Department Safety Coordinator (DSC)

A DSC functions as a liaison between RLS and their department and/or unit.

Main responsibilities:

• Ensure their department is identifying and implementing safe work practices in their daily work
• Assess new safety and health hazards
• Address and notify RLS of safety concerns (including escalation to department leadership or shutdown imminent health hazards)
• Communicate with principal investigators (PIs) and other departmental staff to make sure they understand their responsibilities and the policies applicable to their research and are aware of health and safety issues
• Notify RLS of new or existing operations that may warrant further investigation and/or monitoring
• Notify RLS of new and changing faculty space assignments, including faculty leaving the University

Suggested ways to achieve this:

• Build relationships - Get to know the researchers in the department, have conversations to understand their safety concerns and hazardous activities
• Communicate those concerns and engage Research & Lab Safety to help problem solve and answer questions
• Attend Training - RLS provides annual training and other updates for DSCs
• Connect with RLS to answer questions, and help problem solve

A DSC must be knowledgeable in health and safety rules and administrative procedures and best practices applicable to their department. The "rules" depend on the areas of research and activities being performed. Governmental regulations (e.g., OSHA, NRC, EPA, and FDNY),  and University policies (e.g., Chemical Hygiene Plan, and Hazardous Waste, Biological Safety, etc.). Most importantly the DSC must know where to go for further information or expert guidance.

Main responsibilities:

Be aware of relevant best practices, regulations, and policies.

Suggested ways to achieve this:

• Attend training - RLS & EHS provides new and updated training for DSCs. 
• Participate on departmental safety committees
• Review health and safety resources found on the website
• Review the University's Safety Policies and Guidance Documents
• Connect with the RLS to answer questions, help find additional resources, and help problem solve

A DSC ensures that all PIs, supervisors, and laboratory personnel receive basic safety training. A DSC may also help make sure PIs and supervisors provide their personnel with safety training regarding protocols and procedures specific to their lab. 

Suggested ways to achieve this:

• Review the Training Dashboard to see if there are individuals overdue . Follow-up with those individuals.
• Inform and send PIs, supervisors, and other lab personnel to RLS training
• Inform PIs or superviors to consult with RLS about their potential hazards that can/have occurred within their areas of research, so RLS may suggest safety measures that mitigate these hazards, to help them write their SOPs

• Check the physical set up for health and safety issues, such as safe functioning of laboratory and safety equipment, and proper chemical storage and handling
• Check and ensure researchers are aware of and can access pertinent safety documents (e.g., lab-specific SOPs, SDSs) and that all required training records are current
• Monitor researchers as they perform lab procedures to ensure they follow SOPs accurately, use chemicals safely, keep safety equipment working and accessible, and manage wastes properly
• Ensure audit findings are being reviewed by PI/Lab Supervisors, and inform them of their responsibility to take action on noted deficiencies
• Ensure follow-up actions are taken on audit deficiencies

Suggested ways to achieve this:

• Review the compliance dashboards for your department(s), centers you are responsible for.
• Review the Hazards link to ensure there are no overdue PIs, supervisors required to identify their lab or spaces hazards. Follow-up with the PI, supervisor or lab managers.
• Review the Inspection Dashboard to see if there are any outstanding inspections. Follow-up with the labs.
• Review the Training Dashboard to see if there are individuals overdue . Follow-up with those individuals.