Research Safety

UPDATE!

BioRAFT has been rebranded and is now SciShield. They are the same product, team, and company but with refreshed branding.

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The Research Safety unit provides consulting services, training programs, and regulatory compliance support to all University community members. This includes but is not limited to the following: review of biological and chemical safety registrations, bloodborne pathogen and laboratory safety training, laboratory signage, and laboratory assessments.

View Research Building Liaisons

View Emory Laboratory Safety Binder



SciShield

The electronic management system for Emory University research laboratories.

EHS Assist

The electronic management system for radioactive material (RAM) use in laboratories.

MSDS Online

Find a Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

Biological Materials Requiring Review by the Biosafety Office

Principal Investigators (PIs) who intend to work with any of the following, but not limited to, in vitro or in vivo, are required to access SciShield and complete the Biological Registration:

  • Bacteria (infectious and non infectious)
  • Viruses (infectious and non infectious)
  • Fungi (infectious and non infectious)
  • Parasites
  • Human blood, body fluid, cell lines, fixed and unfixed tissue or Other Potentially Infectious Materials (OPIM)
  • Recombinant/synthetic nucleic acid molecules
  • Arthropods
  • Plants
  • Nanoparticles
  • Biological Toxins
  • Other Biological/Infectious Materials (Prions, Parasites, Fungi)
  • Non-Human Primate Material

Required Administrative Tasks

  1. Member roster in SciShield is up to date.
  2. Lab Self-Inspection (LSI) completed within the past 12 months and uploaded to the ‘Documents’ section in SciShield profile.
  3. Ensure that all personnel are up to date on training requirements.
  4. Provide Hepatitis B documentation for personnel handling human source materials, including human cell lines (one-time submission) to biosafe@emory.edu. 
  5. Upload regulatory permits (e.g., CDC import/export, USDA, CITES, etc.) obtained within the past 12 months to the ‘Documents’ section in SciShield profile.
  6. Review and update your laboratory biosafety standard operating procedures (SOPs).
  7. Certifications for engineering controls (e.g., Biological Safety Cabinets, Chemical Fume Hoods, Laminar Flow Hoods, etc.) are current. 

Amendments/Annual Updates to Existing Registration

  1. Log into SciShield.
  2. On the left, click ‘Bio Summary’.
  3. Click ‘View or Update Biological Usage Summary’.
  4. Review all sections of biological registration, including all surveys, tables, project forms, viral vector registration forms, and pathogen registration forms.
  5. If a compliance liaison or delegate is completing the edits, updates, or review, they will click the ‘Notify PI’ button at the bottom of the page. This will change the status of the biological registration to Awaiting Submission or Awaiting Amendment. The PI will receive an email prompting them to review, then ‘Certify’ and ‘Submit’ the form (2-click process). This will change the status of the registration to “Awaiting EHS Review” or “Amended Awaiting Review”.

Only the PI can certify biological or chemical safety registrations to initiate EHS review. If you have any questions, please contact the Biosafety Office at biosafe@emory.edu.

Guidance

Biological safety cabinets (BSCs) are an engineering control that protect the user, biological specimens, and the environment.  BSCs are required to be certified annually. Please view the resources below for more information.

Purchasing - Emory Express

Emory Express - Laboratory & Research (Biosafety Cabinet Certification - BSC) 

Biosafety Cabinet Certification Schedule by Building

September Certifications
  • Claudia Nance Rollins
  • Emory Children’s Center
  • Health Sciences Research Building I
  • O. Wayne Rollins Research Center & Biochemistry Connector
  • Wesley Woods Health Center
December Certifications
  • Atwood Chemistry Center
  • Clinic B (Ophthalmology and Winship)
  • Dental Building (1462 Clifton Rd.)
  • Emory National Primate Center
April Certifications
  • Emerson Hall
  • Hope Clinic
  • Math and Science Center
  • Oxford Campus
  • Ponce Clinic
  • Whitehead Biomedical Research Building
June Certifications
  • Musculoskeletal Institute
  • Winship Cancer Institute (Clinic C)
  • Woodruff Extension Building (WEB)
  • Woodruff Memorial Research Building

The Biosafety Program provides guidance and compliance assistance for biological materials used in research.

