspectors arrive unannounced
- Exceptions include scheduled USDA and AAALAC inspections for animal facilities, TCEQ site visits, state fire marshal inspections and inspections related to insurance policies

Tools to Help You in Your Role as PI

Visit our Forms, Tools & SOPs web page for:
1. Safety survey checklists
2. EHS-curated SOPs
3. Posters covering safety topics (don't have the right paper - email us to request the posters you want!)
4. Forms for managing chemical inventory and equipment clearance
You can request Lab Safety Services at any time. This includes fume hood assessment, equipment clearance, a guest speaker to your lab group meeting and more!
Have a question? Visit the FAQ page. Don't see it there? Email us directly.