General Safety

01 Safety as Culture

Nobody should feel unsafe in this lab, or be unsafe. Safety is not a set of rules to follow in order to avoid reprimand. It is a way of thinking: about what you are doing, how it might affect you or others, how it might go wrong, and what you are and are not prepared for.

Think before acting. A laboratory is not a place for reactive or impulsive decisions. Good science and safe science are the same thing: both require the same careful attention, the same awareness of risk, and the same willingness to slow down when something is unclear. Listen to the small voice in your head that tells you something might be risky. It is usually right. Slow down and ask.

Emergencies are a time for calm, not panic. The protocols you have been trained to follow exist because people thought carefully about what to do before the emergency arrived. When something goes wrong, take a moment, follow the training, and get help.

02 Fundamental Principles

These expectations apply to every lab member, in every context.

Do not hurt yourself or others

Go slowly. Ask for help when you are uncertain about anything. Do not take risks: a laboratory is not the place for them. If something could go wrong and you are not sure how to prevent it, stop and find out before proceeding.

Know where the safety equipment is

Know the location of the nearest eyewash station and emergency chemical shower before you begin any bench work. Do not hesitate to use them if you need to. They are there for a reason and will not hurt the lab. A few seconds of hesitation in a splash situation can make a significant difference in outcome. Use the equipment.

Protect yourself at all times

Wear PPE whenever it is appropriate. Protect your eyes from anything that might harm them. Never smell chemicals directly; keep volatile chemicals inside the fume hood. Never cut toward yourself. Be aware of needle points, suture tips, scalpels, and all sharp objects at all times: keep them protected, accounted for, and never loose on a surface.

Keep spaces clean and organized

A cluttered lab is a hazardous lab. Keep benchtops clear of debris. Do not let materials litter the floor. Work as a team to keep shared spaces organized. What you leave behind affects everyone who works in the same space.

Prepare for the unexpected

Think through procedures before starting them. Identify what could go wrong and what you would do if it did. Get help before you need it, not after. A few minutes of preparation before a procedure is far less costly than managing a preventable incident.

03 Incidents and Reporting

If something goes wrong—an accident, an injury, a near-miss, or a safety concern—tell the PI. Tell them as soon as possible.

Do not hide mistakes, injuries, or errors out of concern for how they will be received. There is no reprisal for reporting. The lab cannot address what it does not know about, and a concealed near-miss is a future incident waiting to happen.

Emergencies

In an emergency, protect people first. Alert anyone nearby. If there is a chemical spill, follow the spill response protocols from your EHS training. If there is a fire, pull the nearest fire alarm and evacuate. Do not attempt to manage a serious emergency alone. Call for help and follow the emergency procedures you have been trained to perform.

04 Required Training

All lab members must complete required Yale EHS training before beginning any work that the training covers. Which trainings are required depends on your role and the specific work you will be doing. The PI and the EHS training portal will help you identify what applies to you.

As a general baseline, all lab members working with or around chemicals are required to complete Laboratory Chemical Safety training. Depending on your specific work, you may also need biosafety, bloodborne pathogen, radiation, laser, or waste disposal training, among others. The full list is available through the Yale EHS training portal linked below.

Trainings have renewal requirements. It is your responsibility to track your own compliance and to renew before certifications lapse. If you are uncertain what you need or when something expires, ask the PI or consult your EHS safety advisor directly.

05 Yale EHS Resources

Yale Environmental Health & Safety is the primary resource for all safety questions, training, compliance, and incident reporting. Use it. The EHS team is there to help, not to penalize. If you are uncertain about anything safety-related, reaching out to EHS is always the right move.

Your lab has an assigned EHS Safety Advisor who conducts annual inspections and is available for consultation. To find your advisor, use the staff directory at ehs.yale.edu/staff-directory.

06 Emergency Contacts

Know these numbers. Post them in your work area.