USC employees are required to take one or more safety training courses depending on the type of work they perform. The safety training courses provided by EH&S are categorized and listed below – see Training Courses.
Additionally, USC offices/departments (e.g., Office of Compliance, Office of Research, or Contracts and Grants) require the completion of specific safety courses for compliance – see Additional Training Requirements.
Training Courses
Lab Safety
Annual Safety Refresher (ASR)
The Annual Safety Refresher must be provided to research staff by the Principal Investigator (PI) or designee and must include specific safety topics.
Resources
Participants are required to renew their training annually.
Controlled Substances (CST)
All controlled substance (Sch I-V) users at USC are required to complete the online Controlled Substances Training on Trojan Learn.
Participants are required to renew their training every 3 years.
General Lab Safety (GLS)
The GLS course covers hazardous materials, lab hazards, engineering and administrative controls, personal protective equipment, and hazardous waste management. Anyone working in USC laboratories must attend.
This is a one-time requirement.
High school students must complete the course and provide a signed USC Parent Consent Form to their USC research advisors prior to working in USC laboratories.
GLS Meet & Greet
The GLS Meet & 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.
Principal Investigator Safety Management
PIs that manage areas or labs that have chemicals, biologicals, radioactive materials or equipment, controlled substances, animals, or any other hazardous materials or hazardous equipment are required to complete this training. The training:
- Articulates safety responsibilities as a Principal Investigator.
- Helps create and implement a healthy and safe working environment.
- Advises on best safety practices and procedures
This is a one-time requirement.
Biosafety
Animal Biosafety Level 2 (ABSL-2)
All animal researchers who administer chemical or biohazardous substances to experimental animals are required to complete the ABSL 2 training.
Participants are required to renew their training every 3 years.
Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP)
Anyone working with or who has the potential to be exposed to human or non-human primate blood, blood products, cell lines, bodily fluids, or other potentially infectious materials must attend.
Participants are required to renew their training annually.
Bloodborne Pathogens Refresher
BBP Refresher may be completed:
- In-house by the PI as part of the Annual Safety Refresher. Use the checklist as a guide. OR
- Via the Bloodborne Pathogen and Aerosol Transmitted Disease Online Training as assigned by the PI.
Resources
- Visit the Annual Laboratory Safety Refresher web page for details.
- Bloodborne Pathogen and Aerosol Transmitted Disease on Trojan Learn >>
Participants are required to renew their training annually.
Principles of Biosafety (BIO)
This course covers safe practices for handling and containment of biological materials including human blood, human pathogens, recombinant DNA, and biological toxins.
Participants are required to renew their training every 3 years.
Shipment of Biological Materials and/or Dry Ice (BHS)
Learn steps for proper shipping of biosamples.
Participants are required to renew their training every two years.
Viral Vector Training (VVT)
Viral Vector (VVT) and BSL-2+ Training identify safety concerns for research involving the use of viral vectors and advises on the appropriate safety precautions and best practices to implement inside a BSL-2+ laboratory.
Participants are required to renew their training every 3 years.
Rad Safety
Irradiator Training (IRR)
This is a “hands-on” training designed to familiarize users with the irradiator, its safety protocols, and best practices. NOTE: Complete the X-ray Safety Training in Trojan Learn prior to attending Irradiator Training.
This is a one-time requirement.
Laser Safety (LAS)
The course covers laser classification, safe work practices, and personal protective equipment (PPE). All laser operators are required to attend.
Radiation Safety
The course covers radioactive materials (RAM), radiation sources, safe work practices, personal protective equipment (PPE), and radioactive waste management. Anyone working with or has the potential to be exposed to radiation or radioactive materials must attend.
This is a one-time requirement.
Radiation Safety Refresher
This is an online refresher of topics covered in the main Radiation Safety course.
Participants are required to renew their training annually.
X-ray Safety
This Trojan Learn safety course is designed for faculty, staff, students, and volunteers working with X-ray and other radiation-producing devices at USC. Contact Radiation Safety at radsafety@usc.edu to request an in-person training.
Participants are required to renew their training annually.
Occupational Safety
Cart Safety Training
T8CCR §3668 requires all utility cart operators be trained and certified. Cart operator certification can be obtained by completing the USC Cart Safety Training.
This is a one-time requirement.
General Shop Safety
This training introduces learners to the Universal Shop Safety Rules and participation in a Culture of Safety.
Participants are required to renew their training annually.
Hazard Communication (HazCom)
The HazCom training broadly covers employer and employee responsibilities when working with hazardous substances, the globally harmonized system to classify and label hazardous substances, safe handling and storage of hazardous substances, and appropriate emergency responses to leaks and spills of hazardous substances.
Participants are required to renew their training annually.
Heat Illness Prevention
This online training discusses heat illness (e.g., heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat syncope, and heat stroke) and ways to guard against it. All employees that work outdoors or in other spaces where environmental risk factors for heat illness are present are required to complete the training.
Participants are required to renew their training annually.
Injury and Illness Prevention
CAL/OSHA requires that every employer establish, implement, and maintain an effective Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP). This required training will help USC employees understand the importance of an IIPP and the various roles necessary for maintaining a safe and healthy work environment.
Participants are required to renew their training annually.
Workplace Violence Prevention
This course introduces USC’s Workplace Violence Prevention Plan to employees, guiding them on how to access and understand the plan. This training will cover:
- The USC Workplace Violence Plan and its parts.
- Definitions.
- Roles and Responsibilities.
- How to report workplace violence.
- The Violent Incident Log and how to access it.
This training fulfills initial and annual training for all USC employees in non-healthcare settings.
Curso de información sobre el Plan de Prevención de la Violencia en el Lugar de Trabajo >>
NOTE: Live Zoom sessions may be cancelled, combined, or rescheduled as needed. Register for sessions at the Registration web page.
Additional Training Requirements
Visit the Research Training Finder web page to determine specific safety training requirements for the roles and responsibilities (e.g., PI, technician, administrative staff) that support research at USC.
NOTE: To generate all required safety courses, fill in the Who Are You? and Your Responsibilities fields.
The web page also describes additional recommended training offerings that are available.