A student laboratory safety committee was created in the chemistry department in fall 2017. The committee is modeled after peer safety committees that are commonplace in industry. The primary functions of the committee are to 1) help inculcate a culture of safety in the chemistry department, 2) carry out safety inspections of chemistry teaching and research laboratories several times each semester, and 3) help review the department’s chemical hygiene plan and the student lab safety rules annually. The largest portion of the students’ time is spent carrying out laboratory inspections. An inspection sheet was first developed by the students using an industrial version as the starting point. Items are grouped into categories that include chemical fume hoods, equipment, fire and safety equipment, general housekeeping, hazard warning signs and labels, personal protective equipment, samples/reagents/chemicals, and waste handling. The inspection sheets are posted in every teaching laboratory. Inspections are announced in advance, and include a request for the laboratory professor to recognize and advocate for the students conducting the inspection. Pairs of students carry out the inspections, which typically take about 15 minutes per laboratory, with each pair doing about 10 inspections over the course of a week. After each round of inspections, the committee meets to compile the results and create a list of items that require attention or correction. Students on the committee are issued bright yellow ‘Safety Committee Member’ identification badges and are encouraged to wear them on their lab coats at all times. This simple visual display has also had a positive impact on our safety culture as the yellow badges are seen regularly when these students are in their own laboratory courses or research labs, or are serving as a teaching assistant. The inspection sheets and three semesters of experience will be shared.

Student-led safety inspections of chemistry teaching and research laboratories

2019 Spring National Meeting

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.