Controlled Substances: Storage Requirements

Notify EH&S immediately of missing controlled substances: (858) 534-1362.

Principal investigators (PI) are responsible for providing and maintaining secure storage for their CS inventory that meets these criteria:

• Store CS according to schedule number:
  • Schedule I: Store in a safe or steel cabinet equivalent.
  • Schedule II-V: Store in a locked drawer or cabinet that is inaccessible from above or below.
• Install the following equipment according to these standards:
  • Padlocks and hinges:
    • Must have the mounting screws or bolts of the hasp inaccessible when the door is closed and the lock is fastened
  • Safes and steel cabinet equivalents:
    • Must be cemented or bolted to the floor or wall, or weigh more than 750 pounds
  • Storage units:
    • Must be secure enough to show forced entry
  • Drawers:
    • Must be inaccessible from the upper or lower drawers in the stack. Assign the top drawer of the stack to use as the storage facility, if possible.
• Use CS storage units only for CS and their inventory log books.
• Storage restrictions:
  • Do not share CS storage facilities.
  • Do not transfer CS from its original container for storage purposes.
  • Do not store other chemicals or supplies in a CS storage unit.
  • Do not store CS in a corridor.

Restrict access only to authorized personnel on your Controlled Substances Use Authorization (CSUA) and follow these precautions:

• Keep storage key(s) in the physical custody of authorized personnel at all times.
  • You can make multiple key copies and assign them to authorized personnel.
• Do not store keys in a drawer or on the wall.
• When authorized personnel leave their position in the lab:
  • Change combinations or retrieve the individual's keys.
  • Document authorized personnel security changes in your inventory log book.
  • Remove the authorized personnel from your CSUA using the CSU Web application:
    1. Go to My Research Safety.
    2. Click the Authorizations tab and select Controlled Substance Use Authorization to open the CSU Web application.
    3. In the CSU application, select the My Personnal tab to make changes to your authorized personnel list.