Information for Group Safety Representatives (GSR)

The DownloadETH Zurich biosafety concept (PDF, 574 KB)vertical_align_bottom contains detailed information on the regulation of Biosafety levels (BSL) 1, 2 and 3 activities at ETH Zurich.

Are you planning work with genetically modified organisms (GMOs), pathogens, invasive/foreign organisms and/or with samples of human origin such as blood or cell cultures?
The activities mentioned (BSL1 and 2) must be reported to the federal authorities in accordance with the Swiss Ordinance on the Contained Use of Organisms (ESV); without official notification, such activities may not be carried out at ETH Zurich. To register in the database, please contact must be drawn up. For BSL3 activities, an official licence is required in advance. Please contact during the planning phase.
Work with samples of human origin (usually BSL2) must be assessed by the ETH Zurich Ethics Commission. For such activities, we recommend that you be vaccinated against hepatitis A and B. Please note that, for safety reasons, it is forbidden to use your own blood; likewise, taking blood samples from other members of the same working group should be avoided if possible. It is best to use tested blood from the blood bank.
For biosafety-relevant work with plants, special regulations and safety measures apply in some cases, which are defined in official enforcement aids. Analogous regulations also exist for corresponding work with animals; here, the animal welfare officers of ETH Zurich must also be consulted.
ETH Zurich does not have a general import licence for biological materials it is not needed for most human pathogenic and genetically modified substances. If you do require an import licence, e.g., because the supplier insists on it, because the substances fall under the Goods Control Ordinance or are considered biological weapons under the War Material Act, you must apply for it yourself to the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) or the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO). As the applicant, you bear the costs of issuing the document. The regulations and forms applicable to the import of animal pathogenic substances and material of animal origin can be found on the FSVO website.

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Areas with special hazards (e.g., chemistry lab, workshop, bio lab, chemical cabinet, gas bottle cabinet, etc.) and those that require special protective measures (e.g., laser safety goggles, safety goggles, hearing protection, etc.) must be marked accordingly

Do you need hazard labels, warning notices, mandatory signs? Browse our «DownloadCatalogue (PDF, 1.4 MB)vertical_align_bottom» and order them at .

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You work with hydrofluoric acid, with nanomaterials, with ethidium bromide, with a chemical with acute or chronic toxicity, with a caustic chemical, a flammable solvent or with a chemical that is new to you? You have questions about the safe handling, about the required personal protective equipment, about storage etc.? You want to install a new gas in your lab and do not know if gas detection is required? You work with a 3D printer and are not sure if ventilation is necessary? You are the safety officer for your lab and have read the safety datasheet for a chemical but still have questions?
For any of these or other questions about a chemical, a test setup, technical measures, or safety in your lab, contact .
Cytostatics are medications that inhibit cell growth, the main target being all tumor cell fractions that are in cell division. In case of exposure, mutagenic, reproduction toxic and carcinogenic side effects are possible. Depending on the classification, hormones, monoclonal antibodies and other substances are counted among the cytostatics.
There are special requirements for working with cytostatics. Contact for more information .
Lab coats need to be washed periodically, but not in a normal washing machine. ETH Zurich offers a Downloadlaundry service for lab coats (PDF, 180 KB)vertical_align_bottom in cooperation with Herrera Laundry.

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Do you work with a class 3B or 4 laser? Then you must appoint a , the section BUSS is glad to assist you

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Do you work in the field of medical technology and develop technical devices for use on patients, such as infusion pumps, pacemakers, dialysis machines, or prosthetic devices of all types?
For questions, e.g. on product safety or materials to be used, or for advice on your work procedures, please contact us.

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The supply of narcotics in Switzerland is regulated by the Narcotics Act (BetmG) and the Narcotics Control Ordinance (BetmKV). Institutions involved in scientific research may be granted a licence by the relevant cantonal authority to cultivate, acquire, store and use narcotics to the extent required for their own needs. Within ETH Zurich, a separate licence is required for each organisational unit (research group, platform, etc.). The organisational units shall appoint a person in charge of the controlled substances and entrust him/her with the following tasks:

• Ordering
  
• Internal organisation
  
• Storage
  
• Issuance
  
• Control

Compliance with these legal provisions is essential for the organisational units of ETH Zurich that want to obtain narcotics. Both those who already work with narcotics and those who are new to it are required to appoint a person in charge and obtain the necessary licence. A licence for scientific institutions is generally valid for 5 years and costs CHF 250. These costs are borne by the respective organisational unit. For logical reasons, the respective executive of the organisational unit is usually appointed as the person in charge, as this is the person who bears the responsibility.

