Laboratory and Studio Safety
Cal Lutheran’s Laboratory Safety program oversees safety and compliance in all research
and teaching laboratories to minimize the risks of injury, illness, property loss,
and environmental damage. The program provides policies, procedures, training, guidance, and other information
to help protect the Cal Lutheran community and ensure compliance with local, state,
and federal regulations.
If you are reporting an emergency situation in which there is an immediate threat
to health or life, please call 911.
Contact Campus Safety and Security at 805-493-3911 if you need assistance and in the
event of an incident resulting in personal injury or exposure, fire, a large scale
spill, or property damage.
Laboratory and Studio Incident & Near Miss Reporting
All types of laboratory and studio incidents (exposures, injuries, spills, leaks,
etc.) and near misses must be reported to Cal Lutheran Environmental Health and Safety
(EH&S). Report all incidents using the link below. The completed form must be submitted within 24 hours of the incident.
An incident means any unplanned event within the scope of a procedure that causes, or has the potential to cause, an injury or illness and/or damage to equipment, buildings, or the natural environment. All incidents need to be reported whether they are near misses, serious injuries, or emergencies such as fires and chemical spills.
A near miss is an event or situation that could have resulted in an accident, injury or illness, but did not, either by chance or through timely intervention.
These reports will provide EH&S and the Lab Safety Committee with information needed
to evaluate laboratory or studio procedures and help prevent reoccurrences of similar
incidents. As part of this report, EH&S will complete an incident investigation.
Safety Data Sheets
A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is a standardized document that contains important occupational
safety and health information on chemicals and chemical products. These sheets are
comprehensive and cover essential details such as chemical properties, potential health
and environmental hazards, recommended protective measures, as well as safety precautions
for proper storage, handling, and transportation of chemicals.
The following websites can assist you in locating Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and other
general safety information for the chemicals used in your laboratory or studio.
For Science Labs
Search the Chimera SDS database for chemicals in our science labs and facilities. You must be on campus, or connected via VPN, to use this resource.
For Art and Theatre Studios
Search the Chemical Safety SDS database for chemicals in our art and theatre studios.
Laboratory Safety Committee
The Laboratory Safety Committee provides oversight and guidance on health and safety issues related to research and teaching laboratories. More specifically, the Committee advises the Provost, EH&S Officer, and Director of the Research Protections Office on all matters associated with laboratory activities, including policies and procedures, facilities and equipment, health and safety issues, and training requirements and recommendations.
Committee Members include faculty in the areas of Chemistry, Biology/biochemistry, Physics, Earth & Environmental Science, and those involved in Animal Care and Use (with other expertise as needed). The committee recommends, reviews, and approves policies, procedures, and guidelines to promote safe practices in research and teaching laboratories.