University Chemical and Laboratory Safety Committee Charter

The primary responsibility of the University Chemical and Laboratory Safety Committee is to promote safe and proper chemical management and the utilization of safe laboratory procedures at the West Lafayette Campus, Regional Campuses, University Research Farms and Agricultural Centers, and related facilities and operations.  Chemical management includes, but is not limited to, the procurement and the safe handling, use, storage, and disposal of chemicals.

The Chemical and Laboratory Safety Committee shall consist of members appointed from the faculty and staff with the ability to make judgments of the safe use of chemicals in the University environment. The committee shall represent as much as possible the major colleges of the University that utilize chemicals to conduct laboratory research. Committee members shall be appointed upon recommendation of the Executive Vice President for Research and Partnerships and the Senior Director, Environmental Health and Public Safety in consultation with the various deans.  The Chairperson, a member of the faculty, shall also be appointed by the members.  The Director of Environmental Health and Safety and designees shall serve as ex officio members of the Committee.

The specific duties and responsibilities of the Chemical and Laboratory Safety Committee shall include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Serve as advisor to the University Community on matters related to chemical management and laboratory safety.
2. Be cognizant of all applicable government and University policies, procedures, guidelines, laws and regulations related to chemical management and transmit this information in appropriate form to the University Community.
3. Develop, review, and/or approve procedures and guidelines, and prescribe special conditions and requirements related to chemical management and laboratory safety.
4. Recommend to the Executive Vice President for Research and Partnerships and the Senior Director, Environmental Health and Public Safety policies related to chemical management.
5. Develop, review, approve, and recommend programs for training in chemical management and laboratory safety in the University Community.
6. Review conditions not in compliance with government and/or University policies, procedures, guidelines and regulations, and recommend appropriate corrective actions. In extreme circumstances, this may include suspension of the activity in question.
7. Keep a written record of activities, actions, decisions and recommendations of the Committee.
8. Submit to the Executive Vice President for Research and Partnerships and the Senior Director, Environmental Health and Public Safety, and, through appropriate channels, an annual report detailing the activities of the Committee.

The business of the Committee is administered through the Department of Environmental Health and Safety.  The Director of Environmental Health and Safety and the Chairperson shall conduct the interim business of the Committee subject to review by the Committee.  Environmental Health and Safety has the responsibility for overseeing compliance with all government and University policies, procedures, guidelines, laws and regulations related to chemical management and laboratory safety and will advise and assist the Committee in areas related to chemical management and laboratory safety.

The responsibility for compliance and the success of these programs rests with the University Community.  Vice Presidents, deans, directors, chairpersons, department heads and supervisors shall inform the faculty and staff of, and require compliance with, all government and University policies, procedures, guidelines, laws and regulations related to chemical management.  Individual faculty members and supervisors shall ensure that chemical management and laboratory safety requirements are understood and followed by their staff, including technicians, undergraduate and graduate students, and post-doctoral fellows.