The NSRI Laboratory Safety Program: Ensuring Safety and Security in the Laboratory

The Natural Sciences Research Institute (NSRI) Safety Program was established in 1995, by the late Dr. Elma C. Llaguno, during her term as NSRI Director. Dr. Llaguno formed the first NSRI Safety Committee with the following members: Dr. Maria Auxilia T. Siringan, Chair and Biological Safety Officer (BSO) Ms. Charita S. Kwan, Chemical Safety Officer (CSO); Ms. Bellaflor Gonzales, Radiologic Safety Officer (RSO) and Mr. Leopoldo S. Nuñez, Building Security and Safety Officer (BSSO). The NSRI is the only institute in the University of the Philippines-Diliman which continuously implements a laboratory safety program, conducts a regular safety seminar and chemical waste management.

The program aims to orient NSRI-based research and laboratory personnel on the safety procedures implemented in the NSRI. The NSRI Safety Committee conducts the NSRI Safety Seminar twice a year. Attendance to the seminar is a prerequisite in working in the NSRI facilities.

The NSRI Safety Seminar aims to:

• provide information on potential laboratory hazards
• orient NSRI occupants on safety and building security policies, guidelines and procedures
• provide instructions on emergency procedures and
• encourage NSRI occupants to observe the NSRI Laboratory Safety
  Procedures.

Through the seminar, the following aspects of the NSRI Laboratory Safety Program are presented and discussed: general laboratory safety procedures, biological safety guidelines, chemical safety, chemical waste management program, proper handling of laboratory animals, fire safety and building security.

The institute has also served the UP community through the NSRI Safety Seminar. Among those who have been trained on laboratory safety include personnel, researchers and students from various constituent units of the College of Science (CS), College of Engineering, College of Home Economics and key government agencies.

Presently, the committee is composed of the following personnel:

• Dr. Maria Auxilia T. Siringan - Chair and Biological Safety Officer (BSO)
• Ms. Charita S. Kwan - Chemical Safety Officer (CSO)
• Mr. Vergel Valenzuela – Pollution Control Officer (PCO)
• Ms. Raquel O. Rubio – Resource Person for Animal Care and Handling
• Engr. Alvin Mallari – Electrical and Fire Safety Officer (EFSO)
• Mr. Eleazar S. Del Remedio - Building Administrator (BA)/Security Officer
• Mr. Adriele John Ilagan - Chemical Waste Management Associate

Chemical Waste Management Program of NSRI

Various chemical wastes are continuously generated from the research and technical laboratories of NSRI. If not managed properly, these can cause harm to people and the environment. Thus, a Chemical Waste Management Program (CWMP) has been put in place to ensure proper handling and disposal of these wastes for general safety and in compliance with RA 6969: Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Waste Control Act of 1990.

Since 2007, the CWMP of NSRI sustains the following activities: (1) management of the Chemical Exchange Program; and (2) collection and disposal of chemical wastes.

Chemical Exchange Program

The chemical exchange program basically aims to minimize waste generation by adopting excess or left-over chemicals that are still useable from the Institute’s funded researches and technical laboratories. These fostered chemicals are then made available for other UP and non- UP researchers at a much lower cost.

Click here (link to Chemical Exchange Program PDF file) for the procedure in availing the program and the list of available chemicals for exchange.

Collection and Disposal of Chemical Wastes

The chemical wastes generated by NSRI are diverse and low-volume. These wastes range from low toxic to high toxic chemicals. The CWMP has set forth protocols for classifying and segregating these chemicals to ensure proper handling and disposal of the wastes according to government regulations.

The chemical wastes would be classified and segregated following the procedure recommended by the U.S. National Research Council and from the guidelines used by the University of California Berkeley. For the storage and segregation guidelines, click here. (link to Chemical Storage and Compatibilty PDF file)

Upon proper identification and classification, the CWMP staff collects the wastes generated by projects and laboratories housed in NSRI only. Click here (link to Chemical Waste Classification and Collection PDF file) for the classification and collection guidelines. A DENR-accredited waste treater handles the treatment and final disposal of the collected toxic chemical wastes of NSRI.

Animal Care and Use

At the UP NSRI all researchers and students who use laboratory animals in their experiments are required to comply with the UP Diliman Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) requirements. They are likewise required to attend the Laboratory Animal Care and Use Seminar during the Safety Seminar conducted twice a year by the Institute before doing any experiment.

The UPD IACUC

The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) at UP Diliman is the institutional committee charged with reviewing and approving all protocols used on live animals for teaching and research including inspection of facilities. The IACUC's activities are mandated by the Animal Welfare Act of the Department of Agriculture. The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Development provides the administrative support required to assist the Committee's work to review, approve, and administer
those activities.

Personnel Qualifications and Training

The project leaders, advisers and teachers are responsible for the qualification and training of their students, researchers and technical personnel to ensure that they and the animals are not harmed.

Animal Rooms/Facilities

The design of the building/room should include appropriate lighting, ventilation and temperature. It must also take into consideration the caging density of animals, location and structural components of the building/room.

Animal Husbandry

Attention must be paid to food, water, bedding, sanitation, waste disposal, pest control as well as the physical and social environment of the animals. Monitoring of animals should be done daily to include weekends and holidays.