An undergraduate student studying both Chemistry and Safety is uniquely positioned to observe and shape safety culture in her academic institution. One such student leveraged her position to positively contribute to the safety culture at a large Midwestern university with a research-active chemistry department. During her freshman year, the university’s Environmental Health and Safety Office issued a directive to implement standard operating procedures in research labs across campus. In response, this student developed a research project that focused synthetic chemistry through the lens of standard operating procedure development. This research project became a catalyst for safety conversations among chemistry faculty, EHS staff, and students. Over the next several years, a department-wide willingness to improve safety culture led to meaningful growth in the safety mindsets of faculty and students, both in and out of the classroom. In teaching labs, faculty eliminated high-hazard reactions upon student request and found various ways to involve students in safety pre-lab discussions. Research labs continue to write and adopt standard operating procedures while increasing their conversations and study of chemical safety. Students are assisting in the advancement of safety culture by assuming safety responsibilities in labs and hosting joint Chemistry Club and Safety Club events. During this student’s four years at her institution, the university’s chemistry department has actively pursued a safety mindset and affirmed its commitment to developing a lasting safety culture.<br/>

Building a safety mindset: An undergraduate’s perspective on chemical safety in academia

254th National Meeting (2017)

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