ISBN 978-0-8412-2817-7

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DedicationCreating Safety Cultures in Academic Institutions: A Report of the Safety Culture Task Force of theACS Committee on Chemical Safety is dedicated to those scientists who lost their lives or wereinjured in laboratory incidents. 13
Executive SummaryDevastating incidents in academic laboratories and observations, by many, that university andcollege graduates do not have strong safety skills, have elevated concerns about the safety culturein academia. Calls for changes in the academic safety educational process and in the academicsafety culture are becoming increasingly vocal both within and outside of the academiccommunity.This report provides guidance, suggestions, examples, and recommendations that can helpstrengthen the safety culture in two- and four-year undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoralprograms. Specifically, this report identifies the best elements and best practices of a good safetyculture, identifies specific recommendations that could be used by universities and colleges tostrengthen their safety culture; and identifies tools and resources that would be beneficial to theseefforts. While the focus of this document is on departments offering chemistry, the safety cultureof an institution should include all departments and organizations throughout the entire campus.Thus, other departments may find useful parallels in these discussions.The Safety Culture and its Impact on an OrganizationThe safety culture of an institution is a reflection of the actions, attitudes, and behaviors of itsmembers concerning safety. These members include the managers, supervisors, and employees inthe industrial and governmental communities; and the faculty, staff, and students in the academiccommunity. Serious chemical or laboratory incidents within an organization are often thought tobe the result of a weak or deficient safety culture—a principal root cause of the incident.The need for a Strong positive safety cultureSafety is a positive value—it prevents injuries, saves lives, and improves productivity andoutcomes. When safety is actively practiced and is regarded as a critical core value byorganizational leaders, it bestows a sense of confidence and caring in all of the people who workthere.A strong safety culture is required to protect employees but is especially important in protectingstudents and in developing students’ skills and awareness of safety. It also protects academicinstitutional reputations. This culture emanates from ethical, moral, and practical considerations,rather than regulatory requirements. Academic administrators, faculties, and staff members haveethical responsibilities to care for their students’ safety and to instill awareness about safety.They need to teach students the safety skills required to work in laboratories on campus and inthe workplace. In a strong safety culture, students will acquire the skills to recognize hazards, toassess the risk of exposures to those hazards, to minimize the risk of exposures to hazards, and tobe prepared to respond to laboratory emergencies.4
Page 2 and 3: Copyright © 2012AmeriCAn ChemiCAl
Page 5 and 6: Collaborative Interactions Help Bui
Page 10 and 11: The elements of a strong safety cul
Page 12 and 13: an outstanding job in safety is an
Page 14 and 15: Looking for the Bright Spots: Insti
Page 16 and 17: Defining a Strong Safety CultureOne
Page 18 and 19: “Laboratory Standard” to regula
Page 20 and 21: Leadership and Management of Safety
Page 22 and 23: No matter whichsafety managementsys
Page 24 and 25: a long period of time builds the kn
Page 26 and 27: Table 1. Suggested Laboratory Safet
Page 28 and 29: Journal of Chemical Education, Amer
Page 30 and 31: Individuals who are part of an orga
Page 32 and 33: Recommendations Concerning Teaching
Page 34 and 35: The proper attitude for safety is r
Page 36 and 37: educated in fire safety because it
Page 38 and 39: database analysis is particularly i
Page 40 and 41: • Reduce risk of laboratory expos
Page 42 and 43: Promoting and Communicating SafetyP
Page 44 and 45: Looking for the Bright Spots: Insti
Page 46: Appendix A: Brief Summary of the Di
Page 49 and 50: • Establish lines of responsibili
Page 51 and 52: • As members of the safety commit
Page 53 and 54: • Describe procedures used to res
Page 55 and 56: • Participate in an evacuation pr
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GloSSary of AcronymsACGIH American
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Endnotes1Laboratory Safety Institut
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30—. Safety in Academic Chemistry
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AmeriCAn ChemiCAl Society1155 Sixte
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ISBN 978-0-8412-2817-7

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