ORS set to roll out ISIS

What is ISIS?
ORS is preparing to roll out Phase I of ISIS, the Integrated Safety Information System. ISIS will streamline the investigator-ORS interface by replacing the Safety Plan and many of the current paper-based processes.

Developed over the past year and a half in collaboration with the Office for Research Information Systems, ISIS is revolutionary in concept. It is a web-based application developed specifically to meet the needs of Northwestern University researchers. ISIS is not only a tool for data management; it is also a valuable educational resource for investigators and laboratory workers.

How does ISIS work?
Based on information provided by investigators and laboratory workers, ISIS will build a custom set of virtual forms including the various applications and registrations a PI may require. ISIS is flexible in that a PI can enter ISIS at any time to update data or complete a new form. Data entered by the PI will be available to both the PI and to ORS as reports or queries.

For what programs does ISIS collect data?
ISIS collects data in the following safety and compliance programs:

• bloodborne pathogens,
• exempt select agent toxins,
• work at biosafety levels 1, 2, and 3,
• recombinant DNA,
• compressed gases,
• controlled substances,
• hazardous chemicals,
• equipment alarms,
• animal use,
• hazardous materials shipping or receiving,
• personal protective equipment (PPE),
• physical hazards,
• laser equipment, and
• radioactive materials.

What forms and reports will be available in ISIS?
Depending on the work in a particular laboratory, ISIS will create a custom subset of the following forms and reports:

• Exposure Control Plan for human blood, blood products, and other potentially infectious human materials,
• Laboratory Safety Profile (a new report comprising some or all of the data in the animal use, compressed gases, equipment alarms, hazardous materials shipping or receiving, controlled substances, personal protective equipment, hazardous chemicals, biosafety level, and physical hazards sections),
• Laser Equipment Registration,
• RDNA Registration,
• Exempt Select Agent Toxin Registration, and
• Radiation forms including the Radioactive Materials Application, Add New Radionuclide Application, Increase Authorized Limit Application, Radioactive Materials Five-Year Review, Decrease Authorized Limit request, and Terminate Radioactive Material Authorization request.

What are the major changes in ORS programs?
Written Safety Plans will be discontinued. ISIS replaces the Safety Plan as the repository of all of a laboratory's unique safety and compliance data.

The Laboratory Annual Review (LAR) - the annual safety and compliance audit of a laboratory group - will become a cornerstone of ORS's research assistance program. The LAR will remain a supportive and educational safety and compliance audit. ISIS, plus the addition of more ORS resources, will ensure that ORS is able to provide these services to every laboratory group every year.

What is the roll out schedule and how do I access ISIS?
Research groups will be divided into 12 monthly cohorts. Beginning mid-February, 2007, each cohort will enter data into ISIS according to a schedule based on the dates of the LARs on file in ORS.

Where can I go for more information on ISIS?
ORS has detailed FAQs available on their website and in their Winter 2007 newsletter. In addition, ISIS guides users to appropriate resources for technical assistance and assistance about policies, expectations, applicability, navigation, and safety.