Division of ResearchOffice of Research Laboratory Compliance and Support

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the procedure for setting up a research laboratory?
• I need to hire a research assistant, scientist, or post-doctoral fellow, what is the process?
• I am wishing to hire a research post-doctoral fellow who will be on a work visa. How is this accomplished?
• What is the required training for personnel who work in the Medical Research Building and West Campus?
• What is the required training for radiation workers who work in the Medical Research Building and West Campus?
• I noticed that there is physical facility repair needed in the building. How do I report this?
• I have a computer, fax, or telephone problem in my lab. How do I get this corrected?
• I need a computer or telephone line activated in my lab/office, how is this handled?
• What do I do if I am injured in my office or lab?
• What is the appropriate clothing to wear in a laboratory?
• I accidentally spilled a chemical, biological or radioactive material, what do I do?
• What is the procedure to dispose of chemical waste?
• What is the procedure to dispose of biohazardous waste?

What is the procedure for setting up a research laboratory?

Contact the Office of Research Laboratory Compliance and Support (ORLCS) for initial discussions. You may be asked to fill out the Startup Laboratory Project Safety Compliance Form .

I need to hire a research assistant, scientist or post-doctoral fellow, what is the process?

Contact the Office of Research Laboratory Compliance and Support (ORLCS), who will assist in filling out the position opening forms that are sent to Human Resources (HR). As applications are received, it will be forwarded to the hiring supervisor who will review and arrange to interview applicants. Once a decision is made, the hiring supervisor is to contact HR to conduct reference verifications and make the job offer to include salary amount and start date. Upon accepting the job offer, the applicant will be set up for drug screening and physical examinations. If these are acceptable, the applicant will then be notified to attend the HR orientation and TB testing. Simultaneously, upon the applicant's acceptance of the job offer, HR will notify the hiring supervisor, who is to notify the ORLCS to schedule safety orientation and appropriate building/laboratory access.

I am wishing to hire a research post-doctoral fellow who will be on a work visa. How is this accomplished?

As there are different types of work visas, contact the Office of Research Laboratory Compliance and Support for assistance.

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What is the required training for personnel who work in the Medical Research Building and West Campus?

All personnel are to attend a general building and emergency orientation class, general radiation awareness and animal hazard training. This should be conducted within 30 days of arrival into the building. Laboratory safety refresher training is to be renewed annually. Refresher radiation awareness training is to be renewed every two years. Contact the Office of Research Laboratory Compliance and Support for the available training dates and times.

What is the required training for radiation workers who work in the Medical Research Building and West Campus?

Radiation workers must have a formal general radiation safety training and site-specific radiation procedure training prior to working with radioactive materials. Additionally, if the person will be checking in the radioactive materials they will have to take a radiation check-in training class. Refresher general radiation safety training is to be renewed every two years.

I noticed that there is physical facility repair needed in the building. How do I report this?

If at the MRB, contact the facilities superintendent at 254-760-2436. If at the West Campus, contact the Corporate Facilities Management Services at 254-742-1059. Or if desired, you may contact the Office of Research Laboratory Compliance and Support at 254-724-7774.

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I have a computer, fax or telephone problem in my lab. How do I get this corrected?

If the computer, fax or telephone line belongs to Scott & White, call the help desk at 254-724-2501. For fax problems, you will need to conduct some troubleshooting prior to calling the help desk to validate that the fax machine is working properly and that the problem lies in the telephone line. Actual fax machine problems are handled directly from the vendor. If the computer line is for the Medical Research Building, contact the MRB help desk at 800-799-7472. If the telephone or fax line is MRB, contact the MRB facilities superintendent at 254-760-2436.

I need a computer or telephone line activated in my lab/office, how is this handled?

If the line is to be paid by Scott & White, contact the Office of Research Laboratory Compliance and Support. If the line is to be paid by Texas A&M, contact the MRB facilities superintendent at 254-760-2436.

What do I do if I am injured in my office or lab?

First, obtain immediate medical treatment as needed. For Scott & White personnel, fill out a Scott & White Staff Accident/Injury Report form and send to Scott & White Employee Health. For Texas A&M personnel, fill out a Texas A&M First Report of Injury form and fax it to the HR department at Texas A&M. In addition, fill out the Document of Incident or Report of Safety Hazard form and send it to the Office of Research Laboratory Compliance and Support. All three of these forms are available on the Forms link.

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What is the appropriate clothing to wear in a laboratory?

In general, the more skin covered the better. At the very least, personnel should not be wearing clothing that is shorter than the knee or which allows skin to be exposed between the midriff and hips. Shoes should be closed heel and toes. When personnel are performing laboratory duties, they are to wear laboratory coats and other appropriate personnel protective equipment as needed.

I accidentally spilled a chemical, biological or radioactive material, what do I do?

If the quantity is small, the nature of the material is one that your lab is qualified to cleanup, materials and personnel protective equipment needed are available to handle the spill, then each lab is to handle their own clean up. If the lab is unable to handle the spill complete the Document of Incident or Report of Safety Hazard form and contact the Office of Research Laboratory Compliance and Support. Regardless of who handles the spill, the Document of Incident or Report of Safety Hazard form should be filled out and sent to the Office of Research Laboratory Compliance and Support.

What is the procedure to dispose of chemical waste?

Provide the Office of Research Laboratory Compliance and Support with the name of chemicals that need to be disposed of, along with the quantity and a copy of the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). The ORLCS will coordinate the disposal with the ARAMARK waste department.

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What is the procedure to dispose of biohazardous waste?

Depending upon the nature of the waste, it may need to be autoclaved and then it can be disposed of in the regular trash. All biohazard symbols are to be removed or obliterated prior to discarding. If the waste is routine dry solid waste (e.g. gloves, lab papers), the waste is to be placed in a red infectious bag. When full, the bag is transported to the designated area and boxed up in the hazard boxes.

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