The Department of Research Safety is committed to supporting the education and training of fledgling scientists by stewardship of the Safety of Minors in Research Laboratories Program. The University of Kentucky (UK) hosts a robust and ever-expanding scientific research program with hundreds of laboratories that store and/or utilize an array of hazardous materials as part of their work. The Safety of Minors in Research Laboratories Program and its policy allow for the performance of hazard identification and risk assessment by Research Safety staff for a wide variety of projects minor students actively conduct or observe with mentorship and guidance of university researchers. Completion of this program’s requirements is crucial in ensuring that standard operating procedures, appropriate safety practices, and online training are documented and in place before minor students can begin work in these spaces.
Timely approval for submitted applications for this program requires the cooperation of the minor student (and student’s guardian), the administrative official(s) of the sponsored program (i.e., school internship coordinator), the Principal Investigator or Laboratory Supervisor of the project’s laboratory or location, and the Department of Research Safety.
Scope: This policy applies to persons under the age of 18, whether a visiting high school student, employee, or volunteer, conducting research or taking part in activities as part of a sponsored project, in all University of Kentucky research or clinical laboratories, greenhouses, farm properties, animal facility, procedure or housing spaces, and field lab/work locations.
Minors under the age of 14 are not permitted inside of any of these University of Kentucky locations unless as part of an official UK sponsored program, tour, or event (i.e., science fair) designed for youth under the age of 14 for which documented safety policies have been established. For information about university-sponsored programs, please visit: https://www.uky.edu/administrativeservices/minors-campus
Enrolled UK students under 18 working in a university laboratory are not required to complete this process. Safety training and hazard assessments for these individuals shall be completed as part of UK Research Safety’s routine teaching and research laboratory oversight processes.
All persons under 18 are prohibited from specific listed activities, under federal and state child labor laws. Principal Investigators, students, and their guardians shall inform themselves as to what is allowable within the scope of activities and materials used in the proposed project and hosting laboratory. All minor students and their guardians should understand the risks involved in all proposed work and how those risks are minimized. Read the list of prohibited activities by minors here, using UK Linkblue credentials.
Click the links below for additional information.