The Grainger College of Engineering
Materials Science & Engineering

Safety Responsibilities

Principal Investigators/Laboratory Supervisors

Principal Investigators(PIs) and laboratory supervisors have specific responsibilities to provide a work environment free from environmental health and safety hazards for those supervised. PI/lab supervisor responsibilities include:

  • Implement campus safety policies in his/her laboratories to ensure the safety and health of all laboratory personnel.
  • Provide information about relevant environmental,  health,  and  safety  rules,  regulations, standards, or practices.
  • Ensure that required safety-related equipment and personal protective devices are provided, maintained, and used.
  • Develop standard operating procedures for work with hazardous materials.
  • Provide or arrange for environmental health and safety training and education as needed. http://officeofsafety.engineering.illinois.edu/files/2015/07/Training-Matrix-20154.pdf,
  • Take prompt action when unsafe acts or hazardous conditions are reported or noted.
  • Promptly investigate and report all on-the-job accidents and/or job-related health problems and request medical treatment, if needed.
  • Request the assistance of the next higher level of supervision regarding budget requests for environmental health and safety improvements.

Researchers

Researchers are responsible for complying with all environmental health and safety regulations, standards and guidelines. Each individual accepts personal responsibility for ensuring his or her own safety and health and accepts that he or she has a duty to protect the safety and health of other members of campus. Research responsibilities include:

  • Follow all policies and regulations as outlined in the Laboratory Safety Guide, laboratory specific policies, the campus administrative manual, and other applicable documents.
  • Wear and use required personal protective equipment as specified by their supervisor and university policies.
  • Refrain from operating any mechanical equipment that has the potential to harm personnel or property unless they have proper instruction, training or authorization to safely use the equipment.
  • Report unsafe acts or hazardous conditions to the supervisor.
  • Attend and understand prescribed environmental health and safety training and education.
  • Report all on-the-job accidents and/or job-related health problems to the supervisor and requesting medical treatment, if needed.

Students

Students are responsible for complying with all environmental and safety regulations, standards, and guidelines.  Each individual accepts personal responsibility for ensuring his or her own safety and health and accepts. Student responsibilities include:

  • Follow all policies and regulations as outlined in the Laboratory Safety Guide, laboratory specific policies, the campus administrative manual, and other applicable documents.
  • Wear and use required personal protective equipment as specified by their supervisor and university policies.
  • Refrain from operating any mechanical equipment that has the potential to harm personnel or property unless they have proper instruction, training or authorization to safely use the equipment.
  • Report unsafe acts or hazardous conditions to the lab supervisor.
  • Attend and understand prescribed environmental health and safety training and education.
  • Report all  accidents and near misses to the lab supervisor

Lab Course Instructor

  • Know the details of the experiments to be completed in the course including all potential hazards
  • When developing new experiments for lab courses, complete a hazard assessment so that safe procedures may be developed
  • Ensure that Graduate Teaching Assistants are properly trained on how to perform the experiments in a safe manner and that they are ready to provide guidance to the classes that they will oversee
  • Ensure that standard operating procedures are available for every process to be completed by the students
  • Inform the students of safety training that is required before beginning the experiment
  • Ensure that all students are aware of the safety policies of the instructional labs
  • Ensure that all necessary personal protective equipment is being utilized

Graduate Teaching Assistant

  • Complete general training on safety in the instructional labs
  • Complete training on how to perform the student experiments
  • Perform the experiments assigned before the beginning of semester and be able to demonstrate understanding of the equipment and concepts
  • Be a leader and example with regard to safety in the laboratory by practicing safe work habits, wearing the proper PPE, and instructing all students in safe behavior
  • Before beginning an experiment with a new group of students, provide an overview of the potential hazards for the class.
  • Report unsafe conditions to the lab manager
  • Report accidents or near misses to the lab manager
  • Remove any students from the lab who are working unsafely

Student

  • Complete General Lab Safety training before beginning class
  • Read the experiment documents and procedures before coming to class
  • Ask questions if you do not understand
  • Review hazards associated with the equipment and materials that will be used
  • Where the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment as specified by the experiment procedures
  • Report any unsafe behavior or conditions