Research Safety Specialist

SHIFT:

Day (United States of America)

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A Brief Overview
This job supports the Research Institute's goal of maintaining a safe work environment for all research staff and provides assistance achieving compliance with regulatory standards and industry best practices. This includes biosafety and biosecurity, chemical and laboratory safety, hazardous material management, industrial hygiene and air monitoring, and emergency response.

Reporting to a Research Safety Manager, this role is responsible for providing support to the ORS for the safety programs which includes, but is not limited to: conducting routine lab safety surveys in research laboratories; biological and/or chemical inventory management; reviewing research protocols for institutional committees (IBC, IACUC, IRE); providing guidance for handling, storage, and disposal of biohazardous and chemical agents; conducting biohazard or chemical risk assessments; and providing additional safety guidance and support to labs as needed.

The Office of Research Safety (ORS) is responsible for ensuring compliance with federal, local, state, and institutional policies and regulations within the CHOP Research Institute.

What you will do

• Biosafety
• Assisting the Biological Research Safety Manager with ensuring the Biosafety & Biosecurity Program is compliant with federal, state, and local regulations and policies.
• Biosafety program support: including review of IBC, IRE, and IACUC protocols, auditing purchased biologics reports, and updating program manuals, SOPs, and other documentation.
• Implementing appropriate control measures and work practices for the safe handling, storage, and disposal of biohazardous material.
• Review and update biosafety program content including: policies, trainings, and online presence.
• Chemical Safety
• Assisting the Chemical Research Safety Manager with ensuring the Chemical Hygiene Program is in compliance with federal, local and state regulations and policies.
• Chemical waste program support and communication with the waste vendor.
• Chemical inventory management and support, including minimal communication with the vendor.
• Providing support to labs regarding chemical handling, storage, and disposal.
• Review and update chemical program content on the ORS website, as needed.
• Laboratory Safety
• Conducts periodic laboratory visits and clearly documents findings related to work performed.
  o Prepares and maintains detailed reports and records.
  o Provides written and oral feedback on findings.
  o Assists with development of recommended actions to achieve compliance.
• Assists managers in revising educational programs to reflect findings of laboratory surveys, changes in policy, procedure or regulations or outcome of incident investigations.
• Create and deliver safety trainings as needed and ensure related compliance.
• Perform risk assessments for biological, ergonomic, laser, mechanical and other laboratory hazards.
• Weekly hazardous waste room surveillance
• Review institutional and departmental policies and procedures for accuracy and to ensure compliance with all local, state, federal and institutional policies, and regulations.
• Emergency Response
• Respond to concerns regarding safety and health, and complete incident investigations.
• Responds to spills and emergencies 24 hours/day; 7 days a week including participation in a rotating on-call emergency response schedule.

Education Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Genomics, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Health and Safety, Industrial