15 - Audits

The OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) Laboratory Safety Standard (29CFR 1910.1200, 1910.1450) requires the University to develop and implement a Chemical Hygiene Plan to protect laboratory employees from occupational exposures to hazardous chemicals in laboratories on campus. In order to support compliance with laboratory safety policies and procedures at the University of Oklahoma research laboratories, the Environmental Health and Safety Office’s (EHSO) Laboratory Safety Program requires periodic laboratory surveys of each Principal Investigator’s (P.I.’s) laboratories. The laboratory survey consists of a review regarding, but not limited to the following safety issues related to federal, state, or local regulations and/or guidelines:
1. Documentation and Training
2. Chemical Safety & Waste Management
3. Biological Safety
4. Appropriate Standard Operating Procedures, including personal protective equipment
5. House Keeping and General Safety
6. Engineered Safety Equipment (i.e. Fume Hood, Eyewash and Emergency Showers)
Laboratory surveys are conducted and managed by EHSO Laboratory Safety Officers. Surveys are scheduled with the P.I. or his/her designee.
The Laboratory Safety Officer will review any deficiencies found during the survey with the P.I. or designee at the time of survey completion. If there are deficiencies noted during the survey these will be addressed within the online survey program (LabCliq). This survey will generate an email to the P.I. or designee within five working days.
After initially receiving the online survey, the P.I. or designee will then receive 30, 60 and 90-day email notifications until all unresolved (opened) corrective actions have been completed or certified.
After 90 days, if there are still open corrective actions, the laboratory safety officer will contact the P.I. or designee to assist in resolving open/remaining corrective actions. If contact cannot be established within 10 working days with the P.I. or designee, an email will be sent to the Chair of the Department and to the University Environmental Health and Safety Officer. The P.I. and/or designee will also be copied on this email.
If there is still no response or communication from the P.I. or designee after notifying the Chair of the Department and the University Environmental Health and Safety Officer, the Director of Compliance will be notified and will initiate the appropriate action from that point forward.
At any point in this process, disciplinary procedures should follow the Positive Discipline protocol outlined in the Staff Handbook and/or the Ethics in Research procedures published in the OU Faculty Handbook.