“The Minnesota Model” Successful Safety Collaborations within the College of Science and Engineering

Safety Moment: Phone Use In The Lab Phone uses: Talk Listen to music Check messages Lab timer Calculator Look up information on the internet Risks: Transferring hazardous chemicals phone face

Put the phone in a plastic bag Phone use in the lab Put the phone in a plastic bag Touch screen works! screen is visible Device is not in contact with hazardous chemicals

The DOW Initiative Partnership began 2012 Dow Chemical Department of Chemistry Department of Chemical Engineering and Material Science Peer-led “Joint Safety Team” was created Laboratory Safety Officers (Grad Students & Postdocs) Started with 50 people Dedicated funds March 2012, the Chief Technical Officer at Dow, William Banholzer, presented an offer to the heads of CHEM (Bill Tolman) and CEMS (Frank Bates) who agreed to a partnership aimed at improving the safety cultures in the two departments. Dow made the offer to schools where a large number of their new hires come from.

Defining Goals List of recommendations To improve the safety culture here at the University of Minnesota in the Chemistry and Chemical Engineering & Materials Science departments List of recommendations Compliance: Define and enforce standard roles and expectations Awareness: Increase signage and discussion to promote safety Resources: Provide access to proper equipment and information on best practices Education: Provide frequent and relevant training in general and specific safety topics list of 13 recommended actions. Each recommendation was detailed with an objective, timeline, resources needed, and assessment method. one or more of 4 key areas: compliance, awareness, resources, education

National Profile The peer-led program’s characteristic “bottom-up” approach is particularly important

New “JSTs” Yale

Teamwork Is Critical Departmental Leadership & Safety Committees JST committees EHS Departmental Leaders EHS Researchers

Dept Leadership Perspective Backing of Dept Leadership critical for initial catalyst and sustaining future efforts Peer-led JST is empowered by knowing their department supports them Department Safety Committee is empowered in the same way, and coordinates with JST EHS works across all groups, providing expertise in both culture and compliance issues

Everybody Wins! Faculty → delegate to lab safety officer, happy students are learning and safety is taken care of Lab Safety Officers → job experience, learns management skills, gets credit for positive but not responsible for enforcement Leadership → can focus on providing support to areas that need or request more

Why was the JST formed? A need for improved safety and culture of safety Safety survey reveals lab risks: Questionnaire suggests researchers not as safe as they feel. – Nature, 2013, 493, 9–10. CHEM and CEMS departments had little student contribution. Better prepared for advancement in careers in industry or as a PI National fatal accidents spurred a need for safety improvement in chemistry labs. C&EN, 2012, 90, 21–23.

JST Initiatives Initiative Description Safety moments Brief discussion or presentation on a safety topic at the beginning of group meetings and departmental seminars Laboratory Walkthroughs Semiannual student-led audits to evaluate laboratory housekeeping and compliance LSO Training Annual session to train LSOs in their roles and responsibilities Cleanup Week Week focused on reducing clutter and waste from labs, in conjunction with DEHS Community Safety Survey Anonymous online survey issued twice a year to track safety attitudes and areas of concern Standard lab signage Templates to display hazards and contact information for each lab space JST Website Website containing links, information, and JST content Safety posters 7 unique posters on safety topics designed and displayed Chemical Labeling Resources Sticker templates to describe contents and hazards of samples, secondary containment, cabinets, etc. Learning Experience Reports Anonymous online reporting system for ‘near miss’ incidents or accidents with results to be distributed each semester Monthly JST Meetings   1-hour monthly meeting of all LSOs and other JST members for training and brainstorming JST actions Weekly Safety Note A short safety tip sent weekly by email to faculty, staff, and students Lab Coat Laundering Motivated CHEM administration to implement contract with lab coat laundering service Identify 10 Guidelines for a Safer Lab Document describing most important aspects of lab safety Kickoff Event Highly attended event to introduce the JST and identify new goals for safety culture implementing 2 actions every 3 months is the right pace to keep our initiative moving without overwhelming our members or our community

Engaging Environment Researchers from every lab join together Different labs work together to create common safety habits Focus is on culture, NOT compliance

Personal Motivation Members are students - End goal is to be hired Connections to potential employers Fantastic resume builder Learn proper procedures from those who do it best

EHS Perspective If you care about Safety…. Must CONTROL and PUNISH If you don’t PUNISH, then you don’t CARE

Provide opportunities for peer comparison and collaborations EHS Perspective Assume positive Ask questions Provide opportunities for peer comparison and collaborations Faculty say the most helpful, providing training for students, walking through “what if” and risk matrix, regulatory translation and simplification, opportunities for communication.

A strong, positive safety culture Everyone involved in problem solving Committed all the time to learning & sharing Continuous Improvement is the goal. Flexible and diverse methods for unique situations

Keys to Success Distinct Responsibilities Goal: making safety an integral part of all research & teaching activities Official Inspections Departmental Policy SOP Review Incident Follow-up Peer Inspection Awareness LSO Training

Questions? Spencer Reisbick JST President Chuck Tomlinson Chemical Engineering & Material Science JST President Chuck Tomlinson Chemistry Department Director of Operations Anna Sitek College of Science & Engineering - Research Safety University Health Safety