4.1 Standard Operating Procedures

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are a core element of laboratory safety and are required under the OSHA Laboratory Standard (29 CFR 1910.1450) as part of a Chemical Hygiene Plan. SOPs document how work is performed and identify the health and safety considerations necessary to reduce risk when working with hazardous chemicals or hazardous operations.

SOPs help ensure that laboratory work is planned, hazards are understood, and controls are applied consistently. They also support effective training, continuity of operations, and shared understanding within a research group.

What qualifies as an SOP

SOPs may be stand-alone documents or incorporated into other laboratory records, such as research notebooks, experiment protocols, or equipment manuals. Regardless of format, SOPs must clearly address the safety and health considerations relevant to the work being performed.

Minimum SOP content

At a minimum, SOPs should address:

• The chemicals, materials, or equipment involved and their hazards
• Task-specific or non-routine hazards
• Required engineering controls (e.g., fume hoods, shielding, interlocks)
• Required personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Spill or incident response measures
• Waste handling and disposal procedures
• Decontamination or shutdown procedures
• A high-level description of how the task or operation is performed

When SOPs are required

SOPs are required for work involving hazardous chemicals and should also be developed for equipment or operations that pose physical hazards. Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Work with particularly hazardous chemicals (e.g., hydrofluoric acid, pyrophorics)
• Laser operations
• Use of cryogenic liquids and fill procedures
• Compressed gas cylinder handling and regulator changes
• High-voltage or high-energy equipment

Using existing information

SOPs do not need to be lengthy documents. It is acceptable and often appropriate to reference existing materials, provided expectations are clear. Examples include:

Roles and responsibilities

Principal Investigators and laboratory supervisors are responsible for ensuring that SOPs incorporating relevant health and safety considerations are developed for work conducted in their laboratories. They are also responsible for ensuring that laboratory personnel are trained on applicable SOPs before performing the work.

EHS provides guidance and assistance with SOP development but does not generate SOPs on behalf of laboratories. SOPs must reflect the specific materials, equipment, and practices used by each research group.

SOP templates and examples

• How to Write an SOP
• Blank SOP Template
• Examples of Completed SOPs

4.2 Sponsored Programs

The Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) administers awards for sponsored research, instruction, and extension projects at Cornell. Proposals should be completed by the Principal Investigator and submitted. Of particular note for laboratory personnel, compliance certifications are required for the following areas:

• Human Subjects
• Animal Use
• Recombinant DNA
• Genetically Modified Organisms
• Radiation
• Biological Agents and Toxins
• Hazardous Materials

As part of the process, EHS will be notified upon submittal of the proposal to OSP when one or more of the following compliance items have been checked: animals, rDNA, GMOs, radiation, hazardous materials, or biological agents or toxins. Once EHS receives the proposal, staff members within EHS will contact the Principal Investigator listed to discuss general aspects of the grant proposal and to ensure health and safety aspects have been taken into account. During the review process, EHS staff members will identify any special issues that may need to be addressed to ensure compliance with state or federal regulatory requirements.

More information can be obtained from the Office of Sponsored Programs website – Internal Academic Approval of Sponsored Programs.

4.3 Procedural Controls

Procedural controls incorporate best management practices for working in a laboratory. These practices serve not only to protect the health and safety of personnel, but are a common sense way of increasing productivity in a laboratory. Through implementation of good practices, laboratories can expect an increase in the efficient use of valuable lab space, in the reliability of experiments due to less potential contamination, and an increase in the awareness of health and safety issues by laboratory personnel. Following the practices outlined in this Lab Safety Manual should also result in a decrease in the number of accidents, injuries, and spills. This will result in a decrease in the overall liability for the Principal Investigator, laboratory supervisor, and the University. Procedural controls are fundamental to instilling safe work behaviors and helping to create a culture of safety within the laboratory environment.

4.4 Housekeeping

Housekeeping

Housekeeping refers to the overall condition of the laboratory and how workspaces are maintained on a day-to-day basis. Good housekeeping supports safe work practices, reliable emergency response, and efficient research operations.

