SafetySync is Stanford’s streamlined monthly safety routine designed for research groups in laboratories. Each month, SafetySync spotlights a timely safety topic with clear, practical steps to help your group stay safe, organized, and compliant with both Stanford’s policies and official regulatory requirements. SafetySync doesn’t introduce any new safety tasks; it organizes and streamlines your lab’s existing safety responsibilities.
Who is it for?
SafetySync is for Principal Investigators, Lab Safety Coordinators, lab managers, and other research community members looking to keep safety practices current and manageable.
Why participate?
Participate in SafetySync to make safety effortless, support compliance, and set your research group up for ongoing success. Explore this month’s focus and see how SafetySync can work for you.
Monthly Safety Topics
Interactive Learning Labs
Join our monthly Interactive Learning Lab, a practical online Q&A held on the second Thursday of each month, where you’ll get expert answers to your safety questions, connect with peers, and walk away with useful tips to keep your research group safe, efficient, and compliant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Participation in SafetySync is voluntary for most research groups. Currently, only the Doerr School of Sustainability and the Physics Department have formal requirements to track completion of the monthly tasks. Regardless, Principal Investigators are responsible for ensuring required safety tasks (such as self-inspections, training, and proper use of PPE) are completed in compliance with official regulatory requirements and Stanford policies. SafetySync provides an easy, organized way to help meet these responsibilities.
No. SafetySync follows a repeating twelve-month cycle focused on foundational safety topics. The order may shift based on research needs, but each year covers the core areas needed to keep your group safe and compliant.
SafetySync makes it simple to keep Risk Assessments, SOPs, PPE Assessments, emergency plans, and training requirements up-to-date. It saves you time, reduces administrative work, and ensures readiness for inspections using existing requirements – no new safety tasks are introduced. Each monthly topic is clearly laid out for easy tracking and follow-through.
You can join anytime by reviewing this month’s safety tasks and using the checklist provided. Each month is standalone, so you can start whenever you’re ready.
New Lab Safety Coordinators (LSCs) should complete the Orientation for Lab Safety Coordinators (EHS-5200) and regularly review the Faculty Safety Handbook.
Use the SafetySync checklists as your main log and upload documentation such as Risk Assessments, SOPs, training records, and PPE Assessments to BioRAFT. For most groups, keeping records for at least three years is recommended.
Catch up as soon as possible. If you need assistance, contact your EH&S Research Safety Specialist for guidance
If you already receive the LSC newsletter (three times per year) and the SafetySync newsletter (every first Tuesday of the month), no further action is needed. To be added to the distribution list, please contact your EH&S Research Safety Specialist.
We welcome your input! Respond to the anonymous survey provided in every SafetySync newsletter, or contact your EH&S Research Safety Specialist directly with suggestions or questions.
