UCB RAC
UCB RAC

Required EH&S and Compliance Training for Researchers

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 not mishandled or otherwise put at risk during the study. 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
All
  • Facility evacuation procedures
  • Fire prevention and control measures
Initial training only
Read and sign
Researcher's Department Safety Coordinator (DSC) or Environment, Health & Safety EH&S 642-3073
All
  • Contents of the department's written IIPP
  • Workplace hazards and their control
Initial training only
Read and sign or classroom lecture
Researcher's DSC or Environment, Health & Safety EH&S 642-3073
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Task-Specific Additional Training Requirements
Subject
Required for Whom?
Key Components
Required Training Frequency
Training Method
To Arrange Training Contact
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 training and then every 5 years
Classroom seminar
Employees who work with human, animal, or plant pathogens; human derived materials; or recombinant DNA. New personnel on Biohazard Use Authorization; new personnel working with human blood, fluids, tissues, or cells
  • Safe handling procedures
  • Personnel protective equipment
  • Animal biosafety
  • Biosafety Levels 1 and 2
Every 5 years unless working with human-derived materials (requires annual refresher)
Classroom lecture
To enroll in the class: http://hrweb.berkeley.edu/ice/home
For questions: contact Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S) 643-6562 or bso@berkeley.edu
Employees who work with human blood
  • Safe handling procedures
  • Exposure Control Plan
Annual refresher
Classroom lecture
To enroll in the class: http://hrweb.berkeley.edu/ice/home
For questions: contact EH&S 643-6562 or bso@berkeley.edu
Hazardous Materials and Operations in Laboratories
Employees who work 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
Read and sign and classroom lecture
EH&S 642-3073
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
Sponsored Projects Office (SPO) website
Human Subjects Protections Graduate and undergraduate students engaged in human subjects research
  • 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 https://www.citiprogram.org/
Employees who work with lasers
  • Laser hazards
  • Proper procedures for working with lasers
Initial training only
Read and sign
EH&S 642-3073
Researchers and support staff who work 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
Annual training
Classroom and hands-on (RAM); read and sign (RPM and sealed sources)
EH&S 642-3073
Shop and Other Hazardous Equipment
Researchers, support staff, and students authorized to use equipment
  • Equipment hazards and controls
  • Safe operations
Initial training Shop meeting or from Job Hazard Analysis EH&S 642-3073
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 Lecture EH&S 642-3073
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Other Specialized Training Requirements
Subject
Required for Whom?
Key Components
Required Training Frequency
Training Method
To Arrange Training Contact
Aerial Lifting Devices
Employees who operate aerial lifting devices
  • Use of operating controls and outriggers
  • Safe transportation
Initial training only
Classroom and hands-on
Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S) 642-3073
Confined Space Entry
Employees who 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
Lecture
EH&S 642-3073
Crane Safety
Employees who operate cranes
  • Safe lifting procedures
  • Lifting capacities
  • Load securing
Initial training only
Lecture and hands-on
EH&S vendor (call Roy Waller at 642-6885 for a list of vendors)
Employees who conduct scientific diving
  • CPR, diver rescue techniques, and diving related first aid
  • Dive planning and emergency procedures
  • Techniques, instruments, and equipment to be used
  • Evaluation of workstation
Initial training; periodic refreshers based on activities
Lecture and hands-on
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
Initial training only
Lecture and hands-on
Explosives Safety
Employees who handle or transport explosives
  • Campus/lab explosives safety policy
  • Functional types of explosives
  • Explosives classification system
  • Explosives storage and handling procedures
  • Review of campus/labs' explosives accidents
Initial training only
Lecture
EH&S 642-3073
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
Employees who operate forklifts
  • Safe operating rules for forklifts
Every three years
Lecture and hands-on (refresher is hands-on only)
EH&S 642-3073
Employees who are exposed to high (>85 dBA) noise levels
  • Noise hazards
  • UCB Hearing Conservation Program
Annual training
Video and hands-on
UHS Occupational Health Clinic 642-6891
High Voltage Electrical Safety
Employees who work on live high-voltage equipment or circuits
  • High voltage hazards and precautions
Initial training only
Lecture
EH&S 642-3073
Lockout Procedures
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
EH&S 642-3073
Pesticide Safety
Persons who handle registered pesticides
  • Overview of pesticide hazards
  • First aid and medical care
  • Personal protective equipment
Annual training
Lecture and hands-on
EH&S 642-3073
Employees who use respirators to prevent chemical inhalation
  • Proper selection, fitting, use, and storage of respirators
Annual training
Video and hands-on
EH&S 642-3073
Shipment of Hazardous Substances
Persons who ship chemicals, radioactive materials, or biohazards off-campus
  • Proper packaging and labeling
  • Regulations regarding shipments of hazardous materials
Every two years
Lecture or computer-based training
EH&S 642-3073