Effective laboratory housekeeping includes the following practices:

• Keep work areas free of unnecessary clutter, trash, unused equipment, and empty or obsolete chemical containers. This includes benches, fume hoods, refrigerators, cabinets, sinks, chemical storage areas, and waste accumulation areas.
• Ensure all chemical containers are closed when not actively in use to prevent spills, evaporation, and unintended exposures.
• Clean up chemical spills promptly, regardless of quantity. When addressing a spill, check nearby surfaces such as equipment, cabinet fronts, doors, and countertops for splashes or residues. For spill response guidance, refer to the Chemical Spill Procedures.
• Maintain clear access to emergency and safety equipment at all times. This includes eyewash stations, emergency showers, fire extinguishers, electrical panels, spill kits, and emergency exits.
• Maintain required aisle and egress clearances. A minimum of three feet of clearance between benches and equipment is required by fire code. Exits must remain free of obstructions and tripping hazards such as boxes, cords, bottles, or equipment.
• Store materials safely. Heavier or bulkier items should be stored on lower shelves. Combustible materials must not be stored within 24 inches of the ceiling in unsprinklered rooms. In sprinklered rooms, all storage must be kept at least 18 inches below sprinkler head deflectors to ensure effective fire protection.
• Use appropriate equipment when accessing overhead storage. Always use a stepladder; do not stand on chairs, benches, or countertops. If a stepladder is not available, contact your Building Coordinator.

Maintaining good housekeeping reduces the likelihood of spills, trips, fires, and blocked emergency equipment. Clean, organized workspaces also support situational awareness and help laboratories respond more effectively during emergencies.

4.5 Personal Hygiene

Good chemical hygiene practices include the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and good personal hygiene habits. Although PPE can offer a barrier of protection against chemicals and biological materials, good personal hygiene habits are essential to prevent chemical exposure, even when using PPE.Some general guidelines that should always be followed include:

• Do not eat, drink, chew gum, or apply cosmetics in a lab or other area where chemicals are used.
• Do not store food or drink in refrigerators that are used to store chemicals.
• Do not ever try starting a siphon or pipette by mouth, doing so can result in ingestion of chemicals or inhalation of chemical vapors. Always use a pipette aid or suction bulb to start a siphon.
• Always confine long hair, loose clothing, and jewelry.
• Wear a lab coat when working with hazardous materials.
• Shorts and sandals should not be worn in a lab when anyone is using corrosives or other chemicals that present a skin contact hazard or where the potential for physical hazards such as dropping pieces of equipment or broken glass are present. 
• Remove laboratory coats, gloves, and other PPE immediately when chemical contamination occurs. Failure to do so could result in chemical exposure. 
• After removing contaminated PPE, be sure to wash any affected skin areas with soap and water for at least 15 minutes.
• Always remove lab coats, scrubs, gloves, and other PPE before leaving the lab. Do not wear lab coats, scrubs, or other PPE (especially gloves) in areas outside the lab, particularly not in areas where food and drink are served, or other public areas.
• Always wash hands with soap and water after removing gloves and before leaving the lab or using items such as the phone, turning doorknobs, or using an elevator.
• Always wash lab coats separately from personal clothing. Be sure to identify contaminated lab coats to commercial laundry facilities to help protect their workers by placing the contaminated lab coat in a separate plastic bag and clearly identifying the bag with a note or label indicating the lab coat is contaminated. 
• Smoking is prohibited in all lab areas at Cornell.

4.6 Eating, Drinking, and Applying Cosmetics in the Lab

Chemical and other toxic materials exposure can occur through ingestion of food or drink contaminated with these items. This type of contamination can occur when food or drinks are brought into a lab or when food or drinks are stored in refrigerators, freezers, or cabinets with laboratory materials. When this occurs, it is possible for the food or drink to absorb chemical vapors or other contaminants and thus lead to an exposure when the food or drink is consumed. Eating or drinking in areas exposed to toxic materials is prohibited by the OSHA Sanitation Standard, 29 CFR 1910.141(g)(2).

