Safety is a core value at Berkeley Lab and the Molecular Foundry. As an on-site user, you are expected to know and follow all safety requirements and to contribute to our strong safety culture. Note that these requirements may be different from those at your home institution. In order to work on-site at the Foundry, a user must complete a number of safety training courses specific to the work they will be doing.
After your proposal is approved, one member of your project team must submit more detailed safety information in the Secondary Safety Questionnaire. Log in to the User Portal to complete the Safety Questionnaire. This information must be evaluated and approved before you can begin work at the Foundry. Learn more about preparing to come on-site.
Safety Training
Your Assigned Scientist and other staff contacts will inform you of all necessary safety training required for your work at the Foundry. Safety training is a combination of online courses, in-person courses, and on-the-job training by Foundry scientists and technicians. All required safety training must be completed and any controls specific to your project must be implemented before you may begin work.
In order to get an early start on your safety training requirements, it is possible to complete some of the core safety training courses online before you arrive. To view and complete the recommended core safety training courses for your project, log on to the User Portal and navigate to the section titled, “Complete online safety training.” Additional in-person and on-the-job training must be completed according to your assigned WPC Activities’ requirements.
Users who will be onsite for five days or less and who will be working under the constant direct supervision of Foundry staff are exempt from formal safety training requirements, but must be familiar with all relevant safety requirements.
Safety training requirements can be extensive for certain types of work at the Foundry and can take a day or more to complete. Be advised that it may take 1-2 weeks to schedule training on particular instruments depending on staff availability and so it is recommended to schedule instrument training 3-4 weeks before you arrive.
Building and Room Access
Once you complete training, you may be eligible for badge access to certain rooms and/or buildings. Your Assigned Scientist will request access for you, if appropriate, by emailing the User Office.
Work Planning and Control
Work Planning and Control (WPC) is a web-based tool for implementing Integrated Safety Management (ISM) at Berkeley Lab. WPC is used to identify and control hazards for all work activities, and to record worker assignments and authorizations.
Any work activity you perform at the Foundry must be covered by an authorized WPC activity. Foundry staff will add you to the appropriate WPC activities at the start of your project, and may add you to additional activities if your project scope evolves.Each WPC activity includes some required training, either online or in person, which you must complete before being authorized to do the associated work activity. You will complete online training through the Berkeley Lab Training website and sign up for in-person training courses on the Classroom Courses website.
Working with Chemicals
If your work involves the use of chemicals, you will receive specialized online and on-the-job training.
- Chemicals at the Foundry are tracked and managed in the Chemical Management System (CMS).
- All chemicals and other hazardous waste must be properly disposed of through the Hazardous Waste Requisition System.
Working Alone Policy
Due to potential hazards in Foundry laboratories, many operations are not permitted when working alone in laboratories outside of normal business hours or under unusual circumstances. All users must read and abide by our Working Alone Policy.
Badge Access and Escort Policy
The Foundry requires personnel with badge access to labs and the shop to be responsible for their own safety and actions. Further, the Foundry requires those escorting personnel without badge access to be responsible for the safety and actions of those being escorted. All users must read and abide by our Badge Access and Escort Policy.
Instrument Reservations
The Foundry uses the following instrument reservation sytem:
Use your Berkeley Lab identity credentials to log on to this system. Once your training is completed, staff will grant you access to the appropriate instrument reservation calendars and show you how to use them. Learn more about resource allocation to user proposals.
