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FLEX Lab

Responsibilities of FLEX Group Safety Officers

This document should be used in conjunction with “Guidelines for safety training of new researchers in Flex Lab” 

It is recommended that each faculty member (PI), whether simulation-oriented or experiment-oriented, assigns one (or two, depending on the size of the group) graduate student to be the Safety Officer. The role of said student is to:

  1. Lead by example by engaging in safe practices in the lab.
  2. Act as the liaison between the research group, the Professor, and the Flex Lab Safety Committee, promptly bringing any safety concerns to the attention of the safety committee chair.
  3. Promptly report any near miss or safety incident to the safety committee chair.
  4. Make sure any new policies and recommendations are communicated within the group.
  5. Be the contact person within the research group for new group members to address safety issues.
  6. Manage training for all group members (for more details, please refer to the “Guidelines for safety training of new researchers in Flex Lab” document):
    • Ensure that members complete Flex Lab Safety Awareness Training with the Flex Lab Director {chair of the Flex Lab Safety Committee (currently Dr. Thomas Everett)}, annual safety refresher training, and CHP training.
    • Conduct general PPE training for all members and direct members to REM for specialized PPE training (such as respirators, lasers, biohazards, etc.). This training needs to be documented.  PPE Policy
    • Ensure that members receive any group-specific training.
    • Ensure that members are aware of the University’s hazardous waste management and disposal guidelines.
  7. Be responsible for maintaining lab records and making sure they are up to date. This includes:
  8. General and lab specific safety training, including PPE training, laser training, biohazard training, etc.
  9. Chemical Inventory (HCP-4)
  10. Employee Exposure Information (HCP-5)
  11. Door postings
  12. SDS storage (soft or hard copies), using the guidelines developed by REM and the Flex Lab Safety Committee.
  13. Hazard Assessment and SOPs
  14. Changes should also be reviewed with the PI, and, when deemed necessary by the PI, with the Flex Lab Safety Committee.
  15. Any modification that includes changing the existing fittings or utilities in the lab (air, water, ducts, electrical) requires contacting the Building Deputy (Reid Schmidt).
  16. Review, along with 1-2 other group members, any modifications to existing equipment and/or any new experimental setups within the group.
  17. Ensure that the eyewash station(s) in the lab are flushed once a week
  18. Perform, with 1-2 group members, quarterly lab inspections in addition to the annual self- audits, as part of Purdue’s Integrated Safety Plan (ISP).