A similar principle of potential chemical or toxic materials exposure holds true with regard to the application of cosmetics (make-up, hand lotion, etc.) in a laboratory setting. In this instance, the cosmetics have the ability of absorbing chemical vapors, dusts, and mists from the air and when applied to the skin and result in skin exposure.

To prevent exposure to hazardous chemicals or toxic materials through ingestion, do not eat, drink, chew gum, or apply cosmetics in areas where these materials are used.

Wash your hands thoroughly after using any chemicals or other laboratory materials, even if you were wearing gloves, and especially before eating or drinking.

To help promote awareness, refrigerators and freezers should be properly labeled:

• Refrigerators for the storage of food should be labeled, “Food Only, No Chemicals” or “No Chemicals or Samples”. 
• Refrigerators used for the storage of chemicals should be labeled “Chemicals Only, No Food”.

Free refrigerator labels are available from the EHS Signs and Labels webpage.

Keep in mind that some exposures can result in immediate effects (acute exposure) while other effects may not be seen for some time despite repeated exposure (chronic exposure). Consuming food or drink or applying cosmetics in the lab can result in both types of exposure.

4.7 Working Alone

Whenever possible, laboratory personnel should avoid working alone when conducting research, especially when experiments involve hazardous substances and procedures. Laboratories should establish specific guidelines and standard operating procedures specifying when working alone is not allowed and develop notification procedures when working alone occurs. All work to be performed by someone working alone, and the monitoring system that is established, must be approved in advance by the Principal Investigator or laboratory supervisor. Check with your DSR to see if your department has specific requirements for working alone.

Safety Measures for Working Alone

If a laboratory person determines it is necessary to work alone, they should take the following precautions:

Notify a Nearby Contact

Before beginning work, notify someone in the area, such as:

• A colleague in an adjacent room
• A researcher in another lab on the same floor
• A contact in a lab on a different floor

Establish a Buddy System & Regular Check-Ins

For tasks involving higher risk, a buddy system should be implemented:

• The buddy should check in every 15–30 minutes via:
  • In-person visits to the lab
  • Phone or messaging check-ins
• If the work involves highly hazardous materials, the buddy should not enter the lab but instead use a visual check system to confirm safety.

Use the RAVE Guardian Safety Timer

Cornell provides RAVE Guardian, a mobile safety app that allows users to set a Safety Timer while working alone. This feature:

• Allows users to set a check-in timer while working alone.
• Notifies a designated guardian (such as a colleague or supervisor) if the timer expires.
• Can directly alert Cornell Police in case of an emergency.

Download RAVE Guardian from the App Store or Google Play and ensure it is set up before working alone.

Emergency Procedures

If an emergency arises requiring a buddy to leave before an experiment is completed:

1. The buddy must notify Cornell Police at 607-255-1111, providing:
   • The name of the researcher
   • The lab location
   • The expected end time of the experiment
2. The buddy must also notify the researcher.
3. The researcher should:
   • Safely complete the experiment
   • Notify Cornell Police once the experiment is finished

Security Considerations for Working Alone

For labs that require locked access:

• Prior arrangements must be made to ensure the buddy can enter the lab if needed.
• Be aware that Cornell Police and EHS Emergency Responders may not have immediate access to locked labs, which could delay emergency response.
• If a lab does not have a window or the window is covered, a person working alone may not be discovered until another lab member enters—which could be hours or even days later.

Examples of Permissible Activities When Working Alone

The following activities may be performed alone as long as no hazards are present:

• Office work (e.g., writing, calculations, computer work, reading)
• Housekeeping tasks (e.g., general cleaning, reorganization of supplies)
• Assembly or modification of lab equipment (when no chemical, electrical, or physical hazards are involved)
• Routine lab functions as part of an approved SOP with demonstrated safety

Examples of Activities Requiring a Buddy System

The following activities should not be conducted alone and require a buddy system:

• Experiments involving toxic or hazardous chemicals (especially inhalation hazards)
• Experiments involving high-pressure equipment
• Work with large quantities of cryogenic materials
• Experiments involving unstable (explosive) materials
• Operation of Class 3B or Class 4 lasers
• Transfer of large quantities of flammable, acidic, or basic chemicals
• Changing compressed gas cylinders with hazardous contents

Supervisor Responsibilities

Principal Investigators and laboratory supervisors are responsible for:

• Developing clear procedures for working alone
• Ensuring compliance with established safety measures
• Enforcing buddy system requirements when necessary

For questions or concerns about working alone in the lab, contact EHS or your Department Safety Representative.

