The University has wide range of resources for safety education and training.

If your research involves working with chemical and physical hazards (e.g., lasers, ultra-violet light, electromagnetic radiation, sharps, equipment, moving parts etc.), biohazards, radioactive materials or the use of animals, you must receive the required approvals and training before you can begin your research activities.

Likewise, students who work with human subjects and data from human subjects must also follow appropriate rules and regulations and obtain the necessary training and approvals.

Students who use particular pieces of equipment for research should contact their Research Advisor or their designee to obtain training on safe and effective use.

Students should become familiar with the locations and use of the necessary safety and protective gear for each material, experiment or piece of equipment. Students should also find out where exits, first-aid kits, eye-washes, fire extinguishers, material safety data sets, spill kits, safety shower and other safety related resources are located in their laboratory.

Physical, Chemical & Biological Hazards

The Environmental Health and Safety department of the University offers resources related to safely working with physical hazards, chemicals and biohazards.

Environmental Health and Safety department usually provides annual safety “Right-to-Know” training sessions   in the Fall Semester that all students must attend. Your research may require additional certifications and training. Do not conduct the research if you are not formally approved to handle the materials involved in the experiments. If in doubt, err on the side of safety and consult with your Research Advisor and Environment Health and Safety.

Students are reminded that they should pay particular attention to what experimental materials may or may not be safely disposed in the trash or emptied in the drain/sink. The rules at University at Buffalo may be more stringent and different from the other Institutions you may have attended.

Students should become familiar with the specific policies and procedures regarding the storage and disposal of chemical, biohazardous material and waste and sharps before conducting any experiment that generates any quantity of such waste.

Radioactive Materials  & Radiation Safety 

The Environmental Health and Safety department also offers training, education resources related to the safe handling, storage and disposal of radioactive materials.

The Radiation Safety Program provides a radiation protection program that is in accordance with the rules, regulations, licenses and permits issued by the New York State Department of Health, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the safe use of radioactive materials and radiation producing equipment at the University at Buffalo.

All individuals (students included) using radioactive materials must receive New User Orientation   and approval prior to using radioactive materials. The candidate must submit an "Application to Use Radioactive Material" (RMA-2 pdf form) to Environmental Health and Safety to initiate the Associate Investigator process . Annual re-training in radiation safety is required for all individuals who work with radioactive materials.

The student’s Research Advisor is principally responsible for obtaining the requisite radioactive material use approvals for research projects. Students who are found in violation of radioactive material protocols, engaging in unsafe/unethical practices and those conducting research without the required training and certification may be dismissed from the program.

Animal Use

The use of animals in research is closely regulated and managed at the University at Buffalo in compliance with State and Federal laws.

All experimental protocols involving animals must be previously approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). No project may begin or animals purchased until approval has been granted by the IACUC.

From the IACUC web site: “Federal regulations require that anyone working with laboratory animals have appropriate training and/or experience with the species and specific procedures to be performed, and include the basic needs of each species; proper handling and care; proper pre and post procedural care; aseptic surgical methods and procedures; proper use of analgesics; anesthetics, and tranquilizers; and the concept, availability and use of research and testing methods that limit the use of animals or minimize animal distress. This includes Principal investigators, technicians, research fellows, students, and visiting scientists. Principal investigators who may not work directly with animals but supervise an animal use project are required to have animal care and use training.”

The Pharmacy Building Laboratory Animal Facility requires all personnel working with animals to attend an orientation to the facility. This is a pre-requisite for obtaining card access to the facility. Students should not provide unauthorized individuals card access to the Laboratory Animal Facility.

The Laboratory animal facility offers hands-on training at the beginning of each semester and before the summer school session.

The student’s Research Advisor is principally responsible for obtaining the requisite animal use approvals for research projects. Students who are found in violation of animal use protocols, IACUC policies, engaging in unsafe/unethical practices at the Laboratory Animal Facilities and those conducting research without the required training and certification may be dismissed from the program.

Human Subjects 

All experiments involving human subjects must be conducted after obtaining approval from the appropriate Institutional Review Board.

The Human Subjects Institutional Review Board (HSIRB) reviews biomedical projects that involve adults/

The Children & Youth Institutional Review Board (CYIRB) reviews research proposals received from University at Buffalo investigators involving the health and well being of children.

The Social and Behavioral Sciences Institutional Review Board reviews protocols involving social and behavioral research.

The student’s Research Advisor is principally responsible for obtaining the requisite approvals for research projects involving human subjects. However, students should not be involved in research that is in violation of the approved protocols or engage in research activities without obtaining the necessary approvals.

Students who are found in violation of human subjects protocols, policies, engaging in unethical practices and those conducting research without the required training, certification and approval may be dismissed from the program.

Data Safety

Occasionally your research may involve handling of confidential or proprietary information and or protected information from human subjects. It is your responsibility to obtain guidance from your research advisor and necessary training on the how these data must be handled. Do not leave confidential data on unprotected computer screens, flash drives and other non-secure locations.

The student will be held responsible if privacy/data security is compromised or if data is disseminated as a result of their actions or negligence.