Laboratory personnel are required to complete a variety of health and safety training courses, depending on the lab hazards being worked with. Before beginning work in a laboratory, at a minimum, laboratory personnel are required to complete the Laboratory Safety Training course and complete with their supervisor the Laboratory Specific Safety Training Checklist. Information about some of the trainings laboratory personnel may be required to complete can be found below and throughout various OEHS webpages. Most health and safety courses will be completed through the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative at the University of Miami (CITI) but some courses may be offered in-person or through other online training portals. Contact OEHS (313-577-1200) if you have any questions. 

Click here for Step-by-step instructions on the CITI Registration process. 

Laboratory Safety Training Course 

This training includes general information on lab chemical safety, hazardous waste disposal, and emergency response procedures, with some information specific to WSU. All faculty, staff, and students working in WSU laboratories are required to take this course prior to beginning work in a laboratory and repeated annually. 

In CITI, after clicking on “View Courses” and scrolling to the bottom of the page, click on the "Add a Course" link. Scroll down to Question #11 Environmental Health & Safety and add the Laboratory Safety course module to your curriculum. 

Laboratory and Procedure Specific Safety Training 

Prior to laboratory personnel beginning work in a laboratory, the supervisor must complete the Laboratory Specific Safety Training Checklist in order to communicate to new personnel the hazards present in the laboratory and the location of emergency response equipment. Additionally, when lab personnel plan on working with certain hazards (such as certain biohazardous agents or high-risk chemicals), the Principal Investigator or supervisor should develop lab specific standard operating procedures and document training of personnel on these lab specific standard operating procedures. Some information and templates about lab specific standard operating procedures can be found on these webpages: Biosafety Standard Operating Procedures, Chemical Safety Standard Operating Procedures, Laser Safety, and Radiation Safety Forms. 

Hazard Communication

The MIOSHA Hazard Communication standard aligns with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS), providing a common and coherent approach to classifying chemicals and communicating hazard information on labels and safety data sheets. All laboratory/research personnel working with or around chemicals are required to take this one-time training course. 

In CITI, click on the "Add a Course or Update Learner Groups" link. Scroll down to Question #11 Environmental Health & Safety and add the Hazard Communication module to your curriculum. 

Biosafety/Bloodborne Pathogens Training for Research 

This course is required annually for all Wayne State University faculty, staff, and students working in research and/or teaching laboratories with materials that are potentially infectious, including human blood, body fluids, tissue, and cell lines; animals infected with human pathogens; mammalian viruses; biological toxins; and/or recombinant DNA. 

In CITI, after clicking on “View Courses” and scrolling to the bottom of the page, click on the "Add a Course" link. Scroll down to Question #12 and add the Biosafety/Bloodborne Pathogen Course to your curriculum. Training slides can be viewed at Biosafety and Bloodborne Pathogen Training for Laboratories, but to receive credit, you must complete the course quiz in CITI. 

Animal Care and Use Training 

Prior to working with animals in research, laboratory personnel will be required to complete various training courses as outlined on the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) Training and Education page. The Division of Laboratory Animal Resources (DLAR) also hosts trainings on various topics related to research with animals. 

Radiation Safety Training 

• Radioisotope Training - Users of radioisotopes must complete the Basic Radiation Safety course, which is currently being offered in-person. Visit the Radiation Safety Training page for current class schedules and how to register. 
• Radiation (x-ray) Generating Machine Training - Individuals who operate X-ray generating machines, such as Electron Microscope, Bone Densitometer, X-ray Diffraction unit, Fluoroscopy unit, X-ray Radiography or any other equipment emitting ionizing radiation, must complete Radiation Generating Machine training annually. This is only available to WSU students or employees. In CITI, after clicking on “View Courses” and scrolling to the bottom of the page, click on the "Add a Course" link. Scroll down to Question #16 Radiation Safety and add the Radiation Generating Machine module to your curriculum. 
• Radiation Awareness Training - Individuals who do not work with radioactive materials but work around it (e.g., work in a lab space that uses radioactive materials) must complete Radiation Awareness Training. In CITI, after clicking on “View Courses” and scrolling to the bottom of the page, click on the "Add a Course" link. Scroll down to Question #16 Radiation Safety and add the Radiation Awareness (Non-users) module to your curriculum. 

For questions or concerns, call OEHS at 313-577-1200 or email Maha Srinivasan, Radiation Safety Officer, at ao4270@wayne.edu. 

Laser Safety Training 

Prior to working with any Class 3b or 4 lasers, users must complete basic Laser Safety Training through the CITI Program site. In CITI, after clicking on “View Courses” and scrolling to the bottom of the page, click on the "Add a Course" link. Scroll down to Question #14 Laser Safety Training and add the Laser Safety Course to your profile. 

Users must also complete lab/laser specific training with the Principal Investigator or Lab Manger and sign the written Standard Operating Procedure specific to each laser to be used. For more information, see the Laser Safety webpage. 

Shipping Biological Substances & Dry Ice Refresher Training 

OEHS ships dangerous goods at no charge for WSU laboratories. This course is optional if you would like to be certified to ship substances on dry ice directly from your lab. Refresher training is required every two years. In CITI, after clicking on “View Courses” and scrolling to the bottom of the page, click on the "Add a Course" link. Scroll down to Question #13 and add the Shipping Biological Substances and Dry Ice Course to your curriculum.

For more information about shipping laboratory materials, see Shipping Dangerous Goods.

Respiratory Protection Training 

Some work in research or teaching laboratories/facilities may involve materials that require the use of a respirator, such as an N95 mask. The use of a respirator requires specific evaluations and training prior to beginning use. For more information, see the Respiratory Protection page.