Who needs GLS training?
Prior to beginning any laboratory work, all USC staff, students, and affiliates/volunteers are required to take the General Laboratory Safety Training (GLS) offered by EH&S.
NOTE: Volunteers are required to complete the Volunteer Agreement fill-able form and return it to the host department/Principal Investigator. Minors/high school students – see requirements in Minors in Labs/Shops.
When is GLS offered and how do I enroll?
GLS training is offered in the following venues and time frame:
- A self-directed online training module at Trojan Learn, available 24/7. It is a practical and convenient alternative to the in-person (Zoom) training.
- In-person (Zoom) training, offered monthly. To see dates/times when the In-person (Zoom) GLS training is offered and register, go to the Training Registration web page and click the General Lab Safety (GLS) checkbox. Then click the down arrow of the GLS Course Date/Time list box to select a convenient date/time. Complete the remaining fields and click Submit.
If you have any questions, concerns, or would like to cancel your training registration, please contact the EH&S Safety Training team at safetytraining@usc.edu.
What is GLS Meet & Greet and is it required?
The GLS Meet and Greet is a workshop that:
- Introduces new USC researchers to EH&S Research Safety staff.
- Promotes the exchange of safety information, anecdotes, or experiences between colleagues.
- Connects researchers with EH&S staff to assist in addressing questions or concerns.
GLS participants who complete the initial General Lab Safety Training (online or Zoom) must attend a Meet and Greet session. This is a one-time requirement. To see dates/times when the Meet and Greet session is offered and register, go to the Training Registration web page and click the GLS Meet & Greet checkbox. Then click the down arrow of the GLS Meet & Greet Date/Time list box to select a convenient date/time. Complete the remaining fields and click Submit.
If you have any questions, concerns, or would like to cancel your training registration, please contact the EH&S Safety Training team at safetytraining@usc.edu.
GLS Topics
The GLS training covers various topics including but not limited to:
- Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP)
- Hazard Communication and “Employee Right to Know”
- Classes of hazardous materials
- How to work with different classes of hazardous materials safely
- Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
- Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
- Labeling and signage
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- General fire safety and emergency procedures
- How to manage laboratory waste
Undergraduates Attending Instructional Laboratories
Undergraduates attending instructional laboratories as part of their academic program are not required to attend GLS training, although they may attend voluntarily. This is due to instructional labs being closely supervised and only containing low-level and well-controlled hazards. It is strongly recommended that undergraduate lab managers and teaching assistants (TAs) attend GLS training.
It is the responsibility of Departments running teaching labs to provide appropriate safety information and training to undergraduates attending the labs. This training may be provided via the responsible PI and teaching lab instructor, and be broadly overseen by the Department or School Safety Committee. This type of training may be accomplished through a combination of written safety instructions, in-person safety training given at the beginning of the lab course, refresher safety talks, and safety exercises (e.g., having to look up and compare safety data sheets (SDS)).
Minors in Labs/Shops
Minors/high school students must complete GLS training and have the USC Parent Consent Form completed, signed, and returned to their USC research advisors before beginning any laboratory work. Consult the following resources for more information and additional requirements for working with minors: