HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR GRANTEES AND CONTRACTORS NIH GUIDE, Volume 21, Number 14, April 10, 1992 P.T. 34 Keywords: SCIENCE PLANNING/POLICY Health & Safety Standards, Environ Occupational Health and Safety National Institutes of Health Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration This notice is a republication, with modifications, of previous issuances on this subject. It is being reissued to emphasize its continuing importance. Organizations receiving grant or contract awards are responsible for protecting their personnel from hazardous conditions, while the Government, generally is not legally liable for accidents, illnesses, or liability claims arising out of research performed under its awards. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration (ADAMHA) are nonetheless concerned that a variety of hazards may threaten the safety and health of both laboratory and clinical research personnel. Accordingly, the publications listed below are designed to help identify potential hazards and inform awardee organizations and investigators of certain guidelines and standards that should be considered in addressing particular health and/or safety concerns. It should be noted that significant concerns about potentially hazardous conditions could result in grant or contract funding delays until those concerns have been resolved to the satisfaction of the awarding component. 1. Types of potential hazards to research personnel include the following: a. Biohazards (e.g., Human Immunodeficiency Virus, HIV; other infectious agents; oncogenic viruses). b. Chemical hazards (e.g., carcinogens; chemotherapeutic agents; other toxic chemicals; flammable or explosive materials). c. Radioactive materials. 2. The following guidelines and standards contain information designed to assist grantees and contractors in assessing potential hazards and providing a safe work environment for research personnel. Therefore, depending upon the particular safety hazard at issue, one or more of these documents should be consulted by grantees or contractors. (Items a through h). a. Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health, HHS Publication No. (CDC) 88- 8395. b. Recommendations for Prevention of HIV Transmission in Health-Care Settings. Morbidity and Mortality Report, August 21, 1987, Vol. 35, No. 2S. c. Update: Universal Precautions for Prevention of Transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Hepatitis B Virus, and Other Bloodborne Pathogens in Health-Care Settings. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, June 24, 1988, Vol. 37, No. 24. d. NIH Guidelines for the Laboratory Use of Chemical Carcinogens, NIH Publication No. 81-2385. Single copies of the above documents (Items a through d) may be obtained from: Division of Safety (9/91) Office of Research Services National Institutes of Health Building 31, Room 1C02 Bethesda, MD 20892 Additional copies to be purchased at a cost of $3.75/copy through: Government Printing Office Superintendent of Documents Washington, DC 20402 Stock# 17-40-508-3 e. Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules (49 FR 46266 or latest revision) and Administrative Practices Supplement. These guidelines may be obtained from: Office of Recombinant DNA Activities, National Institutes of Health, Building 31, Room 4B11, Bethesda, MD 20892. f. Procedures for the Domestic Handling and Transport of Diagnostic Specimens and Etiologic Agents, National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards, July 17, 1985, Vol. 5, No. 1. These procedures may be obtained from: National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards, 771 East Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA 19085. g. Standards issued pursuant to the National Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 CFR Part 1910). Copies may be obtained from: Occupational Safety and Health Administration National Training Institute Building 1555 Times Drive Des Plaines, Il 60018 h. Standards issued pursuant to the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 USC 2021). Contact Regional Office of Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The following materials also are recommended and may be purchased from: National Academy Press 2102 Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20418 A. Prudent Practices for Handling Hazardous Chemicals in the Laboratory. Price $19.95 B. Prudent Practices for the Disposal of Chemicals from the Laboratory. Price $19.95 C. Biosafety in the Laboratory: Prudent Practices for Handling and Disposal of Infectious Materials. Price $29.95 3. Identification of Hazards a. Preaward Grant and cooperative agreement (hereafter will be referred to grant(s)) applications and contract proposals posing special hazards typically are identified in the review process, but such concerns can formally be expressed by agency staff or consultants at any time prior to award. If these hazards are not addressed, the awarding component must ascertain how the special hazards will be handled or the grant/contract funding could be delayed until the matter has been resolved to the satisfaction of the awarding component. b. Postaward Grant Mechanism: The grantee must inform the awarding component of the nature and extent of the hazard, as well as the corrective action(s) taken or planned to prevent future occurrence. If the hazard is not adequately controlled, it may create a danger and adversely impact the activities being funded so that it impinges upon progress, efficient and effective management of resources, and research findings. The adverse impact may cause the grantee to materially fail to comply with the terms of the grant. This may lead the awarding office to take postaward action, including suspension or termination of the grant, in order to resolve the situation. (See 45 CFR 74.113 et seq. and the appeal rights set forth in 42 CFR Part 50, subpart D and 45 CFR Part 16) Postaward action also may be necessary if the application had addressed the issue of special hazards but the grantee does not adequately control the special hazards as was indicated in the application. Contract Mechanism: Special hazards that are identified after an award is made may lead to suspension or termination of work under the contract pending corrective action by the contractor. (See 48 CFR 12.5 concerning contract "stop work" orders and the Clause at 48 CFR Part PHS 352.223-70, Safety and Health (APR 1984). .
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