Welcome to this Newsletter!
Welcome to the LSC Newsletter! Please widely distribute the contents of
this newsletter with your whole lab, including your PI, and collaborate with
your PI to discuss the relevant topics at your next group meeting. We
encourage you to work with your PI to ensure safety is a priority in your
research. If you want to subscribe others from your lab, please respond to
this email or send a request to Susan Vleck, Assistant Director of Laboratory Safety at EH&S.
The following LSC meetings are scheduled. If you are the safety representative
for your lab and cannot attend, please let the Research Safety Specialist
listed know and send another lab member. Attendance will be recorded. If you would like to attend and haven’t received an invite, please contact
the RSS.
List of scheduled meetings:
Dean of Research Institutes
- ChEMH/Neuro Please contact (Nick Pak) – TBD
- GLAM Please contact (Vincent Nguyen) – TBD
- Spilker (Vincent Nguyen) – Thursday, July 10th, 10:00 – 11:00 AM, Spilker 317
- HEPL (Stuti Munshi) – Tuesday, July 8th, 2025 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM, PAB 232, Zoom Link
- Clark Center (Nancy Young) – Thursday, July 31st, 1:00 – 2:00 PM, Clark S360
School of Engineering (Jack Reidy)
- Tuesday, June 24th, 11:00AM – 12:00PM, Shriram SB35, Zoom Link
- Friday, June 27th, 1:30 – 2:30PM, Durand 023, Zoom Link
School of Humanities and Sciences
- Biology (Rezahn Abraha): Wednesday, July 9th, 12:00 PM, 121 Bass, Zoom Link
- Chemistry (Nick Pak) – Tuesday, June 24th 12:00 PM – 1:30PM, Room TBD
- Physics Varian and PAB (Stuti Munshi) – Tuesday, July 8th 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM, PAB 232, Zoom Link
School of Medicine (Nancy Young)
-
LSC meetings are scheduled as a quarterly webinar which is announced
through an invitation via SoM Building Mailman listservs. These meetings
may not have the same focus as items discussed here, so if you would like
to attend an EH&S LSC meeting, please feel free to attend one of the
ones listed here.
Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability (April Casper)
- Wednesday, June 18th, 11:00AM – 12:00PM, Mitchell Hartley Conference Room
Hopkins Marine Station
- Please contact April Casper – TBD
Upcoming LSC Meeting Discussion
LSCs will engage in an exposure response exercise designed
to help you prepare your lab for potential incidents (spill, release, or
accidental exposure). This session will provide valuable insights and
practical skills to enhance your lab’s overall safety protocols.
New Environmental Protection Program Staff!
Emily Wallace is starting as a Senior Hazardous Waste
Technician on the Environmental Protection Team. Emily has two years of
experience in hazardous waste management, servicing clients in biotechnology,
manufacturing, and at
universities. She graduated from Northeastern University with a B.S. in
Environmental Sciences. Emily is currently pursuing a Master’s in
Environmental Management with concentration in health and hazards. Outside of
work, she enjoys playing with her three cats, going on hikes, and playing
video games.
Summer at Stanford!
Lab Do’s and Don’ts
Summer is here and we all want to beat the heat! Even with warmer weather,
you must wear the appropriate street clothing in any lab:
- Long pants (or equivalent) that covers legs and ankles
- Close-toed shoes that completely cover the feet and are non-perforated
Welcoming high school interns this summer?
Minors under 16 years old are not permitted to enter wet lab spaces. If your
lab is planning on hosting high school interns over the summer:
-
Use the Guidelines and Checklist for Hosting Minors in Labs from Stanford Education &
STEM Outreach’s resources.
-
Remember that there are restrictions on the types of hazards that minors may work
with.
Lab Safety Reminders
PPE in Biosafety Level (BSL)-1 Labs
BSL-1 laboratories require lab coats or gowns and protective eyewear
during procedures that may generate splashes or sprays.
Use BSL-2 practices for human materials
If you work with human or non-human primate materials (e.g., cell lines,
organ cultures, or fluids):
-
Follow Universal Precautions
- Wear lab coats, gloves, and eye protection
- Add face shields for high splash-risk procedures
These are materials that may contain pathogens like HIV, HBV, or HCV.
