Lab Safety Training

Spring Schedule (February–April)

Summer Schedule (June–July)

OSHA Lab Safety training, RCRA Hazardous Waste Management training, and C-14 Certificate of Fitness training are all offered monthly. For information regarding other trainings such as Radiation Safety, please contact us at ehos@ccny.cuny.edu .

Radiation Refresher Training is offered on an annual basis by CUNY Central via Zoom. It is advised that all authorized users of radioactive material attend this three-hour training. Schedules have not been published but are anticipated near the start of 2027.

Through the City University of New York, online trainings have been made available for Biosafety and Animal Care workers in labs on the City College campus. Please use the guide developed by EHOS to register for an account through CITI. For specific guidance on which trainings are required for your area of work, please contact EHOS via email. Individuals working with biological materials are recommended to take the Initial Biosafety Training course, as detailed in the following document: CITI Biosafety Training Advisory.

The City of New York Fire Department (FDNY) requires that all non-production chemical laboratories require an individual holding a Certificate of Fitness (COF) for Non-Production Chemical Laboratories (C-14) to be present at all times during operation. The certificate is valid only at a specific location and for the specific person to whom it is issued. 

A non-production chemical laboratory is a building or portion of a building where chemicals or gases are stored, handled or used on a non-production basis for testing, research, experimental, instructional or educational purposes. A lab is considered to be in operation when it is open and a chemical that requires a COF is being handled or used. All labs must be built to specifications set by the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB).

Persons applying for a new C-14 COF must first attend a training session given by the EHOS team. See ‘2025 EHOS TRAINING SCHEDULES’ above for current schedules.

Details about the steps required after training to obtain the C-14 certification are at the Certificate of Fitness page.

It is best advised to renew the C-14 certification before the expiration date. If more than one year has elapsed since the expiration date shown on the certification, please follow the instructions in the previous section for applying for a new COF.

The renewal process is described in an excerpt to the C-14 Certificate of Fitness Application Guide. You will not have to take additional training sessions for a renewal.

If there are any questions regarding your application, please call (212-650-5080) or email ehos@ccny.cuny.edu .

Fire extinguishers should be certified according to the tags attached by an approved fire safety company. In addition, City College staff should check fire extinguishers on a monthly basis to confirm that they are in operable condition according to the following criteria:

• Pin is in place
• Dial is pointing to green area
• Canister is intact

Avoid using electrical strips as a permanent fixture or 'daisy-chaining' power strips together. This poses a fire hazard if the capacity of chained power strips or wires are different.
Wires should not cross the path of hallways or go between lab benches.
Electrical panels in any room should have at least 3 feet of clearance for maintenance or emergency access.