Safety in Course 10 Questionnaire

Transcription

1 Safety in Course 10 Questionnaire This survey is designed to assess the performance of the department in promoting lab safety. Results from this survey will be presented to the department head, Professor Jensen, and the department's EHS committee. Based on the findings, a more informed and targeted effort to address safety should be possible. Thank you! What factors do you feel significantly motivate your approach to health and safety in lab? * My EHS lab representative The department's EHS officers My concern for my personal safety What actions does your PI take to promote safety in your lab? * Check all that appy Discusses research hazards during group meetings Discusses research hazards during individual meetings Takes occasional walks around the lab areas Provides guidelines/policies regarding how to handle certain hazards What best describes the level of emphasis your PI puts on laboratory safety? * Choose one makes it clear that I am expected to work safely, period follows the rules, but has indicated the approaches are cumbersome sees following safety procedures as a hurdle to getting results doesn't seem to express an opinion either way If you were performing a new experiment, and neither you nor your labmates had experience dealing with the associated hazards, what sources would you use to design your experiment safely? * MIT EHS The department's EHS offiicers A Google search Researchers in other labs or departments Literature (articles, MSDS, manuals, etc.)

2 Which descriptions of the once-per-semester safety seminar do you agree with? * The topics covered are relevant to the hazards I face The material is presented clearly and effectively The descriptions of recent lab accidents is helpful The seminar is well organized Which descriptions of the level two inspections do you agree with? * The inspections focus on important hazards in the lab The discussions with the EHS officers are cooperative The discussions with the EHS officers are productive The pictures are helpful in addressing violations Issues that are not found during the inspection but are important to the lab are brought up during the discussions Which descriptions of the chemical hygiene plan do you agree with? * I have read the chemical hygiene plan The description of how to identify hazards is helpful The description of how to write SOPs is helpful The description of roles and responsibilities is helpful The plan requires all personnel to wear safety glasses at all times Which descriptions of the safety requirement related to thesis committee meetings do you agree with? * I'm not a Ph.D candidate, I don't do thesis committee meetings The written part of my thesis proposal contained a detailed hazard assessment During my last meeting, safety was discussed for more than 2 mintues I believe my committee is concerned with the safety aspect of the meetings Which descriptions of the annual lab specific safety trainings do you agree with? * The lab specific safety training covers material related to my research

3 The topics covered were new and/or unfamiliar The topics were covered effectively After the training I knew where safety equipment was located and where to go in the event of an emergency Which statements regarding your level and access to training do you agree with? * I would like there to be more training available relating to the hazards I face in my research When I require training for a new hazard, I'm unsure of how to obtain it I am sometimes unsure if I need additional training to deal with the hazards I face I am sometimes unsure if I can identify all of the hazards of my research Which statements regarding your lab's level of safety equipment and procedures do you agree with? * I sometimes use hazardous chemicals outside the hood because there is not enough hood space I would like to use a respirator sometimes, but getting the fitting/training is too much of a hassle Obtaining PPE or other safety equipment is easy Our lab has good SOPs for most hazardous procedures/equipment I consistently wear eye protection with side shields when in the lab When reading an MSDS, what do you look for to judge the severity of the hazards? * The fire diamond (Health, Flammability, Reactiveness, other) Toxicology information (LD50, LC50, OSHA PEL, etc.) Information about the chemicals ability to be a sensitizer Recommended PPE If you had a near miss incident (a small spill, fire or close call injury) who would you tell? * My EHS lab representative The department's EHS officers MIT EHS

4 Ways the department can improve How could the once-per-semester safety seminars be improved? * Inclusion of demonstrations and examples of lab hazards Question and answer sessions with experts More focus on fewer issues What could be done to improve lab specific safety training * Focus more on experimental techniques/procedures Have an MIT EHS person give the training Have a lab member give the training Use specific examples from the lab What could be done to improve level 2 inspections * More emphasis on the types of experiments being performed and how to do them safely More focus on how to improve in the future, less focus on the mistakes Having the EHS rep or other lab member present during the inspection More followup by the department to help with fixing violations Which of these actions by the department would motivate you to put more effort into lab safety? * Recognition for individuals or lab groups based on safety performance More available training related to the hazards in your research Better self-help resources (links to websites, a safety wiki, etc.) A more safety-conscious culture

5 Is there anything you would like to add? Suggestions are welcome!