Environmental Health & Safety
Laboratory Re-inspection Program
In an effort to maintain a safe working environment, as of July 2018, the Environmental Health and Safety Laboratory Safety Unit implemented a re-inspection program to reduce reoccurring deficiencies found in labs and potential injuries incurred by employees and students. An inspection deficiency refers to anything that deviates from the Laboratory Safety Inspection Checklist or that does not meet the University of Rochester, local, state, or federal requirements. In the past, some deficiencies found during annual inspections have not been corrected in a timely manner, or have been seen repeatedly year after year. By implementing this addition to the Laboratory Inspection Program, we will ensure compliance with all federal, state, local, and University standards.
Annual inspections remain unchanged and will continue to be scheduled as they have been in the past. The Laboratory Safety Specialist for your department will email you or your departmental representative to set up a date and time to perform the inspection. The Laboratory Safety Specialist will continue to walk through the lab spaces and generate an inspection report for each room inspected. Any deficiencies found within each lab space will be documented as usual. Attention will be called to any high hazard deficiency found. These are items that present a greater risk to laboratory staff. Refer to the full list of High Hazard Deficiencies for additional information. High risk deficiencies will be discussed with the lab representative and inspectors will provide guidance for corrective actions. If a laboratory space has any high hazard deficiencies identified, an unannounced secondary inspection will be 2-4 weeks after the initial inspection to ensure that all issues have been corrected and that no new deficiencies have originated since then. If any new deficiencies are found at this time, based upon their severity an additional re-inspection will be required to ensure the new deficiency has been corrected. If any high hazard deficiency has not been corrected upon re-inspection, the Department Chair or Director will be notified. All inspections and re-inspections will be documented through Chematix.
The Laboratory Safety Specialists will be working closely with the laboratories to ensure a clear corrective action plan has been outlined, including notifying Facilities or obtaining contact information for outside vendors to address any identified issues.
If no deficiencies or high hazard deficiencies are found, there are no further actions required. Laboratories are highly encouraged to review the Inspection Checklist before their annual inspections to correct any potential problems.
Our goal is to decrease the number of laboratories with reoccurring deficiencies and any potential to cause harm and injuries to employees and students. For more information, please visit our FAQs page, or call the Laboratory Safety Unit at 275-3241.
QUESTIONS or COMMENTS?
Contact EH&S at (585) 275-3241 or e-mail EH&S Questions.
This page last updated 11/7/2023. Disclaimer.