Guidance

This program provides a set of minimum requirements for individuals working in biosafety level 3 laboratories (animal facilities and wet labs).

Guidance

Guidance

New Form Submission

Complete the Chemicals in Animals Form for in vivo use of hazardous chemicals.

  1. Log into SciShield.
  2. On the left, click 'Manage Lab Forms'.
  3. Click 'Submit New Form'.
  4. Select 'Chemicals in Animals' and complete the required information in the 'Basics' tab.
  5. Under the 'Chemicals & Dosing' tab, provide information for each chemical.
    • If adding more than 20 agents, upload an excel file with the required information.
  6. Click the 'Procedures' tab, add justification for use of chemicals (i.e., stock concentrations, where it will be prepared, etc.).
  7. Under the 'Practices' tab, answer each question.
  8. Select the 'Review & Submit' tab, click 'Submit.'

The status of the form will be changed to “Awaiting EHS Review.” For any questions, please contact chemical safety at csp@emory.edu.

Amendments to Existing Forms

Amendments to Chemicals in Animals Forms are submitted in SciShield.

  1. Log into SciShield.
  2. On the left, click 'Manage Lab Forms.'
  3. Click 'edit' next to the relevant form.
  4. Complete the required information in 'Basics' tab.
  5. Under the 'Chemicals & Dosing' tab, provide information for each chemical.
    • If adding more than 20 agents, upload an excel file with the required information.
  6. Click the 'Procedures' tab, add justification for use of chemicals (i.e., stock concentrations, where it will be prepared, etc.).
  7. Under the 'Practices' tab, answer each question.
  8. Select the 'Review and Submit' tab, click 'Submit.'

The status of the form will either be changed to "Awaiting PI Review" or "Awaiting EHS Review." If the status is "Awaiting PI Review," the PI will need to login and submit the form. This will change the status to "Awaiting EHS Review." If you have any questions, please contact chemical safety at csp@emory.edu.

Annual Updates to Existing Forms

Annual updates to Chemicals in Animals Forms are submitted in SciShield.

  1. Log into SciShield.
  2. On the left, click 'Manage Lab Forms.'
  3. Click 'edit' next to the relevant form.
  4. Review the information in each tab and make any changes.
  5. Select the 'Review and Submit' tab, click 'Submit.'

The status of the form will either be changed to "Awaiting PI Review" or "Awaiting EHS Review." If the status is "Awaiting PI Review," the PI will need to login and submit the form. This will change the status to "Awaiting EHS Review." If you have any questions, please contact chemical safety at csp@emory.edu.

To update and review your Chemical Registration:

  • Log into SciShield.
  • On the left, click ‘Chem Summary’.
  • Click 'View Live Chem Usage Summary'.
  • Click 'Edit' to update your Chemical Usage Survey.
  • Once you reach the end of the survey, you will have the option of adding the highly hazardous chemicals in your lab.
  • Upon completion of edits, updates, or review, compliance liaisons/delegates will click 'Notify PI' at the bottom of the page, which will change the status of the form to Awaiting Submission. The PI will then receive an email to review the form and 'Certify & Submit'. Once submitted, the status of the registration will change to “Awaiting EHS Review”. Click Chem Summary on the left-hand menu to confirm form status.
Only the PI can certify biological or chemical safety registrations to initiate EHS review. If you have any questions, please contact the Biosafety Office at biosafe@emory.edu.

The Chemical Safety program provides guidance and compliance assistance for hazardous chemicals used in research. EHSO conducts chemical fume hood (CFH) and exhaust ventilation device performance testing. Contact your Research Safety Building Liaison for chemical use risk assessments and storage guidance.

