In April 2012 a partnership focused on safety between Dow Chemical Company and the Departments of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at the University of Minnesota began.  The Minnesota Model’s defining characteristic has been its “bottom-up” approach, where the researchers, primarily graduate students, have been empowered to take the lead on safety initiatives. The individual student members of the JST change frequently, but the essential structure of the JST model has proven resilient. New members of the departments quickly learn that safety is a core component of the departments’ cultures. Strong industrial support from Dow, Sherwin Williams and others continues to inspire students to ask questions and participate in safety initiatives.<br/>The group's goal is to improve academic safety standards and culture by emulating industrial best practices. JST has identified four areas that are essential to improving safety culture which include: Compliance, Awareness, Resources, and Education (CARE).<br/>Discussion will cover turnover, balancing concern and apathy, value of repetition, timing, selling safety responsibilities as part of academic learning, and advocating for resources.

UMN Joint Safety Team, the Minnesota Model for lasting changes

2019 Spring National Meeting

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