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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