Pre-Authorizations for Hazardous Materials and Equipment

UC Berkeley has regulatory driven policies in place regarding specified types of hazardous materials, including chemical and biological materials. At Bakar Bio Labs we follow those policies and have a few additional requirements that conform to our building design and laboratory configurations. 

There are two categories of items, Sensitive Items and Prohibited Items:

A. Sensitive items: These MAY be possible that require either a formal EH&S Program review and approval, such as a BUA or other similar types of permission. Follow the link provided to learn more about the BUA process.

Examples of biological agents that require oversight include:

• Recombinant nucleic acids

• Synthetic nucleic acids

• Material of human or non-human primate origin, including cell lines

• Mammalian cell culture

• Human-derived pluripotent stem cells, oocytes, or blastocysts

  • These must be reviewed and approved by SCRO (UC Berkeley Stem Cell Research Oversight Committee) prior to procurement.

• Bacteria (BSL-1)

• Biological Select Agents or Toxins

• Plant Pathogens or Noxious Weeds that require USDA or other agency permits

• Biological materials whose release may be deleterious to the environment

• WHO Risk Group 2 pathogens

Examples of non-biological items that require oversight include:

• All new instrumentation and equipment (besides personal computers)

  • Our Equipment at Bakar Bio Labs article goes into more detail on the process.

• Chemotherapeutics

• DEA List I and California precursor chemicals

  • These are commonly utilized in the illicit manufacture of controlled substances. Additional control measures are in place to restrict access to these chemicals, and prior written approval by EH&S is required.

• Class 3B or 4 unenclosed lasers.

  • These require review by the UC Berkeley Laser Safety Officer (LSO).

B. Prohibited items: These have no direct way to allow for use, and Bakar Labs generally lacks the appropriate infrastructure for working with these items. Submit a Freshdesk ticket before acquiring it to initiate EH&S review.

• Radioactive materials and x-ray machines

• Explosives

  • Examples of explosive chemicals include (but not limited to) ethylene glycol dinitrate, benzoyl peroxide (97%) (dry), 1-hydroxy-7-azabenzotriazole (HOAt), 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBt), Tetrazole, Picrylsulfonic acid / 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS), 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), Pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) Nitramine.

  • Some chemicals are typically stable except under certain storage conditions. While not explicitly prohibited, caution should be used when handling and storing these materials. Never acquire these secondhand and dispose of them when expired. Examples include (but not limited to) peroxide-forming chemicals (such as ethers), hydrated picric acid that becomes dry, sodium amide that reacts with air or moisture, certain alkyl nitrates that become contaminated with nitrogen oxides, certain normally stable perchlorates that become unstable at elevated temperatures, and nitrogen-rich chemicals (e.g. sodium azide, aluminum azide, 1,2,3-triazole).

• Pyrophoric materials (ignite spontaneously on contact with air)

  • Examples include (but not limited to) t-butyl lithium, sodium methoxide, sodium or potassium metal, finely divided metal (e.g. aluminum, chromium, zinc), Aluminum borohydride, diethylzinc, diborane, phosphine, silane.

• Toxic gases or materials that could produce toxic gas

  • Examples include (but not limited to) hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride, carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, chlorine, ammonia, fluoroboric acid, and anything with the following hazard codes: H330 or H331.

• Live animals

• Biological toxins

• Transgenic animals

• DEA Schedule I-V controlled substances are prohibited.