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Staff turnover
Staff turnover Laboratory Waste Minimization
M
ost laboratories have a key person, often a laboratory supervisor, who oversees most laboratory activities, including safety and waste minimization issues. When an experienced person is in this role, the laboratory usually functions quite smoothly and safely. This individual may integrate waste minimization initiatives into the laboratory’s procedures in a way that is transparent to others in the laboratory. However, when this key person leaves the laboratory due to promotion, retirement, or other reasons, a vacuum is created that can have negative effects on laboratory safety and waste minimization. In this column, we will address some of the common pitfalls—and how to avoid them—that are encountered when a key laboratory worker terminates employment.
Peter C. Ashbrook (left) is director of environmental health and safety at the University of Missouri-Columbia, and Todd A. Houts (right) is assistant director of environmental health and safety at the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. 28
Common Pitfalls The key person is often the one designated as responsible for chemical waste compliance. This person knows the procedures for disposing of unwanted and waste chemicals. Depending on the institution’s program, there may be subtle requirements that help keep the institution in compliance with government regulations. Maybe there is a special label required or storage limitations (time and/or quantity). Maybe there are requirements for initial and refresher training for which this individual keeps records. Or perhaps this individual is responsible for periodic safety inspections. When an experienced person is available, compliance occurs with seemingly little effort. Similar to chemical waste issues, there is usually a key person responsible for examining and implementing waste minimization practices. Some of the most common practices include good housekeeping, centralized purchasing, maintenance of an updated inventory, development of written protocols, regular review of protocols, and other administrative practices. When the responsible individual leaves, there is a void. Possible Solutions While many supervisors talk about how valued their employees are, the full value of employees is sometimes not appreciated until they leave. The first thing a laboratory manager needs to be aware of is that the person responsible for safety, regulatory compliance,
© Division of Chemical Health and Safety of the American Chemical Society Published by Elsevier Science Inc.
waste minimization, and related tasks needs to have at least one backup. One has to be careful not to make these tasks shared responsibilities because when multiple people are in charge of something, all too frequently the task does not get done. However, one alternative is to rotate tasks among several individuals for periods such as a week or a month. Beyond rotation of responsibility, everyone in the laboratory should have some training in the institution’s policies and procedures for safety, waste minimization, and regulatory compliance. These three issues go hand in hand. Such training does not have to be a burden, because the prevention of accidents and regulatory compliance prevent unnecessary disruption to laboratory activities. Waste minimization, when implemented properly, should improve efficiency, lower costs and improve safety. Last, when a key individual leaves a laboratory, the laboratory manager needs to recognize that this is a critical period for the laboratory with respect to safety, regulatory compliance, and waste minimization. One way to minimize these negative impacts is to request assistance from the institution’s environmental health and safety office to provide refresher training on the appropriate topics. Conclusion Safety, waste minimization, and regulatory compliance are closely related activities. Laboratory practices addressing these issues can appear almost effortless when a good experienced person is available. When such a person leaves the laboratory, the laboratory manager must recognize the possibility for slippage and take appropriate steps to make sure that optimum practices continue. Waste Minimization Recommendation #60: When an experienced staff person announces they will terminate employment, the laboratory manager should make sure that this person’s safety, waste minimization, and regulatory compliance responsibilities are understood and will be transferred in a timely fashion to someone else. Waste Minimization Recommendation #61: Periodically request refresher training in waste minimization, safety, and regulatory compliance from your institution’s environmental health and safety staff.
1074-9098/01/$20.00 PII S1074-9098(00)00197-0
M
ost laboratories have a key person, often a laboratory supervisor, who oversees most laboratory activities, including safety and waste minimization issues. When an experienced person is in this role, the laboratory usually functions quite smoothly and safely. This individual may integrate waste minimization initiatives into the laboratory’s procedures in a way that is transparent to others in the laboratory. However, when this key person leaves the laboratory due to promotion, retirement, or other reasons, a vacuum is created that can have negative effects on laboratory safety and waste minimization. In this column, we will address some of the common pitfalls—and how to avoid them—that are encountered when a key laboratory worker terminates employment.
Peter C. Ashbrook (left) is director of environmental health and safety at the University of Missouri-Columbia, and Todd A. Houts (right) is assistant director of environmental health and safety at the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. 28
Common Pitfalls The key person is often the one designated as responsible for chemical waste compliance. This person knows the procedures for disposing of unwanted and waste chemicals. Depending on the institution’s program, there may be subtle requirements that help keep the institution in compliance with government regulations. Maybe there is a special label required or storage limitations (time and/or quantity). Maybe there are requirements for initial and refresher training for which this individual keeps records. Or perhaps this individual is responsible for periodic safety inspections. When an experienced person is available, compliance occurs with seemingly little effort. Similar to chemical waste issues, there is usually a key person responsible for examining and implementing waste minimization practices. Some of the most common practices include good housekeeping, centralized purchasing, maintenance of an updated inventory, development of written protocols, regular review of protocols, and other administrative practices. When the responsible individual leaves, there is a void. Possible Solutions While many supervisors talk about how valued their employees are, the full value of employees is sometimes not appreciated until they leave. The first thing a laboratory manager needs to be aware of is that the person responsible for safety, regulatory compliance,
© Division of Chemical Health and Safety of the American Chemical Society Published by Elsevier Science Inc.
waste minimization, and related tasks needs to have at least one backup. One has to be careful not to make these tasks shared responsibilities because when multiple people are in charge of something, all too frequently the task does not get done. However, one alternative is to rotate tasks among several individuals for periods such as a week or a month. Beyond rotation of responsibility, everyone in the laboratory should have some training in the institution’s policies and procedures for safety, waste minimization, and regulatory compliance. These three issues go hand in hand. Such training does not have to be a burden, because the prevention of accidents and regulatory compliance prevent unnecessary disruption to laboratory activities. Waste minimization, when implemented properly, should improve efficiency, lower costs and improve safety. Last, when a key individual leaves a laboratory, the laboratory manager needs to recognize that this is a critical period for the laboratory with respect to safety, regulatory compliance, and waste minimization. One way to minimize these negative impacts is to request assistance from the institution’s environmental health and safety office to provide refresher training on the appropriate topics. Conclusion Safety, waste minimization, and regulatory compliance are closely related activities. Laboratory practices addressing these issues can appear almost effortless when a good experienced person is available. When such a person leaves the laboratory, the laboratory manager must recognize the possibility for slippage and take appropriate steps to make sure that optimum practices continue. Waste Minimization Recommendation #60: When an experienced staff person announces they will terminate employment, the laboratory manager should make sure that this person’s safety, waste minimization, and regulatory compliance responsibilities are understood and will be transferred in a timely fashion to someone else. Waste Minimization Recommendation #61: Periodically request refresher training in waste minimization, safety, and regulatory compliance from your institution’s environmental health and safety staff.
1074-9098/01/$20.00 PII S1074-9098(00)00197-0