Lab Safety
Lab Safety Mission and requirements
The Department of Neurobiology at Northwestern University is committed to a healthy and safe environment by employing compliant and effective safety practices as set forth in the Office for Research Safety Policies and Procedures. All members of the Department are to be aware of and practice all safety procedures set forth by the Department of Neurobiology and the Office for Research Safety under the Office for Research. The Department of Neurobiology requires that all best practices be followed in its research laboratories and that a safety culture be promoted and maintained. Each lab in the Department must maintain an up-to-date profile in Lumen and eIBC if necessary. In addition, each PI must annually appoint at least one Safety Designate from among their lab members, who must complete the Safety Designate Training Course in myHR. Safety Designates and their PIs will be jointly responsible for ensuring that their lab is in compliance with all safety regulations.
PIs and Safety Designates will jointly:
- Maintain an up-to-date Lumen profile for their lab
- Maintain an up-to-date Chemical Inventory for their lab using the ChemTracker module in Lumen
- Organize monthly lab safety meetings
- Promote safe research practices and conditions
- Maintain familiarity with the Department's Safety Policies and Emergency Response Plans
- Educate their research group on Department Safety Policies and Emergency Response Plans
- Work towards reduction or elimination of incidents, accidents, and emergencies
- Submit an Incident Report for every incident, accident, and emergency that occurs in their lab