Roles and Responsibilities in Mason Labs

All individuals conducting activities in university laboratories or on behalf of George Mason University must do so in a manner that will not adversely impact themselves, other laboratory personnel, George Mason University property, the surrounding community, or the environment. In accordance with University Policy 1406 , all employees, students, visitors and volunteers are responsible for adhering to and familiarizing themselves with environmental health and safety policies, plans, procedures, guides, directives, and manuals.

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University President

The President acts as Chief Executive Officer of George Mason University and has general responsibility for the direction and supervision of George Mason University and its academic and administrative units. OSHA has determined that the Chief Executive Officer is ultimately responsible for chemical hygiene within an institution (29 CFR 1910); therefore, the President has ultimate responsibility for laboratory and environmental health and safety at George Mason University.

The President ensures that safety remains a priority for the university and that safety programs receive the appropriate support, emphasis, and resources.

Vice President for Research

The Vice President for Research coordinates and oversees the full range of university research activities. Responsibilities of the Vice President for Research with respect to laboratory safety are to:

  • Communicate the importance of a strong laboratory safety culture and demonstrate a concrete, ongoing commitment to laboratory safety;
  • Establish policies that recognize, support, and foster a strong, positive safety culture in university laboratories;
  • Ensure individuals under their management have the authority and support to implement health and safety policies, practices, and programs;
  • Ensure areas under their management are in compliance with University, local, state, and national environmental health and safety policies, practices, and programs;
  • Deploy university resources in ways that support safety and reduce existing incentives to disregard it;
  • Ensure research plans account for and align with best practices for laboratory safety;
  • Design and renovate laboratories with safety as a priority;
  • Articulate expectations, roles and responsibilities, and accountability clearly to schools and institutes under their authority;
  • Immediately notify EHS when they become aware of any unsafe practice in university laboratories or a violation of University, local, state, or national environmental health or occupational safety policy or regulation; and
  • When necessary, enforce sanctions regarding unsafe practices and laboratory noncompliance.

Assistant Vice President for Safety, Emergency, and Enterprise Risk Management

The Vice President for Safety coordinates and oversees the full range of university research activities. Responsibilities of the Vice President for Research with respect to laboratory safety are to:

  • Communicate the importance of a strong laboratory safety culture and demonstrate a concrete, ongoing commitment to laboratory safety;
  • Establish policies that recognize, support, and foster a strong, positive safety culture in university laboratories;
  • Ensure individuals under their management have the authority and support to implement health and safety policies, practices, and programs;
  • Ensure areas under their management are in compliance with University, local, state, and national environmental health and safety policies, practices, and programs;
  • Deploy university resources in ways that support safety and reduce existing incentives to disregard it;
  • Ensure research plans account for and align with best practices for laboratory safety;
  • Design and renovate laboratories with safety as a priority;
  • Articulate expectations, roles and responsibilities, and accountability clearly to schools and institutes under their authority;
  • Immediately notify EHS when they become aware of any unsafe practice in university laboratories or a violation of University, local, state, or national environmental health or occupational safety policy or regulation; and
  • When necessary, enforce sanctions regarding unsafe practices and laboratory noncompliance.

Deans and Directors

Deans and Directors oversee planning for their schools and make sure educational, research, and outreach activities for the school are in alignment. Responsibilities with respect to laboratory safety are to:

  • Communicate the importance of a strong laboratory safety culture and demonstrate a tangible, ongoing commitment to laboratory safety;
  • Work collaboratively with faculty and EHS toward the common goal of a strong positive laboratory safety culture;
  • Implement and comply with university laboratory safety policies and procedures;
  • Lead by example, by modeling good safety behavior;
  • Monitor and ensure compliance with applicable University, local, state, and national environmental health and safety policies, practices, and programs;
  • Ensure instructional laboratories have appropriate safety equipment and personal protective equipment and the curriculum adequately addresses safety in the laboratory;
  • Articulate expectations, roles and responsibilities, and accountability clearly to faculty, staff, and students;
  • Encourage prompt reporting of health and safety concerns without fear of reprisal;
  • Immediately notify EHS when they become aware of any unsafe practice in university laboratories or a violation of University, local, state, or national environmental health or occupational safety policy or regulation; and
  • When necessary, enforce sanctions regarding unsafe practices and laboratory noncompliance.

Department Chairs

Department Chairs provide leadership for the departmental teaching and research programs, advocate for the department, mentor junior faculty, and shape the department’s academic program and curriculum. Responsibilities with respect to laboratory safety are to:

  • Assume ultimate responsibility for safety in the department;
  • Communicate to the department the importance of a strong laboratory safety culture and demonstrate a tangible, ongoing commitment to laboratory safety;
  • Work collaboratively with faculty and EHS toward the common goal of a strong positive laboratory safety culture Lead by example, by modeling good safety behavior;
  • Monitor and ensure departmental compliance with applicable University, local, state, and national environmental health and safety policies, practices, and programs;
  • Ensure departmental instructional laboratories have appropriate safety equipment and personal protective equipment and the curriculum adequately addresses safety in the laboratory;
  • Articulate expectations, roles and responsibilities, and accountability clearly to faculty, staff, and students;
  • Encourage prompt reporting of health and safety concerns without fear of reprisal;
  • Immediately notify EHS when they become aware of any unsafe practice in university laboratories or a violation of University, local, state, or national environmental health or occupational safety policy or regulation; and
  • When necessary, enforce sanctions regarding unsafe practices and laboratory noncompliance.