4.8 Phones in Labs

All labs are strongly recommended to have a means of communication in the event of an emergency. This can include a phone or cell phone (if service is available) or two-way radio within the lab or access to a central phone located in the hallway. If a phone is not available within the lab, it is advisable to post a sign and/or map indicating where the nearest phone is located.

4.9 Unattended Operations

Unattended Operations

Unattended operations are activities in which laboratory equipment or processes continue to run without personnel present. When unattended operations are necessary, they must be deliberately planned and set up to limit the likelihood and consequences of equipment failure, utility interruption, or other foreseeable abnormal conditions.

Before leaving an operation unattended, laboratory personnel should identify the hazards involved, evaluate what could reasonably go wrong, and ensure appropriate controls are in place. Additional precautions are especially important when unattended operations involve hazardous chemicals, elevated temperatures or pressures, electrical hazards, or other conditions with the potential for significant impact.

Notification and identification

For unattended operations involving significant hazards, the laboratory should remain visibly occupied and clearly identified. A light should be left on, and an information or warning sign should be posted on the laboratory door or another conspicuous location that can be read without placing responders at risk.

The sign should include:

• A brief description of the operation in progress
• The chemicals or materials involved
• The primary hazards present (e.g., heat, pressure, electrical)
• The name and contact number of the responsible individual, with a secondary contact if available

Planning and safeguards

Unattended operations should be designed so that reasonably foreseeable failures do not escalate into more serious incidents. Risk is reduced most effectively by combining multiple layers of protection and avoiding reliance on a single safeguard.

• Use secondary containment (e.g., trays or pans) to capture potential leaks or spills
• Use safety shields and keep fume hood sashes lowered to contain splashes, fragments, or releases
• Remove unnecessary chemicals, equipment, or combustible materials from the immediate area
• Use automatic shutoff devices or interlocks where feasible (e.g., loss of cooling water, over-temperature protection)
• Connect critical equipment to emergency power outlets when loss of power could introduce additional hazards

If hazards cannot be adequately controlled for unattended operation, the activity should be modified, delayed, or actively supervised until appropriate controls can be implemented.

4.10 Access to Laboratories

Access to Cornell University laboratories, workshops and other work areas housing hazardous materials or machinery is restricted to Cornell faculty, staff, students, or other persons on official business.

4.11 Chemical Purchasing

Before ordering new chemicals, search your existing inventories and use those chemicals currently in stock. An accurate and up-to-date chemical inventory can help to minimize purchase of chemicals already on hand and can facilitate acquisition of  Safety Data Sheets (SDS). Cornell has an institutional subscription to the Vertere chemical inventory system that can assist with maintaining a chemical inventory. If you are interested in learning more about the Vertere system, contact askEHS@cornell.edu.

If it is necessary to purchase new chemicals, laboratory personnel should order the smallest size necessary to carry out the experiment. Avoid ordering extra quantities because the chemical “might be needed in the future”. Try to take advantage of chemical vendors “Just-In-Time” delivery rather than stockpiling chemicals in your lab. Before ordering chemicals, be sure to check Cornell purchasing guidelines for preferred vendors and pricing.

Some chemical purchases may require special approval or permits, such as the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) controlled substances and/or listed chemicals; Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) listed substances; select agents or particularly hazardous substances. Building and fire codes restrict the amount of hazardous materials that can be stored in any one room, floor, and building at any given time. For more information, contact askEHS@cornell.edu.

4.12 Ordering New Equipment

Whenever large pieces of equipment are planned to be purchased and installed in laboratories, especially equipment that is required to be hooked up to building utility services such as electric, water, or gas, laboratory personnel must first consult with Facilities Engineering, EHS, and the appropriate PDC shops to ensure the building has the necessary resources to support the new piece of equipment. Lab personnel should not assume they can purchase equipment first and then expect the building to be able to handle the service requirements later. By preplanning and communicating well in advance with appropriate campus groups (such as Facilities Engineering and EHS), any potential issues can be identified ahead of time, which in turn will help make the transition to getting new pieces of equipment up and running quickly after the purchase is made.

