[Moderate revision–posted 7/14/25 (replaces 1/20/23 edition)]
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Operating Policy and Procedure

OP 60.17: Laboratory Safety Manual

DATE: July 14, 2025

PURPOSE: The purpose of this Operating Policy/Procedure (OP) is to implement the Texas Tech University (TTU) Laboratory Safety Manual as directive guidance for all TTU laboratories.

REVIEW: This OP will be reviewed every two years after publication by the Assistant Vice President for Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) and the Managing Director of Emergency Management with substantive revisions forwarded through the Associate Vice President for Research to the Senior Vice President for Administration & Finance and Chief Financial Officer and the Provost and Senior Vice President.

POLICY/PROCEDURE

1.  Scope

The provisions of the Laboratory Safety Manual shall apply to all TTU laboratories where hazardous chemicals, biological materials, and laser and radioactive materials or equipment are used, stored, or handled.

2.  Intent

The intent of this OP is to:

a.    Comply with the provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's standard for occupational exposure in laboratories (29 CFR 1910.1450);

b.    Establish other laboratory safety practices regarded as essential to a safe program by nationally recognized organizations such as the American Chemical Society, National Research Council, American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, Centers for Disease Control, Texas Department of State Health Services, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and others; and

c.    Provide the safest laboratory workplace that can reasonably be achieved.

3.  Responsibilities

a.    EHS will provide a Chemical Hygiene Officer, Biological Safety Officer, and Radiation Safety Officer who will monitor all departments for compliance with the Laboratory Safety Manual, perform all required hazard exposure monitoring, and offer guidance and suggestions concerning actions necessary to gain compliance status. Additionally, EHS will coordinate and help administer the establishment of committees of faculty and staff experts to review and update their subject sections of the Laboratory Safety Manual.

b.    Each department having laboratories where laboratory scale chemicals are used, stored, or handled will identify a departmental safety officer (DSO), in writing, to EHS.

c.    Each DSO will act as the point of contact within the department for the EHS personnel.

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