Print

The information below is intended to provide guidance to Principal Investigators or Laboratory Supervisors on the health and safety requirements for minors participating in the University-sponsored function of laboratory research. A Laboratory is a research or clinical setting where scientific research or instruction is conducted. This often includes working with or near hazardous materials (e.g. hazardous chemicals, biohazardous agents, radioisotopes, etc.) and/or physical safety hazards (e.g., lasers, moving machinery parts, extreme temperature, electrical apparatus, etcetera). A minor is a person under 18 years of age, including registered students at Stanford University. Due to their relative lack of experience in recognizing hazards, restrictions are placed on minors working in laboratories to ensure a safe research experience.

Review the state of California's existing labor laws and Stanford University's policies on the Protection of Minors and Recruiting and Hiring of Regular Staff to learn more about these restrictions. These requirements and restrictions apply whether the minor participates as a volunteer, employee, or registered student at the University.

Additionally, this document supplements current Stanford University Emeployee & Labor Relations guidelines on minors participating in University-sponsored functions that require more than an intermittent presence in a work area. Click here to access the Exclusion of Minors in the Workplace At Stanford University (Section C) Policy. 

Supervision

The Principal Investigator (PI) is responsible for the health and safety of minors working in his or her laboratory. This includes the provision for and enforcement of the correct use of engineering controls, work practices, and personal protective equipment.

The PI may delegate daily supervision of minors to trained and knowledgeable lab personnel, but the PI retains primary responsibility. Minors may only work in labs under direct supervision, either by the PI or designated lab personnel. Minors may not be alone in the lab. Minors are not permitted to have their own building and laboratory access.

Training

Minors working in laboratories are required to complete all appropriate safety training before beginning lab work. The PI is responsible for ensuring that minors are trained appropriately.

General laboratory training

Online safety training is available through the STARS training tab in the Axess portal and requires a sponsored SUNet ID. All minors working in laboratories must complete the following online courses:

  • EHS-4200 – General Safety & Emergency Preparedness
  • EHS-1900 – Chemical Safety for Laboratories

Depending on additional potential hazards and/or department-specific requirements, other online safety courses may be required. Consult your home department for guidance.

Lab-specific training

Qualified lab personnel must provide lab-specific training for minors. This training includes a review of the specific hazards (e.g. chemical, biological, radioactive, physical, etc.) that exist in the lab, as well as the procedures, equipment, and resources available for working safely with these hazards. For additional guidance, see How to Develop Lab-Specific Training.

Documentation

The PI must document and retain all lab-specific safety training provided to minors for at least one year.

  • Restricted Activities
  • Incident Reporting
  • Medical Treatment

  • If the proposed research for a minor includes a restricted activity described below, contact EH&S at (650) 723-0448 for more information.

    Biohazardous materials

    Activities that are not allowed:
    Additional requirements: 
    • Minors working with biosafety level 2 (BSL-2) materials must be approved on the relevant protocol with the Administrative Panel on Biosafety and must have their minor status disclosed.
    • PI will assess risk for work associated with human blood, body fluids, and tissues, including tissue culture. For questions, the PI should contact the Biosafety office at 723-0448.
    • If minors will be working with human blood, body fluids, or tissues, including tissue culture, they must receive pre-placement medical evaluations from their personal care provider. A Hepatitis B Vaccine Status Form for Minors must be submitted to the Stanford University Occupational Health Center before starting work.
    • For questions, the physician may contact the Occupational Health Center at (650) 725-5308.

    Chemicals

    Activities that are not allowed:

    Lasers

    Contact Health Physics at (650) 723-3201 if the proposed research involves lasers. Depending on the class of laser used, a baseline laser eye exam may be necessary.

    Packaging and shipping of hazardous materials

    Activities that are not allowed:
    • Packaging and shipping of biological samples, chemicals, dry ice, and radioactive materials.

    Radioactive materials or radiation-emitting machines

    Activities that are not allowed:
    • Working with or around ionizing radiation or radioactivity if the occupational exposure exceeds 10% of the adult annual limit.
    Additional requirements: ​

    Contact Health Physics at (650) 723-3201 if the proposed research involves radioactivity.

    Research animal contact and work

    Activities that are not allowed:
    • Risk Category 1 (RC1) work, which includes work with non-human primates (including unfixed tissue and bodily fluids), hoofed mammals (e.g., swine, goats, sheep, cows), wild rodents, and certain field studies.
    Additional requirements: ​
    • Minors must be listed on the relevant protocol with the Administrative Panel on Laboratory Animal Care (APLAC) and have their minor status disclosed.
    • Minors must be medically cleared by their personal care provider before beginning Risk Category 2 (RC2) work, which includes animal work that does not fall within the RC1 category.
    • A medical clearance form signed by their personal care provider must be kept on file with the PI or the PI’s home department.
    • For questions, the physician may contact the Occupational Health Center at (650) 725-5308.

    Spills involving hazardous materials

    Trained minors may only clean up spills under direct supervision by trained and knowledgeable lab personnel.

  • Any incident or accident involving a minor (e.g. chemical exposure, needle stick injury, animal bite or scratch, etc.) must be reported to the PI immediately.

    Documentation

    The minor must complete an Incident Investigation Report Form, under guidance from the PI, to document the incident. This form must be signed by the PI and a copy faxed to Risk Management as soon as possible, but no later than 24 hours after the incident.

    Notifications

    The PI must immediately notify his or her home department of any lab-related incident involving a minor. Immediately after departmental notification, the PI or home department must notify the minor’s parent or legal guardian.

    Cal/OSHA reportable injury/illness

    Call the EH&S Emergency Hotline at (650) 725-9999 immediately so that EH&S can report the incident to Cal/OSHA. Reference Serious Injury/Illness Reporting Procedures for additional guidance.

  • The minor’s parent or legal guardian is responsible for the cost of any medical treatment provided as the result of a lab-related injury or illness that is not covered by workers’ compensation insurance. Contact your home department for more information.

    Serious injury or illness

    Treatment shall be immediately arranged at Stanford Hospital Emergency Department or at the nearest available emergency department.

    Non-serious injury or illness

    Treatment should be coordinated by the minor’s personal care provider. For questions or consultation, the provider may contact the Stanford University Occupational Health Center at (650) 725-5308.

Related Content

Reference Links