There has been a renewed emphasis on research safety in academic laboratories over the last decade. As a result, a small but growing number of student-led organizations have emerged. These students lead initiatives parallel to the top-down administrative approach that most academic institutions have adopted to improve safety culture in research laboratories.  At the University of Minnesota, the Joint Safety Team (JST) was among the first and most widely recognized student lead safety initiatives in a major research institution. The initial success from JST demonstrated that student-led initiatives can effectively bolster the safety efforts of the administration. Beyond safety, student-led safety initiatives provide a remarkable opportunity to develop valuable leadership skills and gain practical management experience.  <br/>At Northwestern University, the Research Safety Student Initiative (RSSI) was inspired by a trip to DowDupont in the fall of 2017.  Shortly thereafter, a committed group of graduate students formed the RSSI with support from Research Safety and the Chemistry Department. In early 2018, the RSSI organized the inaugural Safety Awareness Week - a multi-day event to develop and promote a student-centered culture of research safety. RSSI has taken the lead in facilitating peer-to-peer inspections, developing its own resource tools, and fostering community and social interaction around lab safety. This talk will discuss the challenges and opportunities in forming RSSI, focusing on its initial success and its long-term vision to become a permanent part of the safety fabric of the University.

Peer to a mentor: Engaging graduate students in laboratory safety at northwestern

2019 Spring National Meeting

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