Following a serious laboratory incident at Texas Tech University in Lubbock earlier this year, a work group has issued a number of recommendations for improving the school’s safety culture.
The Chemical Safety Board is investigating the January explosion, which seriously injured a doctoral candidate in the chemistry and biochemistry department.
In the meantime, the university’s Working Group on Laboratory Safety advised (.pdf file) Texas Tech to promote safety culture in the university and its departments, and among investigators and trainees.
The work group recommended the university:
- Establish a universitywide research safety committee
- Explore the idea of creating a degree or certificate program in lab safety
- Add safety information to syllabi
- Discuss safety during student forums and faculty orientation and development
The university’s safety committee, led by the chair of the work group, will be charged with implementing all of the recommendations, according to a press release.
