Lab Safety at UCLA

Laboratories are unique workplaces that, in some cases, pose unique risks to personnel who work there. UCLA has developed a robust lab safety program to ensure that risks to personnel health and safety, risks to campus infrastructure and property, and risks to the local environment are managed.

In addition to observing state and federal regulations, UCLA has developed internal policies and procedures to further manage risks. UCLA-specific policies and practices are developed through cooperation between campus administration and the research community. The administration is represented in safety-related matters by the Office of Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S), while the faculty and research community are represented through several faculty-led UCLA safety & compliance committees. Through a collaborative effort between the administration and the faculty, UCLA strives to create a positive culture of safety in the laboratory.

The practices and policies of EH&S are explained in detail within the Chemical Hygiene Plan, Radiation Safety Manual, Laser Safety Manual, and the Institutional Biosafety Plan. The UCLA safety and compliance committees’ functions and purposes are described below.

UCLA Safety Committees

The following faculty-led committees were established by the UCLA Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Creative Activities as the local review bodies responsible for oversight of safety and compliance functions of all research activities conducted at UCLA.

Animal Research Committee (ARC)

The UCLA ARC is a research review committee mandated by the Animal Welfare Act and the PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (PHS Policy). The ARC, through the experience and expertise of its members, is charged with the responsibility to oversee the animal care and use program at UCLA with an emphasis on ensuring that animal welfare issues are addressed.

Chemical and Physical Safety Committee (CPSC )

The UCLA CPSC is charged with promoting a safe working environment with respect to chemical and physical hazards in all research and teaching laboratories on campus, as well as shops that support research activities. As part of its charge, the CPSC reviews the lab safety survey process, the Chemical Hygiene Plan, and incident investigations. The committee is also empowered to establish survey criteria and general lab safety rules.

High Containment Laboratory Oversight Group (HCLOG)

The UCLA HCLOG coordinates laboratory operations, including preventative maintenance, testing and verification, and planning of modification to existing and proposed High Containment (BSL3) facilities, emergency management planning, and implementation of training for all laboratory-associated personnel groups. The HCLOG is advisory to the Vice Chancellor for Research and Creative Activities, and the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC). The HCLOG does not provide advice regarding non-research, clinical operations at the UCLA hospitals and clinics.

Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Research Oversight Committee (hPSCRO)

The UCLA hPSCRO committee provides oversight of human pluripotent stem cell research and other stem cell research covered by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) and California Department of Public Health (CDPH) regulations in order to ensure that UCLA research meets scientific and ethical standards.

Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)

The UCLA IBC was established as the local review body responsible for oversight of all research activities involving the use of hazardous biological material and recombinant or synthetic nucleic acids, as required and outlined in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/NIH Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL). The IBC is responsible for establishing, monitoring, and enforcing policies and procedures involving hazardous biological materials and recombinant/synthetic nucleic acids to meet applicable federal, state, local and institutional regulations and guidelines.

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs )

The UCLA IRBs are required by the Department of Health and Human Services/Office of Human Research Protections (DHHS/OHRP) to review all human subjects research activities conducted at UCLA. The function of the IRBs is to ensure adherence to all federal, state, local, and institutional regulations concerning the protection of human subjects in research. UCLA IRB review is required for both funded and non-funded human subjects’ research. There are five IRBs with each specializing in certain types of research:

North General IRB (NGIRB) reviews research from the College of Letters & Science and the Professional Schools.
South General IRB (SGIRB) reviews social-behavioral research from the Schools of Public Health, Nursing, and Medicine.
Medical IRB1 (MIRB1) reviews general and internal medicine, infectious diseases, and dental and ophthalmologic research.
Medical IRB2 (MIRB2) reviews oncology and hematology research.
Medical IRB3 (MIRB3) reviews neuroscience, neurology, psychiatric, drug abuse, and related behavioral science research.

Institutional Review Entity (IRE)

The UCLA IRE is the body charged with oversight and education of life sciences research that falls within the scope of the United States Government Policy for Oversight of Dual Use Research of Concern and Pathogens with Enhanced Pandemic Potential. Dual use research refers to scientific activities conducted for legitimate purposes that generate knowledge, information, technologies, and/or products that can be utilized for both benevolent and harmful purposes. The IRE advises and reports to the Chancellor through the Vice Chancellor for Research and Creative Activities.

Radiation Safety Committees (RSC)

The UCLA RSC and its four subcommittees are responsible for the policies and procedures pertaining to the use of radiation for research and medical purposes.

Clinical Operations Radiation Safety Committee (CORSC) is responsible for ensuring the safe conduct of radiological procedures in clinical care.
Medical Radiation Safety Committee (MRSC) is responsible for the evaluation of all proposals that involve radiological procedures in medical research at UCLA. The MRSC ensures that the University is following the policies and procedures outlined in the California Code of Regulations, Title 17 §30100 and conditions of UCLA's Radioactive Materials license.
Radioactive Drug Research Committee (RDRC) operates under the provisions of 21 CFR § 361.1 and is responsible for evaluating proposals that involve the use of radioactive drugs in humans without an Investigational New Drug Application (IND) when the drug is administered under certain conditions outlined in the Office of Radiation Safety Committees website.
Academic Radiation Safety Committee (ARSC) is responsible for ensuring the safe conduct of radiological procedures that fall outside the purview of the other Radiation Safety Committees.

Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research Safety Oversight Committee (OSOC)

OSOC is comprised of the Chairs of the ARC, CPSC, HCLOG, IBC, IRE, and RSC; the Assistant Vice Chancellor of Environment, Health & Safety; a delegate from the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs; and the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research - Radiation Safety. OSOC is charged with promoting a safe working environment in all research and teaching laboratories on campus. Specifically, the OSOC serves as a mechanism for communication between existing campus Safety Committees on topics of mutual safety concerns. OSOC advises and reports to the Chancellor through the Vice Chancellor for Research.

Ancillary Department Safety Committees

Department-based safety committees are important for a successful campus-wide program. While not mandated, implementation of departmental safety committees is highly recommended. Departmental Safety Committees are uniquely capable of identifying, addressing and communicating hazards specific to the department.

Resources

UCLA Research Policy & Compliance PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Research Oversight (hPSCRO) Committee NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules CDC/NIH Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories