Minors in Research Laboratories Policy

The concern of The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) for laboratory safety extends not only to employees and students but also to any persons visiting or participating in University laboratories, especially minors (those under the age of 18), who may potentially be exposed to hazardous materials, including chemical, biological and radioactive materials, thermal dangers, compressed gases, electrical hazards, lasers, and sharp objects.

Children under the age of 12 are permitted in University research laboratories only when they are participants (subjects of study) in an approved research study; children under the age of 12 are not permitted in University research laboratories for any other reason. Laboratories must never be utilized as a substitute for day care or other child care options due to the risk presented to a child’s developing immune/neurological systems and a child’s general inability to recognize hazards. Violation of this rule by a University employee may lead to disciplinary action, including, but not limited to, termination.

Persons between the ages of 12 and 17 may visit research laboratories as observers as part of officially sanctioned educational programs for middle school, high school or college students or other supervised educational activities that have been approved in writing in advance by the Department Chair or designee. Visiting minors must be under the direct supervision of a University employee who is trained and knowledgeable of the area’s hazards. No minor shall be present during any activity with the potential for exposure to hazardous materials. Prior to allowing minor visitors to tour or observe in a lab, the supervising employee must conduct a basic safety orientation, including both general safety information and any hazards particular to the lab in question.

UNCG is committed to providing educational opportunities, when feasible, to minors ages 14-17 participating in officially sanctioned educational programs. Principal Investigators are allowed to have minors ages 14-17 participate in and perform educational activities and routine education-related duties in a research laboratory. However, minors may not perform duties where they are required to directly handle radioactive materials, materials at biosafety level 2 or higher (including rDNA, human blood, tissues or cell cultures, or pathogens) or research animals. Minors ages 14 to 17 may handle lower risk chemicals and biological materials in limited circumstances, with proper safety equipment as necessary, at the discretion of the principal investigator.

Before a minor may participate in educational activities in a research laboratory:

• The minor must be sponsored by a faculty member.
• The sponsoring faculty member must complete the “Minor Participating in Research Laboratory: Initial Laboratory Safety Plan Training Form” (PDF: requires a reader such as Adobe Reader).
• The sponsoring faculty member must complete the “Minor Research Laboratory Participant Agreement and Consent Form,” (PDF: requires a reader such as Adobe Reader) describing the activities the minor will perform and obtaining signatures from the principal investigator/faculty, department chair, direct supervisor of the minor, and a representative of the Office of Environmental Health and Safety. The completed form is kept on file with the relevant Laboratory Safety Plan and Department Chair.
• The minor and his/her parent or legal guardian must sign, before a witness or witnesses, the “Parent/Legal Guardian Agreement, Release and Consent for Emergency Medical Treatment in Connection with Activities in a Research Lab” (PDF: requires a reader such as Adobe Reader) and “Minor Agreement in Connection with Activities in Research Labs” (PDF: requires a reader such as Adobe Reader). These forms are also kept on file with the relevant Laboratory Safety Plan and Department Chair. One copy of the signed forms must be readily available in an emergency if the student is ill or injured so medical personnel may be shown the minor’s medical treatment consent.
• The minor must complete the following training:
  • the General Lab Safety Training Module.
  • The initial laboratory safety plan training and document the training using the form (Minor Participating in Research Laboratory: Initial Laboratory Safety Plan Training Form – PDF: requires a reader such as Adobe Reader).
  • Other training as indicated in the agreement.
• Minors must be under direct supervision in the laboratory at all times by a trained and knowledgeable University employee.
• Whenever possible, minors will be seeking high school and/or college credit for their activities.

Minors ages 14-17 who are enrolled as UNCG students may participate in research laboratory activities as part of their enrolled coursework. They will follow these same procedures.

The forms linked in this section are in PDF format and require a reader such as Adobe Reader.

• Minor Participating in Research Laboratory: Initial Laboratory Safety Plan Training Form
• Minor Research Laboratory Participant Agreement and Consent Form
• Minor Agreement in Connection with Activities in Research Labs
• Parent/Legal Guardian Agreement, Release and Consent for Emergency Medical Treatment in Connection with a Minor’s Activities in a Research Lab
• Environmental Health and Safety lab safety information

Vice Chancellor for Research and Engagement