Chemical and Biological Safety
===============================

All lab members are expected to follow UTSW safety policies and complete any
required training before working independently with hazardous materials,
specialized equipment, or regulated shipping workflows.

Required training
-----------------

- Complete all mandatory safety and compliance modules assigned through UTSW.
- Refresh annual trainings on schedule when required by institutional policy.
- Do not assume that training from a previous institution satisfies local
  requirements at UTSW.

Daily expectations
------------------

- Use the PPE required for the materials, instruments, and spaces you are working in.
- Follow institutional procedures for sharps, chemical waste, and biohazard disposal.
- Make sure shared benches and equipment are left in a safe state for the next user.
- Do not operate specialized systems such as lasers or high-voltage instrumentation
  without the appropriate local training.

Shipping and decontamination
----------------------------

- Shipping biological materials requires the appropriate training and the correct
  packaging, labeling, and documentation.
- Equipment that has been exposed to biological, chemical, or radioactive
  materials must be decontaminated before surplus removal.

See :doc:`/working-at-utsw` for shipping, surplus, and broader institutional links.