Additionally, as with installation of fume hoods, certain pieces of equipment require special installation due to their potential impact on the rest of the building ventilation system and utilities, and cannot be hooked up by laboratory personnel, building managers, or private contractors without first consulting with Facilities Engineering and EHS. Laboratory personnel are strongly encouraged to be proactive and to consult with the appropriate departments ahead of time, before purchasing new pieces of large equipment.

Laboratory personnel are strongly encouraged, as responsible campus members, to give consideration to purchasing “Energy Star” energy efficient pieces of equipment to help conserve natural resources and long-term operating costs. When discussing purchases of equipment with vendors and equipment manufacturers, ask about what “Energy Star” alternatives they carry. For more information, see Energy Conservation in Laboratories.

Before ordering new equipment, check the Cornell purchasing guidelines for preferred vendors and pricing.

4.13 Work Orders and Ticket Requests

In the event of a maintenance issue or if repairs are needed to equipment, laboratory personnel should first consult with their Building Coordinator, who will submit the appropriate paperwork with Customer Service to have repairs initiated. Please note that due to NYS building codes and liability issues, laboratory personnel must not try to repair utility services (such as electrical, plumbing, or gas issues) by themselves. These repairs must be handled by qualified personnel only.

Whenever maintenance workers will be working on your hood system or in your laboratory, please remove all chemicals, laboratory apparatus, and equipment from the area requiring maintenance work. Ensure the work area is clean and inform the maintenance workers of any potential hazards present in the near vicinity either verbally or by leaving a sign with the appropriate information.

4.14 Changes in Lab Occupancy

Changes in laboratory occupancies can occur when faculty retire, new faculty come to campus, new lab staff are hired, students graduate or leave for another university, or when facility renovations take place. When changes in lab occupancy occur, it is important to address any potential issues BEFORE the occupants leave.

Failure to address the change in occupancy can result in:

• Old, unlabeled chemicals, samples, or hazardous waste being left behind in refrigerators, freezers, and cabinets.
• Valuable furniture or equipment being moved or thrown away.
• Unknown chemical spills or contamination being present.
• These issues can result in costly remediation efforts and wasted resources for both the department and the University.

If you are planning to leave your laboratory or if you know of a research group or students that are planning to leave, there are a few simple steps that can be followed to ensure a smooth transition:

• Notify your department chairperson, lab supervisor, and DSR well in advance of the planned move.
• Ensure all chemical containers are properly labeled.
• Properly dispose of any hazardous and chemical waste left in the laboratory.
• Ensure all chemical spills and contamination has been cleaned up.
• Review the EHS Lab Move Guide.

4.15 Laboratory Design and Construction

Project Managers planning construction or renovation of a laboratory should include EHS at design scoping phase of the project.

Research Safety lab design elements include:

Americans with Disability Act compliance: This may involve the determination of types and location of fume hoods, safety showers and eyewashes, autoclaves, sinks and other lab equipment.

Chemical inventory: A chemical inventory that includes quantity and intended usage will be expected at Scoping phase of all laboratory projects.

The chemical inventory must also include all cryogenic liquids and compressed gases. A risk assessment must be conducted to determine the need for a gas cabinet, low exhaust diffusers, oxygen monitoring, emergency ventilation shut-off. Specialized storage may be needed for certain chemicals such as acutely toxic, air/water reactive, and controlled substances. Examples include double lock boxes, flammable or explosion proof refrigerators or storage cabinets dedicated to a specific hazard class.

Emergency Showers and Eyewashes: These are required in laboratories that use chemicals that may spill or splash onto anyone working in the lab. Showers are required for volumes greater than a gallon.

Laboratory Ventilation: Air exchange rates are determined by EHS and are based on volatile chemical use, hazardous gas use, and/or biological agents. Other drivers are heat and the exhaust requirements for equipment in the room.

