Oregon State University is committed to protecting the health and welfare of students, faculty and staff. It is vitally important that we work together to foster and sustain a culture of laboratory safety in our wide array of teaching and research activities.

Laboratory safety is a shared responsibility that involves university, college and unit administration and faculty and staff who are engaged in the teaching and research activities. Employees are expected to create a safe environment for themselves and those around them. This includes understanding and complying with health and safety requirements and taking personal responsibility for safety.

We invite you to join us and commit to and follow the following laboratory safety principles, requirements and practices:

  • Prevent or mitigate human risk or economic losses arising from accidents, adverse occupational exposures and environmental events;
  • Achieve and maintain compliance with health and safety laws and regulations;
  • Correctly store and report the usage of hazardous substances;
  • Complete all required lab safety related training provided by OSU;
  • Continually improve the University’s laboratory safety performance by adopting best practices and procedures; and
  • Build health and safety considerations in all relevant teaching and research activities.

To fully support the University’s commitment to laboratory safety, the Environmental Health and Safety Office has been charged with developing programs, procedures and periodic assessments that will review laboratory safety and track corrective actions. The Office will work closely with academic deans, department heads and program directors, and faculty to ensure that appropriate processes and practices are in place for a safe laboratory environment. In the next few weeks, we will be sharing through academic deans more detailed information on safety policies and procedures and, specifically, laboratories that require immediate attention to meet the University’s safety standards.

Thank you for joining us in advancing a culture of laboratory safety at OSU.

Sabah Randhawa
Provost and Executive Vice President

W. Glenn Ford
Vice President for Finance and Administration

Cynthia Sagers
Vice President for Research

 

Oregon State University faculty, staff and students engage in activities associated with innovative and high impact research, instruction and outreach/engagement, and are at the forefront of many new discoveries. The activities bear with them certain ethical and legal responsibilities. The University Administration is committed to the highest standards of integrity and resolves that such activities undertaken by OSU faculty, staff, and students should be conducted in accordance with strict ethical principles and in compliance with institutional policies, federal and state laws and regulations, and other applicable requirements.

Adherence to high standards provides a framework for (i) achieving full compliance with applicable ethical, regulatory and University requirements and (ii) promoting an organizational culture that encourages ethical conduct and a commitment to compliance. Areas in which integrity is critical to success include, but are not limited to: human subject research; animal care and use; biosafety; chemical safety; radiation safety; occupational safety; export controls; conflicts of interest; diving safety; small boat safety; handling of hazardous, controlled or regulated substances; material transfers; environmental protection; and research misconduct.

The University, through its compliance committees and authorized officials, will issue and promulgate institutional policies and procedures to ensure the appropriate and responsible conduct of all applicable activities at Oregon State University.


Ed Ray
University President