Principal Investigators, Instructional Faculty, and Laboratory Supervisors

Principal Investigators, Instructional faculty, and Laboratory Supervisors oversee laboratory activities and personnel under their supervision. They should prioritize safety and lead by example by modeling good safety behavior. Specific responsibilities are to:

  • Assume ultimate responsibility for safety in their laboratory, studio or field site;
  • Implement appropriate security precautions and access restrictions for the areas under their supervision;
  • Comply with applicable environmental, health and safety laws and regulations;
  • Follow and enforce university and laboratory-specific policies, practices, procedures;
  • Implement safe operating procedures;
  • Conduct hazard assessments and implement necessary safety controls prior to conducting any experimental procedure;
  • Maintain current registration of material and procedures as required by the university and local, state, and federal regulations;
  • Plan adequately for experiments to reduce the likelihood of exposure to hazardous conditions and substances; Provide information to laboratory personnel regarding laboratory hazards and policies and procedures for managing laboratory hazards;
  • Develop written laboratory safety procedures specific to the work under their supervision;
  • Provide laboratory specific training to laboratory personnel and maintain documentation of the training;
  • Provide laboratory equipment, including personal protective equipment, necessary to safely perform procedures, and adequately maintain equipment through routine maintenance, testing, calibration, and replacement;
  • Encourage prompt reporting of health and safety concerns without fear of reprisal; and
  • Curtail or stop work being carried out under their authority if they reasonably believe that continuation of the work poses an imminent danger to health or safety

Laboratory Staff and Students

It is the responsibility of staff and students to conduct laboratory work and activities in a manner that will not adversely impact themselves, other laboratory personnel, the surrounding community, or the environment. Specific responsibilities are to:

  • Be mindful of the potential risks to their safety and those of their neighbors in the lab, field, shops, studio, stage, and in the classroom;
  • Follow university and laboratory-specific policies, practices, procedures;
  • Follow verbal and written laboratory safety rules, policies, signage, warning signals, personal protective equipment requirements, and standard operating procedures required for their work;
  • Comply with applicable environmental, health and safety laws and regulations;
  • Complete all required laboratory safety training;
  • Conduct a hazard assessment and implement necessary safety controls prior to conducting any experimental procedure;
  • Meet training requirements for their work and the laboratory, studio or field location where work is to be performed;
  • Report all unsafe conditions to their supervisor or safety committee as soon as is reasonably possible;
  • Immediately report all accidents and incidents to their supervisor;
  • Report unsafe conditions to their supervisor as soon as possible; and
  • Stop any experiment or activity that is potentially unsafe and notify their supervisor.

Environmental Health and Safety

EHS operating as a division of Safety, Enterprise and Emergency Risk Management (SEERM), collaborates with the university community to promote health, safety, environmental protection, emergency preparedness and compliance with applicable regulations, guidelines, and best practices in order to sustain a healthful and safe working and learning environment. EHS Laboratory Safety Program works collaboratively with the university community to evaluate hazards and develop policies, procedures, and best practices regarding laboratory safety. Specific responsibilities of EHS with regard to laboratory safety are to:

  • Encourage open and ongoing dialogue about safety at the university;
  • Assist the university community in the evaluation of hazards and the development of procedures and other resources;
  • In coordination with the research community, committees, and leadership, develop best practices and documentation to convey institutional standards;
  • Provide a central repository of safety resources to the university community;
  • Monitor and communicate regulatory and advisory changes to the university community;
  • Maintain current knowledge of regulatory requirements, guidelines, and best practices for research and instructional laboratories;
  • Manage safety and compliance programs for laboratory safety, occupational health and safety environmental protection, and emergency preparedness;
  • Provide technical assistance and guidance to Management, Principal Investigators, laboratory supervisors, and laboratory personnel with the evaluation and control of laboratory hazards and regulatory compliance;
  • Provide laboratory safety training for employees, laboratory workers, and ancillary personnel whose duties require them to conduct activities in university laboratories;
  • Conduct routine laboratory inspections to assure compliance with laboratory safety policies and procedures;
  • Conduct exposure monitoring of laboratory spaces as warranted;
  • Serve as the primary point of contact with local, state, and federal officials regarding applicable regulations and reporting requirements in the area of laboratory safety;
  • Coordinate activities of university safety committees;
  • Assist in planning, review, and approval of construction and renovation of university laboratory facilities; and
  • Execute authority to order remedial action or to temporarily or permanently suspend the right to operate an instructional and research laboratory when immediate or significant hazards present a danger to health, the environment, or property at George Mason University.

Affiliates and Tenants

Affiliates working in laboratories controlled by George Mason University must fulfill all responsibilities of George Mason University personnel identified (Principal Investigators, Instructional Faculty, and Laboratory Supervisors and Laboratory Staff and Students.

Tenants working in laboratories owned by George Mason University must comply with all laboratory health and safety regulations, and any specific George Mason University health and safety requirements that are incorporated into space use agreements. Tenants must provide annually to EHS a written statement confirming that they have existing programs and controls in place to ensure compliance with applicable health and safety regulations.

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