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Texas tech changing a culture
1. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Changing a Culture: Improving
Chemical laboratory safety at
Texas Tech University
Dominick Casadonte
Texas Tech University
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
March 26, 2012
2. Texas Tech University Lessons Learned
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Disclaimer
The opinions expressed in this presentation are those of the
presenter and not necessarily those of Texas Tech
University nor any agency affiliated with Texas Tech
University. While every attempt has been made to verify
the accuracy of the statements made in this presentation,
the presenter is solely responsible for its content.
3. Texas Tech University
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Who Are We?
Texas Tech University:
⢠Founded: 1923
⢠Carnegie Foundation Classification: doctoral research-extensive university
⢠Degrees: 150 undergraduate, 100 masterâs and 50 doctoral
⢠11 Colleges + Law School and Graduate School
⢠Population: 31,637 students (fall 2010)
⢠Accredited: by the Commission on Colleges of the
Southern Association of Colleges (SACS)
4. Texas Tech University
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Who Are We?
Texas Tech Chemistry:
⢠Buildings: Two (1928 (Renovated 1988);
1968-1971)
⢠Faculty: 24
⢠Graduate Students: 105
⢠Postdoctoral Research Associates: 34
⢠Technical Staff: 9
⢠Clerical Staff: 10
⢠Chemistry Undergraduate Majors: 250 ⢠Total Funding (2009): $4,225,265
⢠Biochemistry Undergraduate Majors: 256 - Federal Grants: $ 1,939,044
- Non-Federal Grants: $ 1,532,962
- Co-PI: $ 753,259
⢠Federal R&D Expenditures (2010):
- Top 100
5. Texas Tech University State of RCR Prior to January 7, 2010
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Texas Tech University:
1) Quality Enhancement Plan (2005, SACS): Ethics
- âDo the Right Thingâ Campaign: www.depts.ttu.edu/provost/qep
- University-Wide Committee
2) Ethics in the Curriculum:
- PHIL 5125: Introduction to Research Ethics (Fall, 2010)
- University-Wide Committee
3) RCR:
- Hired Dr. Alice Young as AVPR for RCR (June, 2009)
- www.depts.ttu.edu/VPR/integrity/nsf-ethics-plan.php
4) Murdough Center for Engineering Professionalism/
National Institute for Engineering Ethics
- www.depts.ttu.edu/coe/centers/murdough.php
6. Texas Tech University State of RCR Prior to January 7, 2010
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Texas Tech Chemistry:
⢠Passivity Due to EH&S/PI Conflicts:
-⯠Labs: EH&S Laboratory Surveys
Viewed as Inhibitory
-⯠EH&S: Labs Preventing Them From
Doing Their Job
⢠Lack of Communication Between EH&S/Chair about Issues
⢠Ineffective Chemical Safety Committee
⢠EH&S Under VP for Finance: No Relationship to Research
7. Texas Tech University January 7, 2010
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
⢠January 7, 2010: Explosion in Energetic Materials Lab Injures Student
⢠Call from National Chemical Safety Board
- January 8, 2010
⢠Accident Picked Up in National Media:
-âŻC&EN, Jan. 25, page 7 - C&EN, Feb. 1, pages 25-26
-âŻC&EN, July 23 (Online) - C&EN, Aug. 23, pages 34-37
⢠Feb. 11: Lab Reopened
⢠Feb 26: DHS Visit (Northeastern)
⢠March 19-23: Visit by Chemical Safety Board
⢠April 9: Internal Investigation Results Released
⢠May 25: DHS (ALERT) Visit
⢠October 19, 2011: NCSB Webinar
⢠October 20, 2011: CSB Release of "Experimenting with Danger"
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/vpr/integrity/csb-response/index.php
8. Texas Tech University Response to January 7, 2010
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
CSB Report:
⢠Ensure that research-specific hazards are evaluated and then controlled
by developing specific written protocols and training.
⢠Expand existing laboratory safety plans to address the physical
hazards of chemicals.
⢠Ensure that safety personnel report directly to a university official who
has the authority to oversee research laboratories and implement safety
improvements.
⢠Document and communicate all laboratory near-misses and incidents
to educate individuals and track safety at the university.
