NIH ORS Division of Occupational Health and Safety (DOHS) - Lab Equipment Support Services

In support of Intramural Research Program (IRP) scientists, DOHS provides training, consulting, and resources to ensure that laboratory equipment is used and maintained properly and safely. We provide expert safety and health consulting support for a variety of safety equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE). The primary means of laboratory safety include good laboratory practices and the use of containment equipment within the laboratory. Safety equipment includes biological safety cabinets (BSCs), chemical fume hoods (CFHs), PPE, and other controls designed to remove or minimize exposures to hazardous materials.

Services

Certification and Maintenance

• Biological safety cabinets
• Chemical fume hoods
• Horizontal laminar flow clean benches
• Animal care modules
• Local exhaust ventilation (i.e., downdraft tables and sinks, slot hoods, etc.)
• Other HEPA filtered devices
• Other local exhaust ventilation devices

Evaluation and Risk Assessment

• Non-ionizing radiation sources (i.e., high intensity magnets, including MRI and NMR devices and UV lamps)
• Oxygen monitoring devices
• Lasers
• Ethylene oxide surveillance
• Formaldehyde surveillance
• Waste anesthetic gas surveillance

Personal Protective Equipment

• Hearing protection devices
• Safety eyewear including prescription safety glasses
• Respiratory protection including respirator fit testing (as applicable)