Inspections, Compliance, and Research Operations

Safety and Emergency Management promotes a laboratory culture of safety by assisting researchers in the School of Medicine create a safe, compliant working environment and to prepare labs for inspections conducted by regulatory agencies.

Inspections are coordinated through the Health and Safety Programs office; whenever possible, department managers are notified prior to inspections for each building. During inspections, a Health and Safety staff and/or SCA team member accompany agency representative(s). Agencies schedule most inspections in advance.

Regulatory Inspections for Everyone

Everyone is subject to Fire Safety inspections. To prepare, review:

• Regulatory Agency Inspections
• Fire Safety inspection checklist

Regulatory Inspections for Labs

If you work in or support a lab, you must also be aware of rules to follow to pass the following types of inspections:

• Lab Safety
• Hazardous Materials & Waste Inspection Checklist
• Medical Waste Inspection Checklist
• Wastewater Discharge Related to Research Activities

Unannounced Regulatory Inspections

There are rare occasions when a local, state or federal governmental agency inspector may appear in your department offices or laboratories and ask to conduct an inspection or review documents. Refer to the University document with Guidance for Responding to Unannounced Regulatory Inspections of Your Facility (PDF) for what to do if this occurs.

Each department or division in the School of Medicine is required to self-inspect work areas, document the results, make necessary corrections, and maintain records for completing the process.  See Self-Inspections for forms details on the process.

General Workplace Self-Inspection

These inspections are conducted in ALL work areas at least ONCE PER YEAR to evaluate fire and electrical safety, office ergonomics and general safety hazards in the workplace. Each department or division in the School of Medicine is required to self-inspect work areas, document the results, make necessary corrections, and maintain records for completing the process.

Lab & Shop Self-Inspection

These are quarterly walk-throughs conducted by a department member with the objective of identifying any unsafe conditions in laboratories/shops that are using or storing hazardous materials or waste.