Work with narcotics is only permitted after a licence has been granted by the Cantonal Office for Therapeutic Product Control. The responsible professor or supervisor is responsible for obtaining the licence. Employees who handle narcotics comply with the legal regulations and follow the instructions of the person in charge.

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Working with ionizing radiation, e.g. with radioactive materials of a particular activity and/or X-ray instruments, is subject to authorization. In addition, a radiation protection officer who has received training approved by the Swiss Federal Department of Public Health (FOPH) must be appointed.
To apply for a permit, temporarily carry out research with radiation exposure abroad or if you have any general questions about radiation protection, please contact Dr. Silke Kiesewetter.

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In accordance with Article 8 of the Verordnung über die Verhütung von Unfällen und Berufskrankheiten, VUV (Ordinance on the Prevention of Accidents and Occupational Diseases), employers can only assign tasks that involve special hazards to employees who are appropriately trained. In addition, employers must arrange for an employee to be supervised if the employee is performing hazardous tasks alone. The basic principle is that working alone is not permissible if the work can lead to an injury that requires the immediate assistance of a second person. This applies in particular in the following cases (the list is not exhaustive):

Work where constant supervision by a second person is mandatory (regardless of the time of day):

• Work on live electrical installations
  
• Work involving running bodies of water
  
• Work in thermotechnical installations, tall chimneys and connecting ducts
  
• Work in containers and confined spaces
  
• Work in shafts, pipelines, pits and sewers
  
• When entering and working in silos
  
• Work in underground mining structures, in rock strata containing natural gas
  
• Work with radiation sources outside irradiation areas
  
• Work with compressed air and respiratory protection
  
• Deconstruction or demolition work
  
• Rope access work
  
• Work with rope protection (fall arrest system)
  
• Forestry work with special hazards, e.g., work with chainsaws, work in steep terrain, logging, climbing trees
  
• Work on train tracks
  
• Work on electrical towers

Work that may only be carried out within eyeshot and earshot of other people (regardless of the time of day):

• Work on technical systems in special operation, e.g., installing, rectifying faults, maintenance work
  
• Work in usually inaccessible and unsecured hazard areas
  
• Work with a risk of being caught by rotating parts and tools
  
• Work with chemicals or laboratory glassware
  
• Climbing higher than 3 m

Requirements for persons working alone: they must be

• Mentally and intellectually suited to working alone (danger awareness!)
  
• Physically suited to working alone
  
• Of age

At ETH Zurich, there is the possibility of coming into contact with hazards at various study and work spaces. Since it cannot always be assumed that a second person is within eyeshot or earshot outside normal working hours, the requirements for working alone must be complied with accordingly. This means that without the presence of another person or a suitable alarm system, none of the work which has a higher risk potential and which is prohibited according to the above list may be carried out on principle. Routine work where the exact procedure is known or work processes involving hazardous substances or equipment where personal injury is prevented by appropriate technical or structural measures may be carried out alone. The corresponding guidelines must therefore be specified in writing, either in general or specific to the study or work space. To assess the need for monitoring persons working alone and to determine the appropriate monitoring system, please contact

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The general principle is that safety precautions must be taken against falling at heights of over two meters. Even a ladder that allows you to climb to a height of over two meters makes you a rope access technician!
Whenever possible, collective protection measures are taken against falls, e.g. scaffolds, railings, aerial platforms, safety nets, etc. For repair work, installation or maintenance work, it is not always possible to use such equipment. In these cases, personal protective equipment (PPE) against falls from heights must be used.
Working with rope protection is considered “work involving special hazards”. PPE against falls may only be used by specially trained and qualified persons. Training must be taken at least over the course of one day. Working at heights may never be performed alone.

The most important tasks and responsibilities regarding work at height are the “8 vital rules” of SUVA:

• Only using rope protection if no collective protection measures such as fall arrest nets or lateral protection are technically possible
  
• Only working with rope protection if they feel able and are trained to do so
  
• Inspecting their PPE for obvious damage before and after each use
  
• Discussing with the person in charge (e.g., lecturer, practical course/excursion instructor, supervisor) which safety system is suitable for the work assignment and always using their PPE correctly
  
• Securing themselves exclusively at anchor points that the person in charge (e.g., lecturer, practical course/excursion instructor, supervisor) has determined in advance
  
• Adjusting the harness and helmet to the body and ensuring that they fit optimally
  
• Only using fixed ladders with fall arrest systems if they are specifically trained and equipped for this purpose and always using the slide/carriage that matches the fall arrest system
  
• Never working alone when they secure themselves with PPE. Discussing the rescue concept with the person in charge (e.g., lecturer, practical course/excursion instructor, supervisor) before starting work

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