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U NIVERSITY OF M INNESOTA Dept. of Environmental Health and Safety dehs.umn

U NIVERSITY OF M INNESOTA Dept. of Environmental Health and Safety www.dehs.umn.edu. Improving Research Safety Council of Research Associate Deans September 21, 2006 Craig Moody, Director University Health and Safety. What have we done?. Research safety work group – 2005

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U NIVERSITY OF M INNESOTA Dept. of Environmental Health and Safety dehs.umn

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  1. UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTADept. of Environmental Health and Safetywww.dehs.umn.edu Improving Research Safety Council of Research Associate Deans September 21, 2006 Craig Moody, Director University Health and Safety

  2. What have we done? • Research safety work group – 2005 • Surveyed Research Safety Officers (RSO) • Hired two additional professional staff – FY06 • Developed proposal for Research Safety Committee • Senate Research Committee • Faculty stakeholder group

  3. Measuring effectiveness of research safety • Serious injuries • Department lab safety plans completed • Department RSOs appointed • Annual lab audits

  4. What do we want to improve? • Process for assessing hazards • Facilities used with hazardous materials or processes • Contain hazards with ventilation or structure • Coordinate detection/alarm systems • Adequate back-up systems for critical operations • Development of safe operating and emergency response procedures

  5. Approach • Identify and evaluate high hazard operations • Inform the planning of new facilities during program development • Develop Administrative Research Safety Policy and Procedures • Charter Research Safety Committee • Determine how to best support RSOs

  6. Examples of high hazard operations • Use of pyrophoric gases or liquids • Use of extremely toxic or corrosive gases • Use of large volumes - flammable gases or liquids • Pressurizing flammable liquids • Use of extremely toxic solids or liquids • Use of concentrated hydrofluoric or perchloric acid to treat or react with other materials • Maintenance of equipment supporting the above operations

  7. Examples of high hazard operations … • High pressure vessels for processing samples • Exposed high voltage, high amperage electrical equipment • High intensity magnetic fields for research or clinical uses • Class 3b or Class 4 lasers • Noise exposures approaching OSHA standards • Operations posing hazards from loss of utilities

  8. Research Safety Committee Proposal • Voluntary review committee • Faculty and staff representation • Review facilities, equipment and procedures • Provide recommendations to researchers • Advise DEHS on research safety program

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