LSA Safety
The College of Literature, Science, the Arts (LSA) Safety Committee provides educational outreach, resources and monitoring and feedback to its foundational science departments. LSA’s Research Safety Accountability Plan (SAP) sets annual goals for safety meetings, educational meetings, and inspections. The LSA Lab Safety Officer is available to directly assist labs with inspections, incident investigation, lab cleanouts and specialized safety issues such as field research. The safety officer is also responsible, in consultation with the Safety Accountability Leads and LSA Safety Committee representatives, for scheduling and organizing triannual meetings and reviewing and preparing safety data for presentation and discussion at the LSA Safety Committee meeting. This structure is intended to both empower and protect our LSA research community. For questions about any of the below content, please email [email protected].
LSA Safety Programs
Biannually, we invite Lab Managers and Principal Investigators to an in-person catered lunch to review EHS requirements and practical management strategies to maintain an inspection-ready lab. New and established managers and investigators are welcomed (and encouraged) to attend. These are typically held in December and May so be on the lookout for announcements from your department. Trainings cover the following topics:
- How to use the MI Safety Portal (MISP) for Chemical inventory, Self-Inspections and Deficiency Responses
- The Chemical Hygiene Plan, Training Requirements & Documentation and Standard Operating Procedures
- Annual EHS Lab Inspections and Most Common Deficiencies
- Waste Disposal, Manifesting and Labeling
- Lab & Shop Safety Supplies: lab coats, safety glasses, gloves, respirators, field equipment (sat comms and first aid kits)
- Lab Accidents, Reporting and Medical Services
LSA partners with UM’s Research and Academic Safety Committee to hold triannual town halls to provide updates on new and revised programs and procedures from EHS as well as any new U-M lab resources.
The Lab Swap Shop, located at the North University Building in Room 5004, is open year-long every Thursday from 1-3 pm for in-person shopping. Researchers are encouraged to declutter their spaces and bring supplies to the store, while also assisting labs procure consumables, PPE, and gently used equipment for FREE. This space is a partnership with the Office of Campus Sustainability. Since opening in June 2024, the Swap Shop has saved U-M researchers over $1,000,000 and diverted over 19,000 pounds from the landfill, supporting green purchasing principles and safety practices in research spaces. For questions and appointments, please email [email protected].
LSA Safety holds an annual series of lectures that focus on field research hazard awareness, planning and emergency response. Topics include: Best Practices for Shipping Biological Samples and Specimens, How to Use Satellite Communication Devices, Wilderness First Aid and Boater Safety Training and Certification. This year’s training series is now LIVE. Click the button below to register.
We provide free equipment to support safe field work. Gear includes an iridium phone, Garmin InReach GPS devices, NOLS first aid kits, beekeeper suits, and LaCrosse field boots. While the equipment is free, should equipment be lost LSA Safety will charge your shortcode to replace the missing gear.
LSA Facilities & Operations purchased new (2024) PHCbi energy-efficient Ultra Low Temp (ULT) freezer for loan. It can be used during a -80 defrost. Typically, the freezer can be loaned to a lab for a one-week period; the freezer will be delivered and be picked up by the LSA Movers. Click this link to view the ULT freezer’s schedule, which is moving between LSA’s 6 science buildings on 2-month rotations. See below.
- January & July – Biological Sciences Building
- February & August – Chemistry Building
- March & September – North University Building
- April & October – East Hall
- May & November – Randall and West Hall
- June & December – Research Museums Center
LSA provides one free LSA/Department-branded lab coat to researchers who work in a lab the uses chemical or biological hazards. Fill out the form below to receive your free coat! If you are in the Chemistry department, blue, chemical resistant, flame retardant, lab coats are pre-ordered for all incoming graduate students. LSA does not provide these coats for undergraduate student workers. To outfit undergraduate students in your labs you can purchase new PPE or consider getting gently used lab coats from the Lab Swap Shop. You can find information on Morgan Services Lab Coat Laundering Services here.
EHS provides free prescription safety glasses to all researchers at the University of Michigan! Exceptions include if you are here on a fellowship or grant. If you are one of these exceptions, LSA Safety will cover the cost so you can do your research safely!
As a reminder, safety glasses are required PPE when working in a laboratory with hazardous materials.
In recent years, there have been incidents across the country of hot plates spontaneously heating in the OFF position. In some instances, these malfunctions have led to fires and explosions. Hot plates manufactured prior to 1984 do not have temperature feedback controls. As a result, they may spontaneously heat with the heater dial in the OFF position. LSA Safety partnered with EHS, Fisher and Dot Scientific to create a program that phased out and replaced these hot plates. This replacement program runs until November 2026 so check if your hot plate is on the list below and get your new hot plate today!
LSA is strongly encouraging all research labs on campus to participate in the Sustainable Lab Certification program managed by our Office of Campus Sustainability. We are co-hosting Sustainable Lab and Safety Days in all of the major LSA science buildings to reduce barriers to complete the certification and orient researchers towards safety best practices. The Sustainable Lab and Safety Day will include:
- 30 minute appointment slots for the required lab visit portion of the Sustainable Lab Certification
- Assistance with Safety Self-Inspections
- A Planet Blue Ambassador Training with FREE Pizza
- An informational session on lab safety and the Freezer Challenge
- A day long lab swap event to get FREE lab supplies (weather permitting we can bring carts to the building)
- Informational tables from the Office of Campus Sustainability, LSA Safety, and LSA Sustainability
LSA Safety provides other resources to support you in your lab. You can request calgonate, peroxide strips, and labels from us as well as Hydrofluoric Acid First Aid Kits – just email [email protected]. Is there a safety resource missing from this page? Please email us so we can find and fund the appropriate support for you.
Lab Safety Shortcut Flyer
Consider printing and taping the flyer below to your lab door so you can quickly procure useful links while conducting your research. EHS has a poster library with designed informational flyers that you can also browse here.