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Miriam Weil, M.P.H. ScDWork Environment Policy
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Prevalence of Injuries/Death in Academic Labs
Laboratory Safety Institute Virtual Memorial Wall lists five deaths in academic labs since 2001
CSB investigated academic lab safety – focusing on an accident at Texas Tech University.
Recent Accidents were reported at Yale, Boston College, Missouri State.
Miriam Weil, M.P.H. Sc.D University of Massachusetts Lowell 2
Method: Research and Analysis Process
Interviews with
StakeholdersLiterature Review
Qualitative Analysis
using NVivo
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•UCLA•Dartmouth•Northwestern
•Accidents•Lab Safety•Safety Culture•Safety Climate
•Analyze safety culture elements at each institution•Create model
Miriam Weil M.P.H., Sc.D. UMASS Lowell
Focus on Three Accidents
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•UCLA ‐In January 2009, Lab Tech Sheharbano 'Sheri‘ Sangji, died on after being critically burned in a UCLA Chemistry Lab.
• Northwestern ‐In December 2010, a post doctoral student was severely injured when his experiment exploded in a Northwestern University Chemistry Lab.
•Dartmouth ‐In 1997, Chemistry Professor Karen Wetterhahn, died from acute mercury poisoning after dropping two drops onto her glove.
Miriam Weil M.P.H., Sc.D. UMASS Lowell
5Miriam Weil, M.P.H. University of Massachusetts Lowell
Academic Safety Culture Model
Three Critical Values
Miriam Weil M.P.H., Sc.D. UMASS Lowell 6
Management Commitment to SafetyCommunication of Vital Safety InformationTrust
Management Commitment to Safety Most critical value Feeds into trust, accountability Critical to show support for safety activities Unclear support leaves EH&S with weak
authority. In academic institutions, there are many levels of
management.
Miriam Weil M.P.H., Sc.D. UMASS Lowell
Chemical Safety Board’s Interpretation of the Reason Swiss Cheese Model
Miriam Weil, M.P.H. Sc.D University of Massachusetts Lowell 8
Management AssessmentValue
Summary UCLA Northwestern Dartmouth
ValueChanged
since accident
Better, worse, or same
Changed since accident
Better, worse, or same
Changed since accident
Better, worse, or same
Management Commitment
to SafetyYES
Improved since
accident +NO
Good management
in place +YES
Good management
in place +
Comments
Previously lab safety at UCLA was under the radar. The
Chancellor is now supportive with increase in funding for creation of Center for Lab
Safety. Despite budget constraints, UC System
started lab safety institute and hiring staff.
The NU Dean's Office of Arts and Sciences sponsored the
creation of ISIS and the hiring of the chemistry safety officer.
The accident at Dartmouth happened in 1997. Funding
and attention was paid to address the cause of that
accident at the time, creating a the management structure of
today.
9Miriam Weil M.P.H., Sc.D. UMASS Lowell
Procedure 1: CommunicationTwo forms External and Internal
External- Newsletters, scholarly articles, conference presentations
Internal - Hazard assessments , chemical handling and procedures , MSDS, previous experiences , incident reporting
Miriam Weil M.P.H., Sc.D. UMASS Lowell
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Communication AssessmentProcedure Summary UCLA Northwestern Dartmouth
ProcedureChanged
since accident
Better, worse, or same
Changed since
accident
Better, worse, or
same
Changed since
accident
Better, worse, or
same
External Communication YES + Multi-media
blitz
No -Good program in
place before
accident
+Award
winning newsletter
YES +
Internal Communication YES
No upward communication from students
YES
ISIS tracks training and inspections.
Wiki site
proposed. +YES +
Comments
Only downward and outward communication have been
improved. There is no indication that communication from the
students as to near misses, or safety concerns are entertained or
addressed in any fashion.
Northwestern has quietly presented the accident for the benefit of the chemistry and chemical health and safety
community and produced an award winning EHS newsletter.
In response to the accident, Dartmouthpublicized the hazards of
dimethylmercury and caused a reexamination of the use and handling of it through scholarly articles. Information about the accident changed and OSHA
regulatory policy document, public opinion, EHS practice outside of the
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Value 1:TrustCritical to safety culture. Mutual trust promotes safety.Corresponds with open
communication, information sharing, power sharing.Played a role in each accident.
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Trust AssessmentValue Summary UCLA Northwestern Dartmouth
ValueChanged
since accident
Positive , Negative or neutral
Changed since
accident
Positive , Negative or neutral
Changed since
accident
Positive , Negative or neutral
Trust NO
Policy Unclear. Students
interviewed feel safe.
YESStudents
interviewed feel safe +
YESStudents
interviewed feel safe +
Comments
UCLA had mentors within some of the labs but it is not
clear that that was a university policy.
NU’s mentoring program and the safety policies implemented in one lab after the accident was a great leap forward in instituting trust amongst students.
Dartmouth mentioned trying to instill a safe environment at the outset of a student’s
career. EHS acts as a consultant on safety
questions.
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Trust Assessment
Safety Culture Evaluation
Miriam Weil, M.P.H. Sc.D. University of Massachusetts Lowell 14
Management Commitment to Safety
Values Procedures Precipitatingcause of accident
UCLA Improved Improving Improving Internal
Dartmouth Good Good Good External
Northwestern Excellent Excellent Good External
