THE LAB SERVANT empowering the researcher THE TROUBLE

THE LAB SERVANT empowering the researcher

THE TROUBLE WITH COMPLIANCE Compliance from a researcher perspective § 'Health and Safety legislation imposes an unnecessary financial burden on business‘ (Lucy Saaroni, academia. edu/ Univ. Leicester) § ‘Corporate behaviour is far from determined by the intentions and actions of regulatory bodies’ (Horlick-Jones, 1996: 144)

OUTLINE • The problem • The dilemma • Impact technology progress • The action • Self management • The Lab Servant and some modules • The results

Research is dangerous if you don’t know what you are doing! 4

DILEMMA § § § RESEARCH Exploration, crossing borders, flexible Growing complexity (multidisciplinary research) Decline in technical staff (supervision) Scattered problem-solving Administrative burden Budget cuts § § § H&S Proven knowledge, Rigid regulations Lack of knowledge (research) Poor overview of risks Transfer of responsibilities (Gov. ) Out of control?

IMPACT TECHNOLOGY PROGRESS PLANNING REACTION • A different approach in safety management • A change of roles within the organisation (self management) • Better antenna’s, easy access to information (reliable, real time)

STIMULATE SELF MANAGEMENT § Accountability researchers (more freedom) § Business processes cohesive with health&safety § Providing decision support systems § Reveal bottlenecks and assign to those responsible § Organisational learning

EMPOWERING RESEARCHERS dashboard Lab Servant: § Single database connected to other corporate systems and ‘bookshelf’ § Enriched information (decision support) § Safety incorperated into business process Instruction &test Chem ord&reg Area risk classif. Biosafety Data base Permit management Safety report Equipment & lasersafety Inspect. Corporate systems Good practices Chemwatch

WHAT IS THE LABSERVANT? • Risk assessment web tool for Higher education and R&D • Set of interlinked modules • Central database linked to corporate systems • Decision support for safety, ethics and business processes • Notebook, registration, follow up and compliance register • Safety dashboard (cross-sections, audits, self-direction)

THE ACTION Safety Report System, a webtool that: § Guides the researcher systematically through the safety aspects of the experiment. § Creates a Safety Report out of the researchers reflection § Addresses the supervisor for authorization of the report (and not the safety professional!) (OSHA EU, Good Practice Award Winner 2009)

A MODULE: Safety Report System The workflow

SAFETY REPORT SYSTEM (2) Compound/Chemical used: CAS RN Name Quantity : 64 -17 -5 : Ethanol : 4 liter the hazard ratings are retrieved from Chemwatch pop-up window with mini. MSDS from Chemwatch Health Risks & Safety Measures: Compulsory field to review health risks and safety measures as reflection to hazard ratings and mini MSDS Add Compound/Chemical Biological Agent used: Add Biological Agent 12

ADDITIONAL MODULES dashboard Instruction &test Biosafety Data base Chem ord&reg Area risk Classif. Permit management Safety report Equipment & lasersafety Inspect.

THE RESULT • Stimulates shop floor to develop own safety solutions • Delivers decision support to laboratory workers • Reveals bottlenecks and assign to those responsible • Business processes consistent with health&safety (efficiency) • Dashboard (H&S performance indicator) • Empowers researchers to be capable and accountable

CONCLUSION § Discussed problems faced at Delft University § Shown the action we took § Development Safety report § Development other modules in interlinked Lab Servant § Major step towards empowering the researcher in H&S matters § Regained control

d. hoeneveld@tudelft. nl