Training Principal Investigators

Robin Izzo

Assistant Director

Princeton University EHS

An Unfortunate Truth

• Researchers need to know a lot about a few things. They go around learning more and more about less and less until they know everything about nothing

• Administrators need to know a little about a lot of things. They go around learning less and less about more and more until they know nothing about anything.

• Safety professionals start out knowing everything about everything and end up knowing nothing about anything because they have to deal with researchers and administrators.

Outline

• A Princeton Profile

• The Challenge

• Lab Supervisor “Briefing”

• Laboratory Profiling

Princeton’s Lab Profile

• 12 Science and Engineering Departments

• Population– 4600 undergraduates– 2000 graduate students– 1100 faculty– 11,500 staff (5500 FTE)

• >100 Principal Investigators

• ~500 Laboratories• Summer institutes

The Challenge

• Conducted comprehensive health and safety program reviews for all science and engineering departments in 1999-2000

• State of the Laboratory report to president

• Some problems with Laboratory Safety Training attendance

The Policy

• University Research Board• Recognize role of PIs as supervisors• Established new training program• University Laboratory Safety Training

Policy– Lab Supervisor Briefing– Laboratory Safety Training– Periodic Refresher Training

PI as Supervisor

• Laboratory Standard– From non-mandatory Appendix B, Section B

» 4. Laboratory supervisor, who has overall responsibility for chemical hygiene in the laboratory including responsibility to

» (a) Ensure that workers know and follow the chemical hygiene rules, that protective equipment is available and in working order, and that appropriate training has been provided

» (b) Provide regular, formal chemical hygiene and housekeeping inspections including routine inspections of emergency equipment;

» (c) Know the current legal requirements concerning regulated substances;

» (d) Determine the required levels of protective apparel and equipment; and

» (e) Ensure that facilities and training for use of any material being ordered are adequate.

Chemical Hygiene Plan

• Responsibility of Principal Investigator– Ensure laboratory workers attend general lab safety training given

by EHS. – Ensure laboratory workers understand how to work with

chemicals safely. Provide chemical and procedure-specific training, as needed.

– Provide laboratory workers with appropriate engineering controls and personal protective equipment needed to work safely with hazardous materials. Ensure such equipment is used correctly.

– Ensure laboratory workers complete and submit Particularly Hazardous Substance Use Approval forms and submit them for approval before using any particularly hazardous substance.

– Review and approve work with particularly hazardous substances.

Disconnect

• University and EHS has expectations of PIs

• Laboratory Safety Training focuses on lab worker, rather than lab supervisor

• Approval processes for biological and radiological work, but not chemical

• Communication of expectations is not adequate

Lab Supervisor Briefing

• Briefing vs. Training• Meet individually with incoming PIs

– Notification process through Provost office– ASAP, preferably before their lab is set up– Approximately 5 per year, usually by me

• Non-responsive PIs– Warning first, then report to URB– Has never happened

Lab Supervisor Briefing

• Approximately 1 hour• Serves many purposes

– Lab design review, as needed– Supervisory training– Introduce EHS and EHS resources– Profile lab and learn about proposed research– Sets an example for the Princeton University

laboratory culture

Briefing Agenda

• Introduction– Letter from University

president

• Introduction to EHS– Organizational chart

– Web page mini-tour

– Services

– Consultation

Briefing Agenda

• Training Policy

• Training Matrix– by Department

• Responsibility for ensuring attendance

• In-lab Training

• Attendance Database

Briefing Agenda

• Emergency Procedures– Evacuation– Eyewashes and Safety Showers

» Flushing, maintenance

– Preparedness» Spill control materials

» Special materials (e.g., calcium gluconate gel)

» Fire extinguishers

Briefing Agenda

• Emergency Procedures Booklet

• Emergency Information

Posters

Briefing Agenda

• Laboratory Standard– Chemical Hygiene Plans– Chemical Hygiene Officers– SOPs– Prior Approval Procedures

» Particularly Hazardous Substances

– Documentation

Briefing Agenda

• University Policies and Procedures– Select Agents– Laboratory Security– Funding for Safety – Regulatory Fines– Minors in the Laboratory– Regulatory or Law Enforcement Agency Visits

Briefing Agenda

• Personal Protective Equipment– Selection– Funding– Choices

• Fume Hoods and Lab Ventilation– Maintenance– Testing Schedule and

Procedure– Ratings

Briefing Agenda

• Inspections– General Laboratory– Lasers– Radioactive Materials– Chemical Waste– Self-Audit Checklists

Briefing Agenda

• University Commitment to Environmental Stewardship

• Pollution Prevention– Waste Minimization– Conservation– Incentives

Briefing Agenda

• Chemical Waste Disposal– Procedures– Minimization– Drain Disposal– Surplus Chemicals– Regular Waste Streams– Inspection Recommendations

Briefing Agenda

• Shipping Hazardous Materials• Lab Risk Assessment

– High Value Materials– Mission-Critical Equipment– Potential for Use/Abuse by Terrorists

• Power Supply and Outages– Cogen Plant– Generators– UPS

Briefing Agenda

• Experimental Review– High/Unusual Hazard Experiments– Review Team

• Lab Moves

• Surplus

Laboratory Profiling

• Expanded our Departmental Health and Safety Programs Profiling tool

• Series of questions to help determine which EHS program apply to the laboratory

• References to – EHS resources– EHS staff

Profile

• Sample Questions– Do individuals work on or near exposed electrical

circuits?– Do individuals use materials regulated by the DEA?– Does your lab use highly hazardous gases?– Does your lab utilize high temperature equipment

(e.g., ovens, furnaces, etc.)?– Do

Profile• Injury/Illness Proc.

• Accident Investigation

• Emerg. Action Plans

• Required Postings

• Computer Workstation

• Electrical Safety

• LOTO

• PPE Standard

• Hydrofluoric Acid Prep.

• High Hazard Gas Proc.

• Water Reactive Materials

• High Magnetic Field Safety

• Noise Exposure

• Fall Protection

• Ladder Safety

• Confined Space Entry

• Cutting and Welding

• Hoisting and Rigging

• Temporary Employees

• Respiratory Protection

• Haz Mat Shipping

• Silver Recovery

• High Temp Equipment

• Electromagnetic Radiation

Profile• Laboratory Standard

• Eyewash/Shower

• Chemical Waste

• Emerg. Info Posters

• Minors in Workplace

• Bloodborne Pathogens

• Laser Safety

• UV Light Safety

• Spill Control Plans

• Laboratory Security

• Pressure Vessel Safety

• Powder Actuated Tool Safety

• RAM – Open/Sealed

• Electromagnetic Rad.

• Live Virus Worker

• Animal Worker

• Select Agent Regis.

• DEA Registration

• Particular Haz Substances

• Business Continuity Plan

• Hazardous Metal Program

• Reactive Chemical Safety

• Pollution Prevention/Sustainability

In a Nutshell

• Briefing given to all PIs and their appointed Lab Managers

• Helps mold the laboratory safety culture

• Introduces EHS• Proactive

Questions?

Contact Information

• Robin IzzoAssistant Director for Laboratory SafetyEnvironmental Health and SafetyPrinceton University262 Alexander StreetPrinceton, NJ 08544

• 609-258-6259 (phone)• 609-258-1804 (fax)• rmizzo@princeton.edu• http://www.princeton.edu/ehs• http://web.princeton.edu/sites/ehs/labsafetymanual/index.html

(Lab Safety Manual)