In This Section

Environmental Health and Safety

The Environmental Health & Safety Office (EHS) provides services intended to promote health and safety at the University of Iowa, including Biological, Chemical, Occupational and Radiation safety and select Environmental programs. Some of the direct services that we offer include chemical and radiation exposure monitoring, worksite hazard evaluations, workplace safety surveys, safety equipment selection, safety program reviews, safety training, and disposal of hazardous chemical, radioactive and infectious waste. Consultative services include regulatory compliance assistance programs to address OSHA and EPA-related responsibilities within research, academic, facility and service environments.

Biological Safety

  • Bloodborne Pathogens. The BBP Standard applies to any employee whose job entails reasonably anticipated contact with blood, blood products, and other potentially infectious materials. Departments must identify all “at risk” employees offer them a hepatitis B virus vaccination within 10 working days of initial assignment, and provide training.
  • recombinant DNA Program (rDNA). The National Institutes of Health Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules (NIH Guidelines) govern the construction and handling of recombinant DNA (rDNA) or synthetic nucleic acid molecules and the organisms/viruses that contain them. The University of Iowa is responsible for ensuring that all such research conducted at or sponsored by the University complies with the NIH Guidelines. Compliance authority on campus is placed with the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC). The IBC reviews research governed by the NIH Guidelines and approves those projects in conformity with the NIH Guidelines. The IBC is appointed by and advises the Associate Vice President for Research. Please see the IBC Charter for additional responsibilities appointed to the IBC.

The NIH Guidelines apply to all rDNA or synthetic nucleic acid research within the United States and its territories that is conducted at, or sponsored by, an institution that receives support from the NIH.  Researchers at the University of Iowa must be in compliance with the NIH Guidelines, irrespective of the source of funding.

  •  Select Agents and Toxins. The Select Agent and Toxin Use program outlines the registration procedures and responsibilities for individuals who work with select agents and toxins (list of Select Agent and Toxins). The University of Iowa and all individuals involved with select agent and toxins are required to comply with the Select Agent Program established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Compliance is required under Federal Law; non-compliance can result in substantial penalties for both an individual and the University. All individuals must register with the University and possibly the Federal government prior to possessing any select agent or toxin.
  • Shipping Infectious Substances. The Shipping Infectious Substances program is designed to assist researchers in meeting the required regulations when shipping biological material. The following agencies govern these shipments:
  • Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Department of Transportation (USDOT) – CFR 49 Part 171-180.
  • Dangerous Goods Regulations, International air Transport Association (IATA).
  • Stem Cell Research. The University of Iowa is responsible for ensuring that all stem cell research conducted at or sponsored by the University complies with the Guidelines. Compliance authority on campus is placed with the Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Committee (hPSCC). The hPSCC reviews stem cell research and approves those projects in conformity with the Guidelines and in accordance with the general principles expressed in the Guidelines for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research (National Academies’ of Science, 2005) and its subsequent amendments. The hPSCC is appointed by and advises the Associate Vice President for Research. Researchers at the University of Iowa must be in compliance with the Guidelines, irrespective of the source of funding.

Chemical Safety

  • Chemical Hygiene Plan. A generic Chemical Hygiene Plan was written to fulfill uniform requirements applicable to most University labs. The generic CHP must have location specific information, and possibly amendments, added to complete it for the department and lab locations to which it will apply.
  • Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). The DEA and State of Iowa rules and regulations must be followed and documentation of controlled substance inventory maintained when Principal Investigators purchase, dispense or destroy controlled substances that are used in their research.  EHS has developed a detailed guidance document entitled Controlled Substances Guide that can be found on this webpage.

Occupational Safety

The Occupational Safety Section oversees several programs focusing on people and how they interact within their workplace in regard to occupational safety and health. The programs and services are designed to evaluate job hazards and help individuals and departments reduce or eliminate these hazards and comply with
state and federal occupational safety and health regulations. A listing of the various programs can be found on this website.

Radiation Safety

  • The Radiation Safety Section maintains the University’s single academic/medical radioactive materials broad scope license that covers all uses of radioactive materials for both research and medicine.  The license is issued by the Iowa Health and Human Services - Radiological Health (HHS) and is subject to annual IHHS on-site inspection and five-year renewal. Responsibility for the radiation safety program is delegated to the Radiation Safety Committee (RSC) and the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) who have the authority to enforce and direct University personnel regarding radioactive material regulations, license conditions, and University radiation safety policies. The RSC is comprised of five interrelated committees that function to provide radiation protection program oversight, review, policy development, and radioactive materials use authorization under the management of the Associate Vice President for Research.

Waste/Environmental

  • Hazardous Chemical Waste. Hazardous chemical wastes are generated as a result of teaching, research, patient care service, and operational activities at The University of Iowa. EHS is responsible for proper handling and ultimate disposal of chemical waste. EHS also provides technical assistance and training to individuals and departments who generate waste so they can comply with rules and regulations that direct waste generation activities.
  • The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates waste generation and management activities at the University. Authority for such regulation is provided by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). RCRA provides for “cradle-to-grave” tracking and management of hazardous waste, i.e., from the generator to transporter to treatment, storage or disposal. Anyone or any facility that generates, treats, stores or disposes of hazardous waste must comply with RCRA. EPA regulations pertaining to hazardous waste are found in Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 260-270.
  • The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulates transportation of hazardous waste. DOT regulations pertaining to hazardous waste are found in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 171-173.

  • Information on biological, radiological, controlled substances, and universal waste can also be found on the Waste/Environmental webpage.

     

Additional Information (Research Manual)

 

Contact Information:

Phone:  (319)335-8501

Email:  ehs-contact@uiowa.edu