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Emergency Response Guide

Laboratory Safety Responsibilities

Roles and Responsibilities of Key Personnel: The Campus’ Laboratory Safety Program is based on the premise that every member of the research community shares responsibility for safety.

Environmental and Safety Compliance Officer (ESCO): Under the authority delegated by the Dean of each School or Faculty, ESCOs are responsible for promoting and maintaining a safe, healthy, and environmentally responsible workplace on the campus.

Faculty/Principal Investigator (PI): The PI is principally responsible for safety and environmental health in the laboratory and is responsible for identifying hazards associated with the job. S/he is responsible for modeling and reinforcing safe practices; ensuring that staff receive lab-specific and general training on hazards, protective procedures, and equipment; and ensuring that the lab follows pertinent regulations and prudent practices.

Safety Coordinator: A qualified laboratory employee (a “Safety Coordinator”) may assist the PI. The PI’s assignment of duties to such an assistant will not diminish the PI’s responsibility for environmental compliance in the laboratory.With the support of the PI, the Safety Coordinator’s responsibilities are to:

• Serve as a liaison for environmental, safety, and compliance communications within the laboratory, and coordinate follow-up to identified compliance concerns.
• Conduct joint safety assessments with the Department Research
  Operations Manager (HMS/HSDM) and/or EHS Department.
• Ensure that all personnel have completed the Training and Risk
  Assessment Form and have attended the required training classes.
• Complete Personal Protective Equipment assessment forms for all activities within the laboratory.Monitor compliance status.
• Ensure that all required safety equipment is used properly, and
  required documentation is maintained and accessible to laboratory
  personnel.
• Coordinate laboratory participation in periodic safety activities.
• Notify Research Operations Managers of matters requiring the research department’s attention.
• Advise PI, in writing, if appropriate, of any areas of non-compliance in the lab.

Department Administrator (DA): The primary responsibility of the Department Administrator is to facilitate the compliance management program within his or her department and assist labs in remediating department- wide issues. The Department administrator will typically be assisted by a Research Operations Manager (ROM).

Research Operations Manager (ROM): These managers communicate EHS programs to the labs, PIs, and their appointed Safety Coordinators. They serve as the primary liaison between the EHS Department and their basic science department, and they monitor compliance and safety issues within their department.

Environmental Health and Safety Department: The primary responsibility of the EHS Department is to provide technical support and guidance to laboratory personnel for the management of environmental and occupational safety compliance programs.

Evacuation Monitor: Walks through to verify that area has been vacated or to identify persons needing assistance during building evacuation alarms.