Principal Investigators (PIs) have many responsibilities. As a Principal Investigator at the NIH, you should:
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Register to work with biological materials and recombinant DNA materials.
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Ensure that all of your employees have proper training. All employees need to take annual Laboratory Safety Training. Employees who work with certain biological materials need to have annual Bloodborne Pathogen Training.
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Contact your Safety Specialist before you renovate a laboratory or move a laboratory. This includes minor renovations such as replacing a sink or countertop.
All supervisors of minors in the laboratory need to review this guidance document to ensure that minors are not exposed to certain hazardous materials while working in NIH laboratories. As stated by the Deputy Director of Intramural Research, Dr. Michael Gottesman's Memorandum Summer Students and Laboratory Safety, "One of the most important roles we fill when introducing summer students to NIH laboratories is to demonstrate that safety is an integral part of planning and conducting science." For example, all students should be appointed under an approved hiring authority. Of special concern are those students who are under the age of 18- minors.
Please be aware that minors are prohibited from working with specific materials and that they are prohibited from working in specific areas. For example, minors may not work with:
In addition, should there be the need, report all accidents and promptly seek proper medical care from the Occupational Medical Service (OMS). Minors may need to receive pre-placement medical evaluations from the OMS, depending on their assignment.
