Positive and frequent safety-related communication is an essential management tool in any workplace, including research laboratories. At Northwestern University, the graduate student Research Safety Student Initiative (RSSI) presents an introductory “Safety Minute” during the weekly Chemistry research colloquium. These safety reminders provide practical benefits including sharing news, recent incidents, near misses, safe work practices, and administrative changes. They also demonstrate the Department’s commitment to safety and promoting a positive safety culture.  Safety Minutes are used in many research organizations—industrial and governmental—and now, in some academic institutions<br/>In our experience, key features of an effective Safety Minute program include: (1) develop a diverse group of graduate student and volunteer presenters with various research backgrounds, (2) tailor the topic to the audience, (3) create new content and respond to suggestions and (4) well, keep it short.  Over the last year and one-half, the RSSI has generated a shared library of presentations.  Beyond Chemistry, the Materials Science and Chemical Engineering Department of our Engineering School has now started its own Safety Minute program.  In this presentation, we will focus on the topics we have addressed and lessons learned.<br/>Beyond Northwestern, RSSI would like to share our work with other institutions to help build a strong research safety culture everywhere.<br/>

Safety minutes: Consistent way to promote and sustain the commitment to research safety

2019 Fall National Meeting

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