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Research EHS training for VU persons
Biosafety Training
Biosafety Program Course Offerings
The Biosafety Program provides several courses to support all individuals who will work with (or around) biological materials such as microbiological agents, animal or human-derived body fluids or tissues, environmental samples, recombinant DNA, toxins of biological origin or any waste items contaminated with such biomaterials. Below is a summary of courses offered routinely. Activity and material-specific courses are scheduled and delivered on an as-needed basis.
| Course Name | Target Audience | Course Access and Details |
| Know Your Responsibilities: Biomaterials Safety Standards for New Principal Investigators | New Principal Investigators working with biomaterials; anyone in a life science research compliance or lab support role. | Self-assignable in Oracle Learn. Click here. Note: This course requires 1.5 hours to complete. However, progress is saved so completion in one sitting is not required. |
| Biosafety 101: Standard Microbiological Practices | Anyone who will handle any viable biomaterials (as described above) in a lab setting. | Self-assignable in Oracle Learn. Click here. This course is a prerequisite for completing any other biosafety course. |
| Working Safely with Human-derived Materials | Anyone who will handle human-derived body fluids, cells, tissues, or lentiviral vectors. | Self-assignable in Oracle Learn. Click here. This module includes core principles that apply to work with infectious agents; thus, this course is a prerequisite for completing Biosafety 201: BSL-2 Principles. |
| Biosafety 201: BSL-2 Principles | Anyone who will be working with biomaterials that require BSL-2 containment. | Self-assignable in Oracle Learn. Click here. This course contains advanced topics that build off the prerequisite courses mentioned above. Key topics include biological safety cabinet operation and spill prevention and preparedness. |
| 2024 Annual Biosafety Refresher | Anyone who is working with biological materials and has previously completed Biosafety 101: Standard Microbiological Practices. | The enrollment period for the 2024 Annual Biosafety Refresher has ended. The Working Safely with Human-derived Materials course (link) may be completed as an alternative to satisfy annual refresher course requirements. |
| Dry Ice Shipping Training | Anyone who ships lab reagents on dry ice via an air courier. | Self-assignable in Oracle Learn. Click here. When shipped by air, dry ice is regulated as a Dangerous Good and the shipper must be currently certified for shipping these materials; upon completion of the course and quiz, VU Biosafety will provide a USDOT-compliant certificate to the trainee. |
| Regulated Medical Waste (RMW) Shipping Training for Lab Researchers | Anyone who works in a research lab located in a VU building (i.e., MRB III, Stevenson Center, Keck-FEL, Olin or ESB) and will prepare regulated medical waste shipping containers and/or sign for RMW pickups. | Self-assignable in Oracle Learn. Click here. Intended for those who work in VU labs located in VU buildings where RMW pickups occur; upon completion of the course and quiz, VU Biosafety will provide a USDOT-compliant certificate to the trainee. |
Lab-Specific Training and Qualification for Biomaterials Activities
In addition to completing the appropriate institutional biosafety courses, each lab member should complete and document lab-specific training and qualification with their supervisor regardless of the biosafety level or duration of lab assignment. Checklists for this purpose are provided at links below:
- Biosafety Orientation Checklist – New Lab Member (for those joining a lab for an extended duration)
- Biosafety Orientation Checklist – Temporary Lab Member (for rotating students and visiting scientists)
A copy of this completed record (and all institutional biosafety training records) should be maintained by the lab manager/PI with the lab’s safety manual.
Chemical Safety AND HAZARDOUS WASTE Training
Chemical Safety and Hazardous Waste Course Offerings
The Chemical Safety and Hazardous Waste Program provides a wide range of safety training options to help ensure your safety and health in the workplace. Below is a summary of the online and in-person training courses available to VU students, employees and persons-of-interest. These training courses are offered to meet numerous regulations and/or as a resource to encourage health and safety for all University community members.
