Whose Job Is It? Responsibility for Laboratory Safety and Security 2. Establishing an effective chemical safety and security management system Whose Job Is It? Responsibility for Laboratory Safety and Security Leaders Chemical Safety and Security Officers (CSSOs) Environmental Health and Safety Office Laboratory Managers, Supervisors, and Instructors Students and Workers

Develop a Chemical Safety and Security Policy prevent or mitigate human and economic losses arising from accidents, adverse occupational exposures, and environmental events. build safety and security considerations into all phases of operations. achieve and maintain compliance with laws and regulations. continually improve performance. The institution should communicate and post the policy statement for employees and review and revise it as often as necessary.

Create Administrative Controls and Processes for Performance Measurement Administrative controls define the specific safety and security rules and procedures and list the responsibilities of individuals involved. Administrative controls should also provide ways to manage and respond to change, such as new procedures, technologies, legal requirements, staff, and organizational changes. The CSSO should develop general safety rules, laboratory housekeeping procedures, manuals for use of materials and equipment, and other documents to communicate expectations to all laboratory workers. These documents should also clearly define the individual responsibilities of laboratory students, workers, managers, institutional leaders, contractors, emergency service providers, and visitors. Evaluating the safety and security of laboratory operations should be part of everyday activities. For example, begin all department or group meetings with a safety moment—discuss a daily activity, the safety or security concerns it presents, and what can be done to avoid potential incidents.

SAMPLE POLICY STATEMENT ..Developing and improving programs and procedures to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations ..Making sure that personnel are properly trained and provided with appropriate safety and emergency equipment ..Taking appropriate action to correct hazards or conditions that endanger health, safety, or the environment ..Engaging in sound reuse and recycling practices and exploring feasible opportunities to minimize the amount and toxicity of waste generated ..Encouraging personal accountability and emphasizing compliance with standards, university policies, and best practices during employee training and in performance reviews ..Communicating our desire to improve our performance continuously ..Fostering the expectation that every employee, student, and contractor on university premises will follow this policy and report any environmental, health, or safety concern to university management ..Monitoring our progress through periodic evaluations

STEPS IN SECURING CHEMICALS OF CONCERN (COCs) 1. Determine physical security needs: security guards, door locks (electronic or key), locked cabinets, alarm systems, et cetera. 2. Establish access permissions: who is authorized to use the materials. 3. Oversee access issues: key distribution and collection, et cetera. 4. Set expectations. 5. Question the presence of unfamiliar people in laboratories. 6. Report all suspicious activity. 7. Lock laboratory doors when the laboratory is not in use. 8. Follow security procedures, including replacing materials and securing them when not in use. 9. Prohibit unauthorized use of laboratory materials and facilities. 10. Train laboratory workers on security issues and expectations. 11. Include security issues in regular laboratory inspections. 12. Establish a protocol for reporting security concerns.

Set Procedures for Chemical Handling and Management Make sure that chemicals are secure by accounting for their use. 2. Provide a resource to consult for possible sharing of chemicals. 3. Provide information that allows managers to know when to reorder chemicals. 4. Provide the location of hazards in the laboratories for emergency responders. 5. Determine future needs and uses of chemicals. 6. Minimize excess inventory and chemical waste quantities (which reduces costs).

Plan for Emergencies Laboratories should make plans to handle emergencies and unplanned incidents Keep on hand emergency equipment and supplies, such as fire extinguishers, eye washes, safety showers, and spill kits. Some COCs may ignite spontaneously and require special fire-extinguishing methods.