9. Texas Tech University Response to January 7, 2010
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Texas Tech Universityâs Response
Before CSB Report:
⢠Working Group Established to Review Lab Safety Policies and
Training
⢠Institutional Laboratory Safety Committee (ILSC) Established
⢠Peer Review Panel Commissioned to Review Safety Culture (April 4-5, 2011)
⢠Research Programs Requiring Significant Monitoring Identified
⢠Search for Ph.D. â Level Chemical Safety Officer (Hire in Spring 2012)
⢠Safety Information to be Required in Tenure and Promotion Packages
⢠Safety Information to be Required in Theses and Dissertations
⢠New Emergency Action Plan (EAP) Instituted Campus-Wide
10. Texas Tech University Response to January 7, 2010
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
TTU: Self-Imposed Recommendations
1) Adapt elements of physical risk into our chemical hygiene
plan.
2) Require Texas Tech University (TTU) to become an
exemplary institution around the culture of safety.
3) Require the University to report annually to the U.S.
Chemical Safety Board about progress made toward
improving the culture of laboratory safety; the parameters
will need definition.
4) Establish a TTU Faculty Chemical Safety Committee to
help firmly establish the culture of laboratory safety.
5) Acquire an online chemical inventory system.
6) Require the Provost and Vice President for Research to
make laboratory safety an element of annual evaluations
(e.g., college, department, faculty).
7) Others to be determined.
11. Texas Tech University Response to January 7, 2010
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Texas Tech Chemistry Response
⢠Department Safety Committee Reorganized
and Charged to Change Department Safety
Culture:
-⯠Biweekly Meetings
-⯠Committee Contains Representation
from All Stakeholders
-⯠Each Research Group has a âSafety
Captainâ
-⯠New Model Results from Reflections on Visit from Rick Danheiser (MIT)
⢠Mandatory Chemical (and other) Safety Training: Required Verification in
Personnel File
- 100% Compliance
12. Texas Tech University Response to January 7, 2010
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Texas Tech Chemistry Response
⢠All Relevant PPE Required in Research Labs
⢠Regulatory Authority of VPR/EH&S
- Increased Safety Surveys by EH&S
-⯠Labs can be Rekeyed or Shut Down if
Seriously Non-Compliant
⢠âPeer Safety Surveysâ
- One per semester.
- Complement EH&S safety surveys
⢠Incident Report Forms Developed For Both Research and Teaching Labs
⢠EH&S, ILSC, and Chemistry Safety Committee Revamping CHP
⢠Common University Chemical Inventory System In Use: (EH&S Assistant)
13. Texas Tech University Response to January 7, 2010
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Texas Tech Chemistry Response
⢠TA Training: In conjunction with
Department of Theater and Dance, Six-Week
Course Designed to Teach Useful Teaching
Behavior and Role Playing in Chemical Safety
Scenarios in the Laboratory
⢠Synthesis Labs Working to Develop
Protocols and Procedures, Code of Conduct
and General Laboratory Rules. Reviewed and
Signed by Students in most labs.
⢠University âWide Safety Summit Every Fall
for Continuing Safety Education
14. Texas Tech University Response to January 7, 2010
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Texas Tech Chemistry Response
⢠Common Departmental Scheme for Labeling
All New Chemicals (Prudent Practices)
⢠Safety Graduate Cumulative Exam Each
November
⢠Safety Activities Now Required in Faculty
Annual Reports
⢠Safety Section Now Required in Theses and
Dissertations
15. Texas Tech University Lessons Learned
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
TTU : Lessons Learned
⢠The Problem of Chemical Safety is
Not Unique to Texas Tech!
â˘âŻAccidents at Public Universities are Public Events
â Safe Behavior Doesnât Make Headlines: Lack of Safety Does!
â˘âŻEVERYONE Must Be Involved In The Transformational Process!
â˘âŻAnalysis of Safety Management Systems at Universities is Vital
- âSwiss Cheeseâ Model Is A Good One To Discuss at All Levels
â˘âŻPIs, EH&S, and Administrators Need to Be in the Same Room and On the Same
Page
- Consensus Standards Are Needed
- Hazard Assessment is Essential!
- Near Miss/Lessons Learned Databases Needs to Be Established
- Guidance Documents Should Be Established By ACS, CSHEMA
16. Texas Tech University Lessons Learned
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
TTU : Lessons Learned
â˘âŻ Cultural Sustainability Is the Key
â˘âŻCulture is Intrinsic Within A Group: It Can Be Learned and Internalized!