Volatile and corrosive chemicals produce airborne contaminants that must be controlled when in storage as well as when in use. This could include ventilated storage cabinets, a sufficient number of fume hoods, or other enclosures and local exhaust.

The design will also include directional general ventilation in lieu of local exhaust ventilation where it is not possible for the lab population to utilize, such as in Gross Anatomy in the Veterinary College.

Directional airflow relative to the hallway and adjacent rooms must be discussed for all laboratory projects.

Fume hood and other exposure control devices: The type and quantities of fume hoods, location in the lab suite, and face velocity (with minimum velocities) must be determined at design. Local exhaust may include snorkels, canopy, heat extracting hoods, or other types of tables.

Specialty hoods: Wet benches (for corrosive chemical use), solvent benches, and perchloric acid fume hoods (with the washdown feature) must be discussed with EHS to determine requirement and special considerations.

Biological Safety: A review of the nature of proposed research biological agents, including plants or animals, must happen to determine room design elements. The researcher must register with the Institutional Biosafety Committee for work with disease causing agents in humans, animals, and plants. Approval may also be required by the IACUC and the Institutional Review Board.

Specific design elements include:

• Type and location of biosafety cabinets;
• Types, location, and electrical requirements for ULT freezers, incubator, growth chambers, and other floor or benchtop equipment;
• Floor materials, sink locations, and environmental conditions for the room or a support lab.  

Radiation Safety: Users of ionizing radiation require a Cornell Permit. Most non-ionizing radiation equipment requires registration. The following programs are managed by the Radiation Safety group who must be contacted by project managers during the design scoping phase when any proposal involves the use of this equipment. There are specific room requirements.

Lasers: Class 3B and 4 lasers. The facility housing these must be designed to mitigate the laser hazards. These must be registered for use on campus.

Magnet/UV/RF: Magnetic fields are produced by this equipment can be hazardous.

Radiation Producing Equipment includes X-ray equipment (x-ray diffraction, x-ray fluorescence, x-ray radiography, ion implanters, electron microscopes).

Radioactive materials, including unsealed materials and sealed sources.

References (Use most recent versions):

1)    ANSI Z9.5 Laboratory Ventilation

2)    ASHRAE Classification of Laboratory Ventilation Design Levels

3)    ANSI Z358.1 Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment

4)    Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories

5)    National Institutes of Health Design Requirements

6)    Care and Use of Animals

7)    Practical Guide to Containment: Plant Biosafety in Research Greenhouses

8)    Arthropod Containment Guidelines

4.16 Ventilation Rates

4.16 Laboratory Ventilation Rates and Pressure Relationships

Laboratory ventilation is a critical engineering control that supports occupant safety, research integrity, and energy efficiency. Ventilation rates and airflow patterns are established based on the type of work performed, the hazards present, and room occupancy. These systems are designed to manage risk by providing adequate dilution, containment, and directional airflow.

Laboratory ventilation rates

Ventilation rates for laboratories are determined using a hazard-based approach. At Cornell, general laboratory spaces are typically designed using air change rates such as 6 air changes per hour occupied / 3 air changes per hour unoccupied (6/3) or 8 air changes per hour occupied / 4 air changes per hour unoccupied (8/4), depending on the nature of the work and the hazards involved.

Higher ventilation rates may be required for laboratories with increased chemical, biological, or physical hazards, while lower rates may be appropriate for low-hazard or write-up spaces. Ventilation rates are established during design and commissioning and are not adjustable by laboratory personnel.

Changes in research activities, materials, or processes may alter the hazard profile of a space and affect whether existing ventilation rates remain appropriate.

Pressure relationships and containment

In addition to air change rates, laboratories are designed with intentional pressure relationships to support containment. In general, research laboratories operate under negative air pressure relative to human circulation areas such as hallways and offices. This helps ensure that air flows into laboratories rather than out into adjacent public or administrative spaces.

Within laboratory suites, interior rooms such as tissue culture rooms, procedure rooms, or surgical spaces may be designed with different pressure relationships relative to the surrounding laboratory to support specific research or animal care needs. These rooms may be positive, neutral, or negative relative to the adjacent laboratory, while remaining part of an overall ventilation strategy that protects human circulation areas.

