Voiland CollegeVoiland SchoolLaboratory SafetySafety Training

Safety Training

All workers in the Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering (VSCEB) must complete three types of basic safety training regardless of status (employee, staff, visiting scholar, volunteer, etc.). 

  1. Safety Orientation
  2. Supervised Hands-On Training
  3. Online Training

Check off each item on the VSCEB Safety Training Checklist (PDF) as you complete each type of training. The hands-on and online training can be completed in any order unless otherwise specified by your supervisor. 

1. Safety Orientation (SPPM 2.16)

Safety Orientation Checklist

Review and sign the Safety Orientation Checklist (PDF) with your supervisor or Principal Investigator (PI). Employees complete the Safety Orientation Checklist with their supervisor on the first day of employment, and supervisors must check this requirement off in Workday.

Safety Orientation Presentation

Schedule a meeting with Alex Lehman-Chong to review a 40-45 min Safety Orientation presentation.

2. Supervised In-Person, Hands-On Training 

This is assigned by the PI/supervisor. The PI/supervisor may direct training to be received from multiple sources, but they are responsible for ensuring it is complete. In a laboratory, hands-on training will include a minimum of the following topics:

  • Reading and signing the lab-specific chemical hygiene plan (CHP) in labs with chemicals
  • Reading and signing the lab-specific biosafety manual (BSM) in labs with biohazards 
  • Laboratory specific standard operating procedures and location of safety equipment 
  • Operational training for uncommon or unique instrumentation 
  • Operational training for lab-specific hazards (e.g. lasers, ionizing radiation, etc…) 

3. Online Training

For WSU employees:

WSU employees must complete online safety training through the Skillsoft Percipio platform. Percipio access will occur for regular appointments once the I-9 form is completed in Workday, usually one business day after the employee’s start date. Online modules will be assigned by a department staff member and can be accessed in Percipio by logging in with your WSU username and password. Please email Alex Lehman-Chong once training assignments have been completed for verification.

For non-employees:

Non-employees can access online safety training through Canvas.

Required Online Courses

General Safety Courses:

Required for all VSCEB personnel (minimum once every five years).

  1. Personal Protective Equipment Fundamentals
  2. Slips, Trips, and Falls
  3. Back Safety and Injury Prevention
  4. Emergency and Fire Preparedness
  5. Office Ergonomics
  6. Portable Fire Extinguisher Safety
  7. Asbestos Awareness
  8. University Laboratory Safety – Working Safely
  9. Active Shooter Response

Laboratory Safety Courses:

Required for all VSCEB laboratory workers (except computational-only labs).

  • Minimum once every five years for employees, visitors, guests, and undergraduate students 
  • Annually for graduate students
  1. PPE – Eye and Face Protection
  2. PPE – Hand Protection
  3. Risk Assessment
  4. University Laboratory Safety – Analyzing Chemical Hazards
  5. University Laboratory Safety – Analyzing Physical Hazards
  6. University Laboratory Safety – Developing and Using Controls
  7. Laboratory Compressed Gas Safety
  8. University Laboratory Safety – Analyzing Biological Hazards

Additional Safety Training Modules

Supervisors are responsible for providing any additional relevant training that may be required for an employee to perform work safely. WSU offers several additional safety training modules through the Percipio platform. These online training modules may serve as additional resources but do not replace required hands-on training. Examples of specific training topics that may be relevant include Autoclave Safety, Introduction to Biosafety, Liquid Nitrogen Safety, Laser Safety, etc. Additional specific training modules can be found under the Percipio channels titled Lab Safety at WSU and Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) or through the Canvas safety training course.

4. Training Verification 

Workers are only authorized to work in VSCEB labs once all parts of the safety training are complete and verified.

For WSU Employees:

  1. Complete the VSCEB Initial Safety Training Log
  2. Return signed and completed checklists to Alex Lehman-Chong for departmental records and verification.

For non-employees and undergraduate students:

  1. Enroll in the VSCEB Training and Digital Badges Canvas course
  2. Navigate to the VSCEB Safety Training module
  3. Upload your online training completion certificates
  4. Complete the VSCEB Initial Safety Training Log
  5. Return signed and completed checklists to Alex Lehman-Chong for departmental records and verification.

Note: Undergraduate students may be eligible to earn the VSCEB Digital Safety Badge.