JST Overview

To realize how far we’ve come!

2

• Department of Environmental Health & Safety (EHS)– 3 Research Safety

Personnel responsible for UMN

– Research Safety Officer 10% appointment CHEM

• Chemistry (CHEM)– Chemical Hygiene Plan– Safety Committee – No serious injuries

• Chemical Engineering & Materials Science (CEMS)– Laboratory Safety Plan– Research Safety Officer – No serious injuries

UMN Safety: 2011 and prior

2

3

Objectives and Goals

– Compliance of minimum PPE requirements in all labs

– Improve housekeeping: no clutter, no unknown waste

– Increase communication of safety incidents and accidents

– Fully evaluated, up-to-date, and annually revised laboratory standard operating procedures

– Zero accidents and incidents

To improve the safety culture here at the University of Minnesota in the Chemistry and Chemical Engineering & Materials Science departments

4

Student initiative supported by departmental leadership and

DEHS

Approach

Define the goal

Assess the attitude of the community

Provide resources to facilitate change

Implement change in phases

5

Evaluating the Culture• Visit to Dow

– Observing the safety measures in an industrial setting

• Lab walkthroughs– Noting the areas most in

need of improvement • Survey

– Assessing community response towards safety

6

Defining Goals• 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

7

Committee meetings JST meetings

Community events

Organization

Leadership (Administrative)

Education &

Resources

TechnologyFinance

Analysis and

CompliancePublic

Relations

8

Lab Signage and Posters

Compliance and Awareness

Laboratory Information

Building & RoomPrincipal Investigator,

phone/emailLab Safety Officer,

phone/email

Description

Minimum PPE Required  

Hazards 

In an emergency, call 911. In non-emergency situations,

contact the LSO or PI.

11

Safety Moments

Awareness and Education

12

Learning Experience Reports

Awareness and Education

• Short, anonymous report documenting a near-miss or incident

• Record and communicate safety incidents

• Focus on how to prevent reoccurrence

Chemical Labeling Resources

Compliance

14

Lab-walkthroughs

Compliance

15

Cleanup Weeks• Hazardous and Unknown

Waste Seminar attended by ≥ 90 students and faculty

• 321 samples processed by students who were trained and assisted by DEHS staff

• Saved the departments ~$4,500 and weeks of work by DEHS staff

• Represents a significant safety improvement in our laboratories

Compliance

16

• Four sections to binder1) LSO Roles & Responsibilities2) Standard Operating

Procedures3) Record Keeping4) Information and Templates

• 98% LSOs attended• Presentation on duties• LSO Binders distributed

LSO Binder and Training

Education and Resources

17

Provide a central location for safety resources

www.jst.umn.edu

Website

Education and Resources

Community Outreach• To the U of M

– Kickoff event for both departments– Dean’s Advisory Board meeting– CSE Administrative Council meeting

• To other schools– Invited talk at Council for Chemical Research– Video for Ohio State University– Phone conferences with other Dow schools– Invited talk at Duquesne University– Workshop at MRS Spring 2014 Meeting

• To students– Chisago County “Safety Camp”

19

JST in the News• May 24, 2013:

Dow Unveils Lab Safety Website• February 8, 2013: UMNews• October 29, 2012: C&EN News• October 01, 2012: Minnesota Daily• September 25, 2012:

University of Minnesota Department of Chemistry

• May 4, 2012: Science Careers Blog• May 2, 2012: C&En

Safety Zone Blog• April 30, 2012:

The Dow Chemical Company press release.

20

Institutional Support

Internal and external support strengthens our cause

• $5000 from CHEM/CEMS Departments (August 2012)

• 25% TA for Administrative Committee Chair (August 2013)

• $2700 from Dow for posters (August 2013)

21

JST is a success• 250 attendees at Fall 2012 kick off event

• 62% of survey respondents agreed that safety moments are helping to improve safety culture

• 84% compliance of standardized lab signage

• 98% LSO participation in lab walkthroughs

• 98% LSO attendance at LSO training

• 321 hazardous unknowns safely disposed of during cleanup week

• 80 JST participants with only ~50 LSOs (we have volunteers)

22

Challenges• Committee

participation and leadership

• Consistent near-miss reporting

• Continued momentum after a year of hard work

Future actions• Incentive program• More posters• Topic specific

training through partnership with Chemistry Safety Committee

Continuing the Culture

23

Any Questions or Comments?

The Joint Safety Team www.jst.umn.eduUniversity of Minnesota jst@umn.edu

24

Community Awards• JST walkthroughs: each

passable lab gets a commendation

• All labs that pass are compared anonymously by entire JST to determine ‘best’ in each department

• Best lab gets ice cream or pizza party

• Department with highest percentage of passes gets a traveling trophy

Individual Awards• Outstanding safety

award (similar to TA award) to non-LSO

• Outstanding LSO award• Nominations from LSOs,

PIs, and DEHS staff

Incentive Program

24

Upcoming Events• September – PR Committee puts out new posters• Late September – All LSO meeting, emergency

procedure training (DEHS)• Mid October – Fall semester JST walkthroughs with

new teams and new labs• November – Department-wide meeting to recap JST

accomplishments and give first safety awards• January or March – Bill Tolman and JST members give

safety webinar in conjunction with BioRAFT• January 10 – Katie H speaks at Duquesne University• April 25 – Workshop at MRS Spring 2014 meeting

JST Organization – Get Involved!

Administration Analysis & Compliance

Ed&R PR

• Organize monthly meetings

• Meet with Dow

periodically• Present on JST as invited• Send JST

bulletin• Send surveys

• Maintain website (Tech)• Maintain

budget (Treasurer)

• Organize lab walkthroughs

• Distribute community

survey• Develop

incentive system

• Organize annual LSO

training • Organize

Incoming grad student

workshop• Work with

DEHS on topical

workshops as requested

• Develop informational posters• Create

flyers, stickers, graphic

elements