ACS COMMENT
Creating Safety Cultures In Academic Institutions ROBERT H. HILL JR., CHAIR, COMMITTEE ON CHEMICAL SAFETY
sponsibilities and accountability for safety primary concerns of our chemical entermust be clearly defined, from the highest prise. Laboratory incidents in the academic levels of the administration down through community within the recent past have schools and departments to individual drawn the attention and scrutiny of the faculty and staff. Leading by example is a media, federal investigators, and public requirement of all members of an instituprosecutors—and these tion—especially faculty. incidents and their impact Teaching laboratory have greatly concerned and chemical safety: All many in academia. chemists need an in-depth The ACS Committee knowledge of laboratory on Chemical Safety (CCS) and chemical safety. They recognized the need to asshould acquire this safety sist our academic colleagues knowledge and training in their efforts to build and continually throughout reinforce strong safety cultheir years of education. tures. Seeking to establish The report suggests some a broad collaboration, CCS 80 safety topics that should formed the Safety Culture be taught, and it emphasizTask Force with members es teaching critical thinking of CCS, the ACS Society skills in laboratory and Committee on Education, chemical safety. Teaching safety the Committee on ProfesStrong safety atis an ethical sional Training, the Younger responsibility. titudes, awareness, and Chemists Committee, and ethics: Strong, positive atthe Division of Chemical titudes about safety require Health & Safety (CHAS). long-term efforts through The task force identified elements of continuous emphasis on safety. Teaching strong safety cultures, topics and resources safety is an ethical responsibility. The confor laboratory and chemical safety educacept of a “safety ethic” reflects the proper tion, and recommendations for building attitude of valuing safety. and enhancing safety cultures in academic Learning from laboratory incidents: institutions. Studies of incidents capture interest and The task force produced a report, “Creteach lessons about safety. Institutions ating Safety Cultures in Academic Institushould implement a system of reporting tions,” that CCS approved at the spring and investigating incidents. 2012 ACS national meeting in San Diego. Establishing collaborative relationBecause of the high interest in this report, ships: Safety culture requires close, trustthe final draft has been posted on the CCS ing collaborations among all members of website at www.acs.org/safety. The draft the academic community including faculty version will remain there until the final members; administrative staff; students; publication becomes available early this postdoctoral scholars; environmental, summer. health, and safety staff; and public emerThe report lists seven essential elegency responders. ments that are needed to support a robust Promoting and communicating safety: safety culture. Demonstrating safety practices through Leadership and management: Repersonal example and recognizing positive COURTESY OF ROBERT H. HILL JR.
LABORATORY AND CHEMICAL safety are
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safety behaviors are important ways to promote safety. Safety should be reinforced through continuous and diverse efforts. Strong safety programs require funding: All strong safety programs re-
quire investment of substantial effort along with adequate and continuous funding by institutional administrations. Identifying the departments and personnel responsible for safety is a critical step in determining budgetary needs. All of these elements are essential and necessary in building a strong safety culture, but perhaps most important are leadership and safety education. Faculty and staff should accept responsibility for safety and lead by example. The curriculum should include comprehensive laboratory and chemical safety education for undergraduates throughout their learning experience. Those teaching and conducting research in laboratories should also receive education in laboratory and chemical safety. The report lists 17 recommendations that serve as guidelines for building strong safety cultures. These recommendations were derived from the essential elements that are found in strong safety cultures. As academic institutions implement these measures, strong safety cultures should evolve that ensure safety is an integral part of the teaching and research programs. To further discussions on academic safety, CCS and CHAS are cosponsoring a symposium titled “Creating Safety Cultures in Academic Institutions” at the August 2012 ACS national meeting in Philadelphia. The symposium will feature 18 presentations with panel discussions and audience participation. Please share your input and ideas to strengthen laboratory and chemical safety at
[email protected]. Views expressed on this page are those of the author and not necessarily those of ACS.
