Research Assistance

Safety and Research Compliance

Compliance with rules and regulations for risk management, environment, health, and safety is the responsibility of all persons involved in research activities at the University of Wyoming. This page of resources will help researchers determine which regulations apply and how to comply. Click on the terms below for more assistance.

More compliance topics (Animal Use, Conflict of Interest, Export Controls, Human Subjects, etc.) are addressed on the Office of Research and Economic Development Compliance page.

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Biological Hazards

Research using these hazards may require registration from the Institutional Biosafety Committee, following the procedures in the Registering Research with the Institutional Biosafety Committee document.

• Recombinant DNA  - Recombinant DNA molecules are defined as either: (i) molecules that are constructed outside living cells by joining natural or synthetic DNA segments to DNA molecules that can replicate in a living cell, or (ii) molecules that result from the replication of those described in (i) above.

• Biological Agents including attenuated vaccine strains - A microorganism such as a virus, bacterium, prion, or fungus, that causes disease in its animal or plant host including Select Agents.

• Biological Toxins - Any toxic substance that can be produced by microorganisms, animals and plants. Most biological toxins manifest acute effects, though a few produce long-term effects.

• Human Blood and other potentially infectious materials.

Chemical Hazards

To use any of the following chemical hazards, refer to the Chemical Hygiene program

• Acutely Toxic Chemicals and Gases  - Toxic and reactive highly hazardous chemicals which present a potential for a catastrophic event at or above a threshold quantity. (Excluding Biological Toxins, which are listed above)

• Nanoparticles or Nanotechnology  - Microscopic particles whose size is measured in nanometers. Nanotechnology is the manipulation of matter on a near-atomic scale to produce new structures, materials and devices.

• Pyrophoric, Water Reactive or Shock Sensitive materials  - Chemicals that will ignite spontaneously in air at a temperature of 130 deg. F (54.4 deg. C) or below.

• Select Carcinogens  - Any substance (excluding radionuclides or radiation, which are listed below) that is an agent directly involved in causing cancer.

Radiation Hazards

Research utilizing these hazards may require registration and/or permits under the Radiation Safety program

• Lasers (Type 3.B or 4) - Class 3B and 4 lasers (as classified under ANSI Z135.1-2007) can cause injuries to the eyes and skin, as well as fires, electrical and other hazards.

• Radioactive materials (byproduct material, special nuclear material, source material) - Includes sealed or unsealed unstable isotopes that are: 1) produced in nuclear reactors or accelerators; 2) artificially enriched special nuclear (fissionable) materials; or 3) discrete forms of radium or other natural radionuclides.

• X-rays or other equipment generating ionizing radiation  - Electronic sources of ionizing radiation (primarily x-rays) that are not radioactive materials covered above.

Regulated Waste Disposal

To dispose of many of the above hazards, refer to the Waste Management program