Staff Resources

Workflow for Wet Lab Usage at SSRL

1. Complete ESH Course 204: Sample Prep Lab Training on Skillport. Training must be completed annually.
2. Contact Lab Manager (LM) of the lab which you will work in (or contact Principal Investigator when there is no formal LM). Discuss any lab needs before initiating work. 
3. For first time wet lab users: schedule an in-person lab orientation with the LM.
4. For first time use at SSRL of specialty equipment: schedule an in-person training with the LM. This includes, but is not limited to, gloveboxes and schlenk lines.
5. Submit any required documents as applicable:
   1. Nanomaterial Checklist for experiments using nanomaterial (≤ 100nm in one or more dimensions).
   2. Standard Operating Procedure  (SOP) for particularly hazardous experiments. Here is a model Example SOP.
6. Await approval by LM before initiating work. Safety Officer may be involved, particularly in cases of SOP and Nanomaterial Checklist.
7. Sign up for a time slot. During SSRL Phase 1 and Phase 2 Recovery, follow the Sample Prep Lab Use During Recovery Plan.

Training Matrix

Useful Information

Access Protocols (granted by Lab Manager/Area Manager): controls access for employees, students, and visitors/users using RFID badge readers or code-entry door locks.

Work Planning and Control (WPC): is managed by the Safety Officer who identifies and mitigates risks when planning, authorizing and releasing work, lab WPC incorporates the Integrated Safety and Environmental Management System (ISEMS). The ISEMS covers SLAC’s seven core functions:²

1. Define the work
2. Identify and analyze hazards
3. Develop and implement controls
4. Authorize work
5. Release work
6. Perform work within controls
7. Feedback and continuous improvement

The Strategy of WPC is similar across all research and SPL labs. ESH professionals assures, evaluates, and releases safety protocols and SOPs. Lab managers and safety officers assure and monitor safe practice in the lab.

Principle Investigator (PI) assigns lab management responsibilities to research students or staff members of the lab, they authorize work and ensure the quality and execution of the lab-specific safety program. Lab support and safety oversight are often divided amongst different workers and (Subject Matter Experts) or SMEs (who are assigned by ES&H).² 

The responsible person can be (PI, researcher, or project manager) and ESH coordinators (with input from SMEs if required). They are responsible for safety of the work being performed in accordance with integrated safety management guiding principles. The responsible persons will determine if a proposed activity or a project activity needs to be reviewed through one/both of the experimental project review and conventional project review processes. All steps reside within the requester’s line organization and include two levels: Lower limit and broad thresholds. The ESH Threshold Review Form must be completed if the activity exceeds any of the lower limit thresholds.¹

Work Release: All new hazards and protocols must be analyzed and approved before work can be released. Lab Managers (LM) consult with the ESH coordinators and Subject Matter Experts (SME) on all new significant protocols or processes. Risk levels determine the need for formal analysis and use of elimination, substitution, engineering, admin, or PPE controls. Informal approval for green work and routine yellow work where risks are relatively low are acceptable. Red or yellow work involving high or medium risk activities necessitate formal hazard analysis, mitigations and controls.² 

The formal review process should have SOP or similar, following joint safety assessment with the ESH Coordinator and SME if necessary, the LM releases the researcher to perform the SOP within the lab with attention to researcher competence and experience.²

Pre-job briefing: May be necessary before work can be released. For green and routine yellow work, pre-job briefings may be routine parts of lab orientation training. For red or complex yellow work, the pre-job briefing may accompany the approval and close-out of a new SOP.²

Contact Info