Changes in laboratory use

Because ventilation rates and pressure relationships are closely tied to how a space is used, changes in laboratory function—such as new research activities, new hazardous materials, procedural changes, or changes in occupancy—may affect whether existing ventilation remains appropriate. When the function of a laboratory space changes, notify EHS at askEHS@cornell.edu so ventilation conditions can be reviewed and verified for the updated use.

What laboratory personnel can do

• Keep laboratory doors closed unless operational or safety needs require them to be open, to help maintain intended airflow and pressure relationships.
• Be attentive to unusual conditions, such as persistent chemical odors outside a laboratory or unexpected airflow at doorways, which may indicate ventilation issues.
• Temperature or comfort concerns should not be addressed by altering ventilation features (e.g., propping doors open). Report temperature concerns to building or facilities staff so they can be evaluated and corrected without compromising laboratory ventilation performance.
• If ventilation concerns or odors are observed, contact your Building Coordinator so the issue can be evaluated and addressed.

Prompt reporting of ventilation concerns supports early identification of system issues and helps ensure research spaces continue to operate safely and as designed.

4.17 Energy Conservation in Laboratories

Laboratories are energy intensive facilities, consuming many times the energy use of the average non-lab academic buildings. Laboratories use large quantities of air for ventilation and fume hoods; electricity to operate fans, lighting, and specialized lab equipment; and large quantities of water and process chilled water.  Some laboratory facilities also use substantial quantities of natural gas.

There are a number of things that lab occupants can do to reduce the overall consumption of energy:

• Turn off the room lights.
• When possible turn off electrical equipment when not in use.
• Use timers to turn other pieces of equipment on and off automatically.
• Unplug equipment when not in use.
• Turn off your computer’s monitor when not in use. The monitor consumes over half of the energy used by the average computer.  Put your computer and monitor into "sleep" mode after 10 minutes and cut power use nearly to zero.
• Keep the sash closed on your fume hood.  This promotes both energy conservation and safety. 
• If you would like to temporarily turn off your fume hood, please contact your building coordinator.
• Rooms that are too hot or too cool may be due to faulty thermostats or other controls that are malfunctioning or have drifted from set points, resulting in wasted energy as well as uncomfortable conditions for you. If you experience these problems, then contact your Building Coordinator for assistance.
• Report drips of water from sink taps, chilled water connections or Reverse Osmosis (RO) faucets.
• Clean out and consolidate freezers and refrigerators at least once per year.
• Set refrigerator and freezer temperatures at necessary levels instead of the lowest set point the equipment can achieve.
• Consolidate incubator use and freezer storage to minimize the number of appliances used.
• Use shades and blinds as provided to help keep your space cool on sunny days.  The shade can reduce the amount of cooling required in a south or west facing room by over 30%.
• Use electric smart strips to minimize electricity used by items on the strip (EcoStrips).
• Discourage the use of space heaters.
• Develop maintenance schedules for scientific equipment, such as cleaning compressor coils on cooling devices, to extend the device's life and maintain its energy efficiency.

4.18 Green Labs

Green chemistry, also known as sustainable chemistry, is the design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances.  Green chemistry applies across the life cycle of a chemical product, including its design, manufacture, and use.

• Substitute hazardous chemicals with less hazardous alternatives or chemicals that are drain disposable
• Redesign chemical processes to reduce hazardous chemical use and/or exposure to technicians
• Maintain an ongoing inventory of chemicals and dispose of outdated chemicals on a regular basis.

Find additional information on Greening your lab and certifying your lab as a Green Lab:

• EPA Pollution Prevention website for Green products
• CU Green Your Lab
• American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute

Additional information on energy conservation for both work and home can be found on the Department of Energy's website: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.  Find energy savings tips for the home, office, and lab by going to the Utilities Department Energy Saving Tips webpage.

