Improving engineering research laboratory safety by addressing the human aspects of research management

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A Total Quality Management plan was developed and implemented on a chemical engineering laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley. The plan addressed proactive, reactive, and interactive methods to improve general safety of the laboratory and was designed to augment the safety plans already in-place by the College of Chemistry. The proactive elements included a HAZOP analysis and safety audits. Reactive elements included Accident and Near-miss Reports and In-service Inspections. The interactive element primarily involved crisis management. A method to implement Quality Assurance and Quality Control was also addressed. The safety measures contained herein were introduced to the research group in the lab. After time was allowed for implementation, the results were analyzed by further inspection and feedback forms distributed to the researchers who work in the laboratory. Elements of Enterprise Risk Management were also addressed. Feedback from the researchers in the lab indicated that the safety measures introduced in this report successfully improved laboratory safety.