Northern Illinois University
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Initiative #1 — PPE in appropriate locations only (possibly make and post signs to not wear PPE in bathrooms, not use lab gloves to open common doors, etc.

• STATUS: Signs Posted

Initiative #2 — Implement and facilitate regular and completely voluntary lab coat laundering (probably meet with Andy Small to implement, send reminder email to department letting everyone know when and where)

• STATUS: Member of SASC launders lab coats at the end of each month

Initiative #3 — System for Anonymous Safety Concern Reporting (possibly a drop box near the main office, checked regularly, concerns brought anonymously to Andy Small)

• STATUS: Drop box was purchased and placed next to mailboxes. The box is checked every week

Initiative #4 — Periodic Safety Shower / Eye Wash Testing

• STATUS: Showers are tested each semester

Initiative #5 — Pursue SASC funding (perhaps for safety field trips, speaker invitations, safety awards, safety swag, etc.)

• STATUS: In progress

Initiative #6 — Design Annual Laboratory Spring Cleaning Event (check list specific to each research lab, chemical swap between labs, waste disposal, hopefully lunch for everyone paid for by department)

• STATUS: Initiated. Good participation by numerous labs. Improvements needed to increase participation

Initiative #7 — Track safety audit observations/statistics

• STATUS: In progress

Initiative #8 — Identify and invite guest safety speaker for Spring Semester 2018 (application due to graduate school by 10-6-17, we have a template application for one of the speakers we've already invited so doesn't have to be done from scratch)

• STATUS: Guest speakers came from Argonne National Laboratory and Ecolab

Initiative #9 — Maintain safety bulletin board (cycle safety related information, advertise safety trainings, etc.)

• STATUS: Produced and maintained

Initiative #10 — Implement student presentation of safety aspects related to their research during group meetings, divisional seminars, defenses, perhaps even safety trainings/discussions specific to a particular lab or equipment, etc.

• STATUS: In progress

Initiative #11 — Launch official NIU website for SASC (list active members for each semester, post departmental safety information, link to other university student safety organizations, etc.)

• STATUS: Launched and maintained

Initiative #12 — Coordinate online or in-person safety trainings (could be "field trip " tour of company or national lab, invitation for somebody to come to NIU to offer safety training (like the existing fire extinguisher and CPR trainings, or just an email to the department advertising an online training)

• STATUS: Field trip coordinated to Argonne National Laboratory to tour safety practices

Initiative #13 — Departmental Safety Newsletter (one page, once per semester)

• STATUS: Released every semester

Initiative #14 — Coordinate efforts to improve safety hazards found in undergraduate teaching laboratories.

• STATUS: In progress