| Course Name | Target Audience | Course Access and Details | Frequency |
| Initial Chemical and Physical Safety for Research Labs | Vanderbilt individuals who operate within a physical laboratory in which they may encounter hazardous materials or equipment. This training applies to paid and unpaid (volunteers) conducting activities in the labs. | Self-assignable in Oracle Learn. Click here. Training on the hazards (chemical, physical, etc.) encountered in the work area. Training on proper waste management within laboratory. Includes initial lab safety for PIs & Researchers, TA’s & Instructors, anatomy and physiology lab. |
Initial |
| Refresher Chemical and Physical Safety for Research Labs | Anyone who has previously completed the Initial Chemical and Physical Safety for Research Labs and Vanderbilt individuals who operate within a physical laboratory in which they may encounter hazardous materials or equipment. This training applies to paid and unpaid (volunteers) conducting activities in the labs. | Self-assignable in Oracle Learn. Click here. Training on the hazards (chemical, physical, etc.) encountered in the work area. Training on proper waste management within laboratory. Refresher for PIs & Researchers, TA’s & Instructors, anatomy and physiology lab. |
Annually |
Laser Safety Training
| Course Name | Target Audience | Course Access and Details |
| VU Laser Safety Video Training | Vanderbilt individuals Complete the training if lasers are present in the lab. |
Available through Oracle Learn. Click here. Please send certificate of completion to lasersafety@vanderbilt.edu when completed |
Radiation Safety Training
Currently, VUMC OCRS is providing all Radiation Safety related trainings. Please follow the links below to the appropriate training.
- Radiation Safety Training Materials (VUMC OCRS)
- Annual Radiation Safety Training for Research Laboratories
Research EHS training for non-VU persons
Instructions:
Not all topics are required for all individuals. Ask your Vanderbilt contact which of these topics will apply to the work/lab where you will be visiting or working. Email ehs@vanderbilt.edu with any questions.
The topics applicable to you are then MANDATORY BEFORE you visit or work in any VU laboratory.
For the trainings below: Fill out the intake form and answer the Yes/No questions presented to you. You will be taken to a Survey Queue that will display all the training options you selected. Once in the training, view the training video, download any resource packs and then complete the review questions. When you have completed the training and passed the review, a completion email and certificate will be emailed to the address you provided. Send copies of your completion certificates to the Vanderbilt employee/sponsor who asked you to complete this training.
BIOLOGICAL SAFETY TRAINING
| Course Name | Target Audience | Course Access and Details |
| Biosafety 101: Standard Microbiological Practices | Non-Vanderbilt individuals and anyone who will handle (or be around) biological materials such as microbiological agents, animal or human-derived body fluids or tissues, environmental samples, recombinant DNA, toxins of biological origin or any waste items contaminated with such biomaterials in a lab setting. | Non-VU persons Redcap training link: Click here This course is a prerequisite for completing any other biosafety course such as “Working Safely with Human-Derived Materials” |
| Working Safely with Human-Derived Materials | Non-Vanderbilt individuals and anyone who will handle human-derived body fluids, cells, tissues, or lentiviral vectors. | Non-VU persons Redcap training link: Click here Prerequisite: Biosafety 101: Standard Microbiological Practices This training should not be completed outside of business hours and includes core principles that apply to work with infectious agents; thus, this course is a prerequisite for completing “Biosafety 201: Risk Assessment Applications for BSL-2” |
Additionally, each trainee should complete the biosafety orientation training checklist for temporary lab members with their lab supervisor when joining a new lab. A copy of this completed record should be maintained by the lab manager/PI.
Chemical Safety TRAINING
| Course Name | Target Audience | Course Access and Details |
| Chemical and Physical Safety for Research Labs | Non-Vanderbilt individuals who operate within a physical laboratory in which they may encounter hazardous materials or equipment. This training applies to paid and unpaid (volunteers) conducting activities in the labs. | Non-VU persons Redcap training link: Click here Training on the hazards (chemical, physical, etc.) encountered in the work area. Training on proper waste management within laboratory. Includes initial lab safety, refresher for PIs & Researchers, refresher for TA’s & Instructors, anatomy and physiology lab. |
Laser Safety TRAINING
| Course Name | Target Audience | Course Access and Details |
| VU Laser Safety Video Training | Non-Vanderbilt individuals. Complete the training if lasers are present in the lab. |
Non-VU persons Redcap training link: Click here |
Radiation Safety Training
Currently, VUMC OCRS is providing all Radiation Safety related trainings. Please follow the links below to the appropriate training.
Awareness Training
- Safety Guidelines for Demonstrations and Learning Activities in Research Labs
- Minors In Research Labs with Increased Risk