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Ralph Stuart Division of Chemical Health and Safety Email: secretary@dchas.org Website: www.dchas.org ACS National Meeting, Spring 2012

Many authors identify “safety culture” as a key element in the safety performance of an organization. While a specific definition of this concept is problematic and has evolved since it first appeared in the mid-1980’s, there is a general understanding of what is meant by this term. In order to explore various aspects of the safety culture of academic chemistry laboratories, the Division of Chemical Health and Safety conducted two surveys, one of chemistry departments nationally; the other of its membership. The results of these surveys are reported here as well as related academic work. In addition, references to a variety of papers and resources on the subject are provided.

What do we know about laboratory safety culture?

Ralph Stuart, CIH Department of Environmental Health and Safety, Cornell University

Secretary, Division of Chemical Health and Safety

CHAS members (300 chemical health and safety professionals) •  Respondents had long (more than 10

years) experience with laboratory safety •  60% report that the lab safety situation

has improved over the last 10 years. •  The respondents report that about 75%

of the faculty provide effective safety leadership for their labs

•  Many people reported specific outliers within their customers that present significant concerns.

CSHEMA Academic Safety Culture Survey Safety climate was generally highly perceived among workers in higher education (4/5). However, the lowest level of confidence in safety orientation was in the supervisors. This is a common finding in a variety of organizations.

In terms of specific institutions, the safety culture of MIT has received the most official and academic culture. A consent agreement with the EPA as a result of environmental violations led to the development of the MIT EHS-MS for defining and organizing the environmental health and safety program there under the EPA’s oversight. As this implementation of the EHS-MS proceeded, a faculty member in the MIT Anthropology department there studied the process and its cultural impacts. Her observations on the challenges of using safety culture as a tool are summarized in “Taming Prometheus: Talk About Safety and Culture”.4

More specific studies of the organizational reaction of chemistry departments to specific safety incidents have been conducted by Dr. Miriam Weil of the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. Her findings will be published soon.5

•  In April, 2010, in response to a request from a Chemistry Department chair at a teaching institution, DCHAS surveyed the 900 academic chemistry departments in the U.S. about their safety management practices. •  The results indicated a general

acceptance of laboratory safety responsibilities, but key elements of a safety management system were missing in many departments, at both management and procedural levels. •  For example, inclusion of safety as an

element in employee performance reviews is generally considered a core element of a safety management system. However, this practice was reported by a minority of the departments who responded.

1. Working Safely at the Frontiers of Science, JCHAS May/June 1998. 2. Prudent Practices in the Laboratory. 2011. National Research Council http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12654

Because of the many hazardous materials used in laboratory processes, the health and safety of laboratory workers has been a long-standing concern.

Introduction

Chemistry Department Survey

Interview with Susan Silbey on the MIT EHS-MS: http://web.mit.edu/~ssilbey/www/pdf/ehs_newsletter_article.pdf

Safety in Academic Chemistry Laboratories: Volume 2 available on ACS web site (google ACS CCS SACL)

C&EN Safety Zone blog

References

Case Studies Other Relevant Surveys

Additional Information

ABSTRACT

CONTACT

For example, as part of his work developing supplies of plutonium for the Manhattan Project, Glenn Seaborg defined many of the core laboratory safety design requirements and work practices that are still considered best practices today (for example, “no eating, drinking or smoking in laboratories”).1

In 2011, the most recent edition of “Prudent Practices in the Laboratory”2 identified the institutional safety culture as a key element in supporting laboratory workers in observing these practices. In order to better understand the current state of laboratory safety culture in higher education, the ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety reviewed relevant information and conducted a survey of chemistry departments nationwide and its members.

In 2008, Robert McGinn of Stanford University published the results of a survey nanotechnology researchers in the Journal Nanoethics3. He included a variety of research ethics topics, such as intellectual property concerns and scientific “hype” as well as environmental health and safety. He concluded: A substantial majority of respondents exhibited medium or high levels of sensitivity to ethics in relation to NT. Although most respondents view themselves as not particularly well informed about ethics in relation to NT, a substantial majority are aware of and receptive to ethical issues related to their work, and believe that these issues merit consideration by society and study by current and future NT practitioners.

Research Ethics

3. Ethics and Nanotechnology: Views of Nanotechnology Researchers, Robert McGinn, 2008, Nanoethics

4. Taming Prometheus: Talk About Safety and Culture Susan S. Silbey.. Annu. Rev. Sociol. 2009.35:341-369

5. "Information, Communication and Culture in Academic Laboratory Chemical Management" – Miriam Weil Doctoral Dissertation, UMass Lowell, 2012