Required Safety and Compliance Training for Researchers

Training Required of All Researchers
Task-Specific Additional Training Requirements
Other Specialized Training Requirements

Research activities, whether conducted in the field or laboratory, can pose unique hazards to researchers and their subjects, and compliance risks for both the investigators and the University. For these reasons and others, governmental regulatory agencies, funding entities, accrediting bodies, and other entities external to the University have established mandatory training requirements for persons involved with certain types of research.

Some of the required training focuses on ensuring that live research subjects, including humans or other vertebrate animals, are respected and not put in unnecessarily risky, stressful, or painful situations. Other required training, such as that regarding radiation hazards or bloodborne pathogens, is designed to ensure researchers understand the proper precautions needed to protect themselves during their work.

In each case where training is required, there are potentially significant consequences for non-compliance in addition to the risk to researchers and their subjects. These consequences can include monetary fines to the researcher’s department, and withdrawal of funding to complete the study. Flagrant violations of these requirements may even result in loss of funding or accreditation to the University as a whole.

Faculty research oversight committees and staff offices have developed training programs to facilitate compliance with these various requirements. In some cases, the training can be completed by reading and documenting agreement with prepared materials. In other cases, in person training needs to be scheduled for the researchers.

The tables below summarize examples of various types of activities that require documented training, and provide links to campus groups who can provide the training. For many of the entries, external agencies have established additional requirements. Researchers should contact the listed offices to ensure compliance with all applicable requirements.

Training Required of All Researchers

Subject	Required for Whom?	Key Components	Required Training Frequency	Training Method	To Arrange Training Contact
Building Emergency Plan (BEP)	All campus employees	Facility evacuation procedures Fire prevention and control measures	Initial training only		Researcher’s Department Safety Coordinator (DSC) or Environment, Health & Safety EH&S 642-3073
Compliance Briefing: UC Ethical Values and Conduct, and Conflict of Interest for Researchers	All campus employees	UC Ethical Values and Conduct Conflict of Interest for Researchers	Annual	Web-based	To enroll: launch from URL in email from UC Office of the President or UC Learning Center (log in to BLU and select UC Learning Center)
Injury & Illness Prevention Program (IIPP)	All campus employees	Contents of the department’s written IIPP Workplace hazards and their control	Initial training only		Researcher’s DSC or EH&S 642-3073

