UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State’s Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) team will host virtual and in-person events for the Penn State research community as part of the national Lab Safety Week initiative, Feb. 10-13. This year’s Lab Safety Week theme is “Incident, Accident and Emergency Response.”
Lab Safety Week is a national program organized by CSHEMA, the Campus Safety, Health and Environmental Management Association, aiming to promote lab health and safety programs on college campuses.
“I am excited to support this important safety initiative to promote safety in our academic and research laboratories, shops and makerspaces,” said James Crandall, senior director of Penn State EHS and the current CSHEMA president.
Penn State researchers from any college, department or campus are invited to attend the following events. Reservations are not required.
- Monday, Feb. 10: Lab Safety Week Virtual Kickoff, 10:30 a.m. — Virtual presentations from EHS staff regarding spills and lab emergencies. Guest speaker Sean Kaufman will present “Safer Behaviors.”
- Tuesday, Feb. 11: Virtual Lunch and Learn, 12 p.m. — Virtual presentations from EHS staff regarding spills and lab emergencies. Guest speaker Daniel Coons, special agent, will present “Laboratory Security and Insider Threat.”
- Wednesday, Feb. 12: Incident and Spill Response Safety Demonstrations and Resources, Huck Life Sciences 3rd Floor Bridge, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m — An opportunity for researchers and lab members to learn about spill response equipment and techniques, provide in-person feedback, and ask EHS staff questions on a range of topics, including chemical and biological spill response approaches, LionSafe, risk assessments, inspection processes, and more.
- Thursday, Feb. 13: EHS Open House at Steam Services Building, Room 212 A&B, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. — EHS welcomes the research community to visit its new onsite training lab and participate in interactive games and activities focused on incidental and spill response. Vendors including VWR, Grainger, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Ace Glass Incorporated, New Pig, and Cintas will be on site.
Additionally, throughout the week, EHS staff will host lab safety showcases at various science buildings across the Commonwealth Campuses. Researchers and lab members are encouraged to stop by and meet EHS staff to learn more about services and lab safety awareness.