Lab Access
Undergraduate students with work and class conflicts may request access to Undergraduate
Health Professions (UHP) research laboratories after hours, from 5 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Access is granted on a limited basis only when such scheduling conflicts prevent the
student's laboratory participation during normal business hours.
The laboratory's principle investigator is to verify a student’s need for after-hours
access, determined on a case-by-case basis in consultation with Augusta University
Environmental Health and Safety. Per prudent laboratory practice, undergraduate students
should not be alone in a laboratory environment after hours. If such is required,
the PI must implement measures to insure student safety, for example, a buddy-system,
supervision by another laboratory member (not necessarily the PI), or a call-in system.
The PI is responsible for student safety in laboratories.
Undergraduates may only engage in tasks or procedures that have minimal risk. The
PI, in consultation with Augusta University Environmental Health and Safety, will
carefully evaluate the work proposed for the least risk. Only minimal risk tasks are
to be performed without direct supervision. Higher risk tasks may only be performed
when supervision is present.
Undergraduate students must complete the following requirements to be granted after-hours
access to laboratories:
- Initial Chemical and Biological Safety Training (didactic format, 4-hour course; required
once)
- Annual Biological Safety Refresher Training (online; required annually after completion
of the Initial Training Course)
- Basic, Bloodborne Pathogen, Chemical Specific, and Hazardous Waste Right-to-Know Training
modules (online; Basic required once, the others annually.)
- Completion of the Laboratory Safety Checklist (provided during the Initial Training
Course; required once)
Undergraduate student access to research laboratories is important to the department's
mission. It is to be strictly supervised with appropriate oversight and monitoring
of student activities at all times.