Task-Specific Additional Training Requirements

Subject	Required for Whom?	Key Components	Required Training Frequency	Training Method	To Arrange Training Contact
Aerosol Transmissible Disease (ATD) Research Safety	Laboratory workers with potential airborne exposure to BSL-3 transmissible pathogens	Safe handling procedures Respiratory protection Engineering Controls Biosafety Plan	Initial and annual refresher training	Classroom lecture or online	To enroll in the class: contact Biosafety Officer bso@berkeley.edu
Animal Care and Use	All faculty, students, and research personnel who use live vertebrate animals in research or instruction	Humane animal care and experimentation Methods to reduce animal use and distress Proper use of anesthetics, analgesics, and tranquilizers Institutional procedures for reporting animal care or treatment deficiencies Additional sources of information on animal care and use, and the U.S. Animal Welfare Act (AWA)	Initial basic training and then every five years	Web-based (CITI)	To enroll in a training: Mandatory Training Requirements for Animal Users For questions: contact acuc@berkeley.edu
Biosafety in Laboratories	Researchers who work with human, animal, or plant pathogens; human-derived materials; or recombinant DNA	Safe handling procedures Personnel protective equipment Animal biosafety Biosafety Levels 1 and 2	Initial training and refreshers every 3 years; work with human-derived materials requires BBP annual refresher	Classroom lecture	To enroll: log in to BLU, select UC Learning Center, and search for “Biosafety,” or contact EH&S 642-3073 or ehs@berkeley.edu
Biosafety: Principal Investigator Responsibilities	PIs responsible for overseeing work with recombinant DNA, blood or other infectious agents	NIH requirements, PI responsibilities	Initial training only	Initial in person or online	To enroll: log in to BLU, select UC Learning Center, and search for “Biosafety,” or contact EH&S 642-3073 or ehs@berkeley.edu
Bloodborne Pathogens	Anyone who has potential occupational exposure to human body fluids or human source materials	Safe handling procedures Exposure Control Plan	Initial and annual refresher training	Classroom lecture or online	To enroll: log in to BLU, select UC Learning Center, and search for “Bloodborne,” or contact EH&S 642-3073 or ehs@berkeley.edu
Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP)	Anyone who works with hazardous materials in laboratories	Lab-specific procedures for safe use of chemicals Emergency procedures Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for hazardous materials and operations	Initial training and whenever the CHP is revised. CHP must be reviewed by lab personnel annually for accuracy.	Read and sign in laboratory; documented training on SOPs is to be provided in the lab	Researcher, lab manager, or lab safety contact. Contact EH&S if your laboratory has no CHP: 642-3073 or ehs@berkeley.edu
Controlled Substances Used in Research	Anyone working with controlled substances in research	Administrative approval process Use, disposal, and reporting of loss of controlled substances	Initial training only	Online	To enroll: log in to BLU, select UC Learning Center, and search for “Controlled Substances,” or contact EH&S 642-3073 or ehs@berkeley.edu
Hazardous Equipment Safety	Researchers, support staff, and students authorized to use equipment	Equipment hazards and controls Safe operations	Initial training	Documented discussion in lab or shop meeting	Contact EH&S 642-3073, ehs@berkeley.edu
Human Subjects Research Training	Key research personnel on NIH-funded human subjects research	Regulations regarding research with human subjects The role and functioning of the Institutional Review Board	Initial training only	Web-based	CITI Online Course or NIH online course
Human Subjects Research Training	Graduate and undergraduate students engaged in human subjects research (funded or unfunded)	History and ethics of HS research, in-depth information on speciality topics, role and functioning of IRB	One-time, initial training before engaging in the conduct of human subjects research; or, before advancing to candidacy for graduate students - whichever comes first. Training must be completed before an approval or determination of exemption is issued by CPHS.	Web-based	CITI Online Course
Laboratory Safety for New Laboratory Personnel	Anyone who works with hazardous materials or operations in laboratories	Chemical hazards Laboratory Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) Emergency procedures Contents of the facility’s Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP)	Initial training only	Classroom lecture	To enroll: log in to BLU, select UC Learning Center, and search for “Laboratory,” or contact EH&S 642-3073 or ehs@berkeley.edu
Laser Safety	Anyone who works with Class 3B or Class 4 laser(s)	Laser hazards and control measures Proper procedures for working with lasers	Initial and three-year refresher training	Classroom lecture and online refresher	To enroll: log in to BLU, select UC Learning Center, and search for “Laser,” or contact EH&S 643-6562 or ehs@berkeley.edu
Northwest Animal Facility (NAF) Safety	All users of the Northwest Animal Facility (required for cardkey access, in addition to basic CITI Animal Training above)	Basic safety Hazardous materials safety Introduction to the biohazard containment facility for BL2 and BL3 users Brief tour of the facility	Annual training; initial is classroom lecture, annual refreshers are online	Classroom lecture, refreshers online	To arrange training: Office of Laboratory Animal Care Classes & Training
Radiation Safety	Anyone who works with radioactive materials (RAM), sealed radiation sources, or radiation producing machines (RPM)	Radiation exposure hazards and their control Regulations regarding radiation safety Content of the campus license Incident reporting Dosimetry and other monitoring techniques Researcher responsibilities	Initial and annual refresher training	Classroom and hands-on (RAM); online (RPM), and read and sign training (sealed sources)	To enroll: log in to BLU, select UC Learning Center, and search for “Radiation” and select the appropriate course, or contact EH&S 642-3073 or ehs@berkeley.edu
Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)	Undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral scholars supported by National Science Foundation grants to conduct research resulting from proposals submitted on or after January 4, 2010	Responsible conduct of research	Within 60 days of the individual’s becoming supported by NSF funding	Web-based for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars Read for undergraduates	https://www.citiprogram.org/ for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars Introduction to the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR): A Summary for Undergraduate Researchers for undergraduates
Select Agents (Biological)	All personnel authorized to enter use and storage location of select biological agents	Select agents regulations Select agents laboratory safety, emergency, and security plan	Initial training prior to authorization	Online	Contact EH&S642-3073, ehs@berkeley.edu