Guidance

Chemical Fume Hood and Exhaust Ventilation Device Performance Testing Schedule by Building

January - March Performance Testing
  • Anthropology
  • Michael C. Carlos Museum
  • Visual Arts
  • Dental Building (1462 Clifton Rd.)
  • O. Wayne Rollins Research Center
April - June Performance Testing
  • Atwood Chemistry Center
  • Biochemistry Connector
  • Claudia Nance Rollins
  • Clinic B (Ophthalmology and Winship)
  • Cherry L. Emerson Center
  • Emory Children's Center
  • Emory National Primate Center
  • Health Sciences Research Building I
  • Winship Cancer Institute (Clinic C)
  • Woodruff Memorial Research Building
July - September Performance Testing
  • Emerson Hall
  • Math and Science Center
  • Orthopaedics and Spine Center
  • Oxford Campus
  • Wesley Woods Health Center
  • Whitehead Biomedical Research Building
  • Woodruff Extension Building (WEB)
October - December Performance Testing
  • Musculoskeletal Institute

The Laboratory Decommissioning program ensures removal of all hazards, reduces disposal costs, and encourages sustainability. To initiate this process, contact your Research Safety Building Liaison.

Decommissioning steps:
  1. Review and be familiar with EHS-418, Laboratory Moves, Relocations and Decommissioning Guidelines.
  2. Schedule an Initial Decommissioning Meeting with your Research Safety Building Liaison. EHSO will then walk through the lab spaces with a lab/department representative to discuss requirements and answer questions.
  3. Complete decommissioning activities, including tagging equipment for SURPLUS or relocation/reassignment using the EHSO Equipment Hazard Tag. Refer to EHS-408, Equipment Hazard Tag Guidance for instructions on how to complete this tag.
  4. Schedule a Final Decommissioning Walk-Through – at which time all hazards, equipment, etc. have been fully removed from the space(s) and the space(s) have been decontaminated/cleaned in preparation for the next occupant. If all decommissioning activities have been completed, EHSO will hang the “Safe & Compliant Posting(s).”

Guidance

The Laboratory Assessment program includes EHSO-conducted risk-based assessments and the annual laboratory self-inspection requirement. A Research Safety team member will contact the lab directly to schedule risk-based assessments.

Annual Laboratory Self Inspection Form (PDF)

The external lab doors are posted with EHSO provided signage that reflects the hazards present in the lab and displays current emergency contact information.

Emergency contact information is listed in the event of emergency incidents that may occur in the lab, including equipment malfunction (ex. freezer failure or fire). This information is helpful to internal and external members including maintenance staff or first responders who may enter the laboratory.  

Hazard Communication Symbols For Chemical Labeling and Lab Signage 

Obtaining New or Corrected Signage

To request new signage or updates to existing signage, please complete the Lab Signage Requirements Form.

Laboratory Sign Example

 

An Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) is required at institutions that receive funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for research involving recombinant and/or synthetic nucleic acid molecules (rDNA). All rDNA research at Emory University, regardless of funding source, must be conducted in accordance with the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules and must be registered with the IBC. The IBC is charged with reviewing and approving research conducted with rDNA. Committee policies, procedures, and other associated documents can be accessed in Forms and Documents.

The Research Health and Safety Committee (RHSC) is charged with reviewing and approving research conducted with, but not limited to, biological toxins, samples of human origin including human cell lines, tissues, arthropods, nanoparticles, and microorganisms pathogenic to humans, plants, or animals. Committee policies, procedures, and other associated documents can be accessed in Forms/Documents.

Guidance

Access archived issues of the monthly newsletter: Research Safety Update.

Need to get rid of chemicals, reclaim space, reduce exposure, and avoid incidents and spills? Laboratory waste disposal is overseen by the Environmental Programs team. 

Guidance