50 Things Any Safety Staff Member Should Know

1. 50 Things Any Safety Staff Member Should Know Bruce Brown, MPH, CBSP, CHMM, ARM Director, Environmental Health & Safety The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

2. Need for Comprehensive Understanding • Health and safety issues are rarely limited to a single aspect – most issues are multi-faceted • Research enterprises continue to expand in scope and complexity, but EH&S budgets are constrained • Ability to demonstrate how EH&S program furthers the key missions of an institution is critical for survival and continued support

3. Observations/Remarks • Experience based on multiple EH&S program peer reviews, and 11 years of conducting the “EH&S Academy” has shown: • A consistent lack of understanding about how institutions operate and how to succinctly convey what the EH&S program does to further the mission of the institution • Shortcoming likely due to lack of specific training in this area – most folks enter the EH&S field from other settings with no formal instruction regarding operations

4. The 50 Questions • To address this shortcoming, a list of 50 key items that we collectively considered important for any EH&S person to be able to answer about our institution was developed • Consists of both objective and subjective issues • Debated amongst management staff and system level staff until consensus list identified

5. Disclaimer • Knowledge of the “50 questions” will not make everyone an expert nor omnipotent • Intended merely to equip persons with a basic awareness of issues and the ability to adequately handle basic inquiries and problems • “Your list may vary”

6. Major Topic Areas • Institutional parameters, programmatic aspects • Fire & life safety • Risk management & insurance • Chemical safety • Biological safety • Indoor air quality • Radiation safety • Environmental • Security

7. Implementation • Questions presented to staff during weekly professional development seminars (6 one hour sessions) • Answers and rationale for inclusion of each question discussed • Expectation for ability to answer such questions in the future established

8. The 50 Questions

9. Outcomes to Date • Improved staff understanding • Improved customer service • Improved management confidence, assurance • Improved stakeholder perception of program • Initiated pathways for future learning, professional development

10. Comments/Questions? • Your feedback is welcomed!