4.19 Research Area Inspections

Laboratories and other research areas are regulated by OSHA laboratory safety standards and general industry regulations, EPA and DEC hazardous waste regulations, DOH regulations, NFPA life and fire safety standards, and building codes. Additionally, accreditation and granting agencies such as CDC, NIH, and USDA are increasing scrutiny over researchers and their compliance with state and federal laws. To assist researchers to be in compliance with these regulations and standards, Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) will conduct required inspections of all campus research areas.

The purpose of the inspections is to assist responsible faculty and staff members in identifying and correcting potential regulatory compliance issues or other issues that could affect granting activities, and identify potential health and safety hazards that could pose an unreasonable risk to laboratory personnel, students, and the campus community. To facilitate the correction of deficient items, a corrective action process has been implemented and will be tracked. EHS will schedule inspections by working with college-level contacts, Department Safety Representatives, Building Coordinators and staff throughout the colleges, departments, and buildings.

Research areas are strongly encouraged to conduct their own self inspections prior to EHS conducting an inspection of their research area to address any potential issues before the EHS inspection and to provide a training opportunity for research staff. To facilitate the self inspection process, EHS is providing research areas with the following self inspection checklist and explanation key which identify the same topics covered during an EHS inspection.

4.20 Research Area Space Registration Using HASP

All research spaces are required to be registered with the Department of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) using the online Hazard Assessment Signage Program (HASP). While Facilities Services Space Inventory accounts for room function and type, Research Area Space Registration accounts for hazards present in rooms to facilitate regulatory compliance, identify training requirements, communicate hazards, and improve emergency response.

Research areas must be reviewed and registered on an annual basis, when roster or hazard information changes and upon notification by EHS. The registration process consists of using the online HASP tool and entering contact information, hazards present in the room, risk levels of hazards, access limitations, warning messages, and emergency response information. The entire process of completing HASP for one room should only take a few minutes for each room. Once a research area has been initially entered into the system, annual updates can be completed in less time. Only certain research area rooms types are required to be registered. The list of space inventory room types of interest that will be required to complete annual Research Space Registration using the online HASP tool can be found on the Research Area Space Registration webpage.

The following outlines responsibilities for implementation of Research Area Space Registration using HASP:

The Department of Environmental Health and Safety is responsible for:

• Providing information and assistance with the HASP system.
• Granting access to the users for their locations within the HASP system.
• Providing guidance and assistance on the identification of hazard types.
• Providing information, training, notifications, reports, and updates from the information provided.

Deans and Department Chairpersons are responsible for:

• Ensuring that research areas within their departments and units are registered in a timely manner upon notification by EHS and updated annually.

Principal Investigators and Research Area Supervisors are responsible for:

• Registering (or designating someone to register) their research areas using HASP in a timely manner upon notification by EHS.
• Updating their Research Area Space Registration using HASP when any new hazards or significant change of existing hazards occurs.
• Updating their Research Area Space Registration annually in a timely manner upon notification by EHS.

EHS will work with Department Safety Representatives (DSRs) and Building Coordinators to facilitate the implementation of Research Area Space Registration. Before getting started, persons completing the registration process (DSRs, Building Coordinators, Principal Investigators, research staff, or other college and department designated personnel) will first need to be given authorization to the HASP system for their organization, building, department, and/or specific rooms. To obtain authorization for specific areas, please contact askEHS@cornell.edu. For more information on using the online HASP tool and how to get started with the program, see the online training program for using HASP.

4.21 Laboratory Security

Laboratories need to take specific actions in order to provide security against theft of highly hazardous materials, valuable equipment, and to ensure compliance with state and federal regulations. EHS encourages each unit (college, department, and research group) to review and develop procedures to ensure the security of all hazardous materials in their area of responsibility.

Many laboratories already implement various means of security, including requirements to lock up controlled substances, syringes and needles, and radioactive materials. Local, state, and federal agencies are required to monitor the usage, purchasing, and security of specific chemicals used within our campus research laboratories. These specific chemicals may be used as precursors to the development of illegal drugs or used for the development of weapons. EHS recommends you review and assess the hazardous materials in your laboratory and consider security issues in protecting those materials. The intent is to minimize the risk of theft, especially targeting the five-minute window when the lab is left unattended.

• Controlled Substances
• CFATS