â˘âŻ What Are Some Characteristics of A Culture of Safety?
â˘âŻâDo the Right Thingâ Even When No One is Watching
â˘âŻTake Responsibility for the Safety of Each Other, Including Training
â˘âŻPIs and Leadership Must Model The Safety Culture They Want to Achieve
â˘âŻPeople Should Be Talking About Safety In Terms of Risks, Hazards, and Responsibilities
â˘âŻ Goal: Make Sure That People Leave Work As Healthy As When They Arrived
Without Injury or Loss of Time
17. Texas Tech University Lessons Learned
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
TTU : Lessons Learned
â˘âŻ PIs Trained as Researchers/Are Entrepreneurial
â˘âŻNot as Managers and Not Necessarily in a Safety Culture
â˘âŻEH&S Needs to Help Them Think About Risk Assessment and How to Do It.
â˘âŻ PIs Need to Consider Several Aspect of Safety Simultaneously:
â˘âŻBig Picture: The Entire Lab
â˘âŻIndividual Investigators and the Types of Experiments They Do and Their Training
â˘âŻDay-to-Day Safety Operations
â˘âŻIndividual Experiments and Their Respective Risks and Hazards
⢠Lack of $ For Researcher to Hire Managers, Buy Safety Equipment, etc
â˘âŻ Tension Between Allowing Faculty The Freedom For Discovery Research
(Which, By Its Nature, Often Involves Risk) and Risk/Safety Management
- Prominent Faculty are Mobile
- Fear of Loss of Synthetic Chemistry Innovation at Universities.
18. Texas Tech University Lessons Learned
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
TTU : Lessons Learned
⢠There is Regular Turnover in Labs: Cannot Rely on Folklore
or Peer Student Training Only
â˘âŻ The PI is the One Constant!
â˘âŻ Safety Should be Part of the âScholarship of Discoveryâ and Responsible
Conduct of Research.
⢠It Should be Part of the Daily Research Culture
â˘âŻRisk Assessment Should Occur Before Work Begins, and Debriefing Should
Occur Afterward
â˘âŻ The PI MUST Be Involved, Even If Good Habits Engrained in Co-Workers!!!
â˘âŻStudents Rely on PIs/Faculty to Provide Them With Safety Training:
â˘âŻThis is a major unspoken trust issue!
â˘âŻThis is a major professionalism issue!
19. Texas Tech University Lessons Learned
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
TTU : Lessons Learned
â˘âŻTrain Students, Teach Culture Early!
- Get Freshman and Sophomores in the Habit of Wearing
Appropriate PPE
â˘âŻWe Need Better Safety Videos!
â˘âŻWe Need Nationally Standardized Protocols (SOPs)
- Not To Check Out of Safety Analysis By Their Use, But For Guidance
â˘âŻA Ph.D. in Chemical Hygiene and Safety Needs to Be Developed
- If Done Properly, Will Go A Long Way Toward Faculty Buy-In
⢠Establish Something Analogous to a âWhite Coatâ Ceremony for Graduate
Students/Beginning Research Students: Teach the the Seriousness of the Profession and
Equip Them With the Tools to be Safe and Successful)
â˘âŻ Funding Agencies Need to be More Involved in Insuring That Research Be Done Safely
â˘âŻ Line Item for Chemical Safety in Grants:
â˘âŻ Provide Direct Cost Funding to Improve Safety Infrastructure
â˘âŻ Reward PIâs Who Put Forward Innovative Safety Plans
â˘âŻDo This, Rather Than Add Yet Another Section to Complete in Grant Applications
20. Texas Tech University Lessons Learned
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Conclusions
â˘âŻSafety Is Everyoneâs Responsibility
â˘âŻEVERYONE Must Be Involved In The Transformational Process
â˘âŻThe PI Needs to Model the Safety Culture They Would Like to See
â˘âŻ There Need to Be More Peer-Peer Safety Discussions Across Domains
â˘âŻ More âCarrotsâ: Safety Must Be Viewed As Positive, Not Punitive
â˘âŻDonât Wait for an Accident to Happen at Your Institution:
â˘âŻ - Imagine Your Institutionâs Ideal Safety Culture,
â˘âŻ and Actively Move in That Direction
â˘âŻ Try to Find the Balance Between the Scholarship of Discovery
And the Culture of Safety: It Does Exist!