Other Specialized Training Requirements

Subject	Required for Whom?	Key Components	Required Training Frequency	Training Method	To Arrange Training Contact
Aerial Lifting Devices	Anyone who operates aerial lifting devices	Use of operating controls and outriggers Safe transportation	Initial training only	Classroom and hands-on	Contact EH&S 642-3073, ehs@berkeley.edu
Confined Space Entry	Anyone who may enter vessels, vaults, or other confined spaces	Hazards of confined space entry Atmospheric monitoring requirements and techniques Communication procedures Emergency and rescue procedures	Initial training only	Classroom lecture	Contact EH&S 642-3073, ehs@berkeley.edu
Crane Safety	Employees who operate cranes	Safe lifting procedures Lifting capacities Load securing	Initial training only	Lecture and hands-on	Contact EH&S 642-3073, ehs@berkeley.edu
Energy Isolation/ Lockout Tagout	Employees who adjust motors or other moving or electrical equipment	Proper procedures for controlling hazardous energies when working on moving or electrical equipment	Initial training only	Lecture	Contact EH&S 642-3073, ehs@berkeley.edu
Ergonomics	Employees who repetitively use computers more than four hours per day and other equipment known to cause ergonomic injuries	Review of campus program Ergonomic injury risk factors Safer work practices Workstation evaluation	Initial training only	Classroom lecture or online training	To enroll: log in to BLU, select UC Learning Center, and search for “Ergonomics,” or contact University Health Services (UHS)
Explosives Safety	Employees who handle or transport explosives	Campus explosives safety policy Explosives storage and handling procedures	Initial training only	Lecture	Contact EH&S 642-3073, ehs@berkeley.edu
Field Safety	Researchers or instructors working in remote locations	Development of a specific field safety plan for the work location Emergency procedures Evaluation of risks unique to the work location or field activities	One time (per field location)	In-person upon request	Contact EH&S 642-3073, ehs@berkeley.edu
First Aid and CPR	Employees who do field work remote from medical facilities	Basic first aid measures Proper procedures for providing CPR	Every two years	Lecture and hands-on	Contact EH&S 642-3073, ehs@berkeley.edu
Forklift Operation	Employees who operate forklifts	Safe operating rules for forklifts	Every three years	Lecture and hands-on (refresher is hands-on only)	Contact EH&S 642-3073, ehs@berkeley.edu
Hazardous Materials Shipping, General Awareness	Persons who ship chemicals, radioactive materials, or biohazards off-campus	Proper packaging and labeling Regulations regarding shipments of hazardous materials	Initial training, with refreshers every two years	Classroom or online training	To enroll: log in to BLU, select UC Learning Center, and search for “Shipping,” or contact EH&S 642-3073 or ehs@berkeley.edu
Hazardous Materials Spill Response Training	All laboratory personnel where hazardous materials are present	Spill response information Contact information Campus safety resources	Annual requirement	Online	To enroll: log in to BLU, select UC Learning Center, and search for “Spill,” or contact EH&S 642-3073 or ehs@berkeley.edu
Hearing Conservation	Employees who are exposed to high (>85 dBA) noise levels	Noise hazards UCB Hearing Conservation Program	Annual training	Video and hands-on	Contact EH&S 642-3073, ehs@berkeley.edu
High Voltage Electrical Safety	Employees who work on live high-voltage equipment or circuits	High voltage hazards and precautions	Initial training only	Lecture	Contact EH&S 642-3073, ehs@berkeley.edu
Pesticide Safety	Researchers using pesticides in small quantities (non-commercial application)	Overview of pesticide hazards First aid and medical care Personal protective equipment	Initial training only	Lecture and hands-on	Contact EH&S 642-3073, ehs@berkeley.edu
Respiratory Protection	Employees who use respirators	Proper selection, fitting, use, and storage of respirators	Initial training, with annual refreshers	Video and hands-on	Contact EH&S 642-3073, ehs@berkeley.edu
Scientific Diving	Anyone SCUBA diving for science using UC equipment, diving from UC-owned property, or diving as a student or employee of UC	Diving physics Physiology Medicine Rescue Decompression Theory Navigation Environment Marine life Research methods Equipment Scientific diving standards		In person	Physical Education Department