Laboratory Safety and Management
The Laboratory Safety program oversees safety and compliance in all SFSU research and teaching laboratory spaces to reduce the risk of injury and exposure, decrease the risk of property loss, lessen the likelihood of lost research, and minimize environmental damage.
Laboratory safety helps protect the SFSU community of students, faculty, staff and visitors, and includes oversight for compliance and safety, training and outreach, institutional support for incident response, building design, and collaboration with SFSU committees.
Chemical Hygiene Plan
You can find detailed information about laboratory policies and safe work practices established by the university in the SFSU Chemical Hygiene Plan (pdf). In the pdf, the Table of Contents' sections are hyperlinked to their locations in the document to help you quickly find relevant information.
Responsible Person (RP) in RSS
Faculty or staff that run or manage research or academic support operations are considered the Responsible Person (RP) of a laboratory or other space with hazardous materials or equipment. Although certain tasks may be delegated, the RP is the person ultimately responsible for ensuring safe work practices are followed, regulatory requirements are met, and that their hazard assessments, chemical inventory, and group profiles are up-to-date.
RPs are required to maintain their Main Group profile, Laboratory Hazard Assessments, and Chemical Inventory up-to-date in the RSS (Risk and Safety Solutions) lab management system.
Risk and Safety Solutions Software (RSS)
Risk and Safety Solutions (RSS) is the laboratory management software used at SF State and other CSU campuses. Review the main RSS web page on this site to learn about the software and how it works.
Risk and Safety Solutions Software (RSS) Page
From this main page, you can access instructions and tutorials to help you with these modules:
- ASSESSMENT
- CHEMICALS
- INSPECT
Lab Member Safety Orientation Training
The RP must ensure that lab members complete required training. In addition to online training, an in-person lab-specific safety orientation must be provided to new group members. This training must be documented and forms are available to help ensure the required topics are covered.
Approved Flammable Liquids Storage
NFPA Code 30 1.6.40 and OSHA 1910.106(a)(29) define a safety can as, "A listed (approved) container, of not more than 5-gal (18.9-L) capacity, having a spring-closing lid and spout cover and so designed that it will safely relieve internal pressure when subjected to fire exposure." NFPA 30 OSHA 1910.106(a)(29)
Flammable liquids that must be chilled or frozen require special flammable storage refrigerators or freezers to minimize the risk of fire or explosion.
- NFPA 30
- Underwriters Laboratory (UL) listed
Never store flammable liquids of any volume in a standard or domestic refrigerator or freezer. They have numerous ignition sources that could ignite vapors.
- Flammable storage refrigerators and freezers have no exposed ignition sources inside the cabinet, such as lights or switches, that could ignite vapors.
- They are engineered to safely store flammable liquids and are labeled as such by the manufacturer.
Explosion-proof refrigerators and freezers are extremely expensive and not necessary in most academic applications. Purchase of these units is not recommended. Contact EH&S if you believe you need one of these.
- Explosion-proof or spark-proof units have no interior or exterior ignition sources at all.
- They have no power cord, instead they must be hard-wired into the building.
- Adding a power cord violates the UL listing and they are no longer explosion-proof.
- An explosion-proof refrigerator or freezer may be required in rare circumstances in hazardous locations.
Local Exhaust Ventilation and Safety Equipment Maintenance
There are a variety of occupational safety and local exhaust ventilation equipment available to laboratories and similar work areas. Facilities, EH&S, and supervisor personnel all have a role in maintaining equipment and performing inspections.
- Test and repair plumbed eye wash stations and emergency showers
- Repair local exhaust ventilation such as snorkels and chemical fume hoods connected to building systems
- Maintain building exhaust ventilation and associated controls
- Monitor exhaust snorkels' air flow
- Inspect fire extinguishers and replace as needed. Schedule contractor for annual certification and testing.
- Schedule annual testing and certification of fume hoods and biosafety cabinets with qualified contractors
- Arrange for repairs/replacement of fume hood air flow monitors (that are not also controllers)
- Check that fume hoods, biosafety cabinets, and other local exhaust ventilation are working before using hazardous materials
- Report problems to EH&S or the department stockroom staff
Note: Class 2 biosafety cabinets are stand-alone units not connected to the building exhaust system so are not maintained by Facilities. All repairs are the responsibility of the department or Principal Investigator.
Quick Links
Safety and Health
Hazardous Materials
Flammable Gas and Lab Tubing Guide
Laboratory Hazardous Waste Handling
Max. Allowable Quantities (MAQs)
Restricted Chemicals and Equipment Purchasing
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Voluntary Respirator (Dust Mask) Use Acknowledgement
Lab Postings and Signs
Fume Hood Out-of-Service Notice
Laboratory Safety Resources
UC Center for Laboratory Safety
Why I Wear a Lab Coat (YouTube Video)
EPA's Final Methylene Chloride Final Rule
In May 2024, the EPA published a new rule for methylene chloride. Most uses will be banned. Our campus, and others with the CSU and UC systems are working on this issue. Stay tuned. Review of upcoming requirements
- A few uses may continue if a Workplace Chemical Protection Program (WCPP) is established, including lab use and solvent welding among others.
Standard/ Safe Operating Practices for Labs
The Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) describes standard safe work practices and procedures for common lab operations, especially Chapters 2 and 3.
Resource Links
List of Highly Hazardous Chemicals, Toxics and Reactives (OSHA Process Safety Standard)