Follow proper PPE handling
-
Decontaminate or dispose of all PPE
appropriately
- Launder lab coats on-site or discard them as biohazard waste
- Never remove lab coats from the facility
- Secure long hair to avoid contamination or lab hazards
Taking photos or videos in the lab? Proper PPE is
required. Review Photo & Video Guidelines for Research Facilities if you and/or your lab are participating in storytelling activities in a
research facility.
Web Tool Updates
The Waste Tag app can now create copies of waste tags to use on waste
containers with the same composition. Each new tag will have a distinct container barcode. Do not
reprint or copy a single waste tag for multiple containers of the same
waste. Users can clone new or existing waste tags:
-
From the New Waste Tag screen, use the Save and Clone option under the Save and Print button to create and
print up to 6 new tags of the same waste stream all at once. -
Existing Waste Tags can be cloned on the My Waste Tag
screen using the Clone button.
Safety Store: New Products Available!
Exposure Response Poster (Free) This poster communicates what to do in the event of exposure to
hazardous chemical, biological, or radiological materials. It focuses on
to-the-point steps to take in the immediate aftermath.
Fume Hood Sash Sticker (Free) This sticker can be placed on the side of fume hoods to indicate
appropriate sash height for energy savings (and safety). Developed in
collaboration with the Office of Sustainability.
Get Your Lab Waste Sorted! About 79% of general lab waste is recyclable, but too much is still going to landfill. Help us get it
sorted—literally. Check what goes where using Sustainable Stanford’s Waste Sorting Tool. Can’t find your item? Submit it here and you’ll be entered to win a $20 gift card.
Broken glass counts, too
Help reduce sorting errors and only place broken glass in the designated
boxes. We’re exploring options to repurpose broken glass as concrete, so
accuracy matters. For more tips on reducing waste in the lab, review Stanford’s Lab Waste Guidance.
New Guides & Factsheets
Laser cutting devices are becoming more widely used across campus to
engrave, drill, or cut materials from 2D designs with precision. But not all
materials are safe to cut due to their chemical makeup. Some substrates
release toxic vapors or particulates when cut. Always check material
compatibility before use.
Review Laser Cutter Safety Guidance before using a laser cutter. The guidance outlines:
- Substrate material compatibility
- Hazards and safety measures
- A setup and use checklist
- Printable signage for your workspace
who operate laser cutters.
Be cautious with online laser cutter purchases
Cheap, high-powered Class 3B and 4 lasers are flooding online marketplaces
(like Amazon). Many lack proper safety controls leading to potentially
hazardous situations, and have caused real incidents at Stanford. A recent
incident highlighted the urgent need for awareness, registration, and
training when purchasing laser equipment online. For guidance on purchasing
laser equipment, contact Stanford’s Laser Safety Officer at lasersafety@stanford.edu.
Guide to Base Baths: Safety, Alternatives, and Protocols
Base baths (potent mixtures of potassium hydroxide, isopropyl alcohol, and
water) are vital for removing stubborn contaminants from glassware, but
come with risks. They should be a last-resort cleaning method due to their
highly corrosive nature and potential to weaken glass.
Discover safer alternatives, essential safety measures, and emergency
protocols to ensure a secure and effective lab environment.
Shipping Hazardous Materials
Transporting or shipping a sample or hazardous material? Review requirements for transporting or shipping hazardous materials on, off, and between Stanford and other campuses. Guidance is included for chemicals, biologicals, and radioactive
materials.
Mastering Tweezer Techniques: Tips for Delicate Sample Handling
Tweezers are essential for manipulating delicate samples and small
components, available with fine-pointed or blunt-ended tips. Blunt-ended
versions are safer for general use because they reduce puncture risks.
Fine-pointed types require extra caution to prevent punctures.
Recommendations for work with biologicals:
- Sterilize before and after each use via autoclaving or chemical methods.
- Store tip-down in racks or tubes.
- Apply protective covers with a one-handed technique.
-
Regularly inspect alignment and condition, replacing damaged tools
immediately.
General Housekeeping
Monthly Research Safety Spotlight Topics
As a reminder, check out our Research Safety Annual Spotlight Topics. Over the course of a year, you’ll be able to work through all the safety
areas! If you follow these monthly safety topics, your lab will be in good
shape.
Request for feedback/topics you’d like to see?
Was there something you wanted to see in this newsletter? Do you have general
safety or EH&S questions? Are you curious to learn more or make
suggestions about the LSC role? Let us know!
