Overview
Serves as the Chemical Hygiene Officer (CHO) for laboratory standards (OSHA 29CFR1910.1450).
Provides technical guidance, training, and support with instrumentation and chemical hygiene.
Responsible for identification, acquisition, storage, inventory, and preparation of supplies and equipment required for all instructional laboratories in the department. Ensures supplies and equipment are accurately prepared, readily available and set up for individual labs as specified by the department. Communicates with department chair and/or faculty if supplies are back-ordered/unavailable and problem solves to ensure requested items or acceptable substitutes are available so there is no disruption to lab curricula or instruction.
Responsible for providing technical laboratory and safety support to faculty for all laboratory exercises. Collaborates with course instructors to monitor any changes to laboratory protocols to assure that laboratory needs are met. Assists in problem solving of laboratory experiments, equipment, and instrumentation and takes corrective action.
Responsible for the requisition of all department supplies, equipment, instrumentation, and lap top computers, including acquiring bids, quotes, vetting vendors, and initiating purchase orders in accordance with college policy, including working knowledge of the Illinois Public Higher Education Consortium. Monitors department budget. Communicates with department chair and/or faculty if price increases are prohibitive and problem solves, suggests acceptable substitutes, and ensures supplies are available so there is no disruption to lab curricula or instruction.
Coordinates and assists with maintenance and inventory of all department supplies, equipment, instrumentation, and lap top computers. Identifies the need for new and replacement supplies and equipment in conjunction with department chair and laboratory technician.
Coordinates and assists with maintenance of laboratories, stockrooms, preparation rooms, storage rooms, and instrumentation rooms. Ensures laboratories and storage areas are in orderly and neat condition and supplies and equipment are properly cleaned and stored. Coordinates care and performs routine maintenance, including calibration, repair, and/or construction of all department laboratory equipment and instruments.
Guides day-to-day activities of laboratory technician.
Monitors facilities and utilities such as de-ionized water, plumbing, compressed air, natural gas, electricity, and ventilation. Communicates all facilities, utilities, and custodial issues through proper channels and to all appropriate parties.
Responds to unexpected situations and contacts the appropriate personnel.
Meets regularly with the department chair and laboratory technician to collaboratively discuss workflow, troubleshoot issues, and assess department laboratory needs.
Maintains and implements the Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP); responsible for reviewing, monitoring and advising with respect to the CHP. Evaluates hazards and assesses risks in procedures and chemicals used in laboratory experiments.
Develops health and safety training plans for laboratory employees. Provides training to all faculty members, staff, and research students at time of hiring. Provides refresher training to all department faculty and staff. Establishes health and safety reference materials and establishes record-keeping systems for documenting training.
Trains faculty, staff and research students on the proper handling of laboratory wastes. Oversees the procurement, use, treatment, and disposal of hazardous laboratory substances in accordance with local, state, and federal regulations.
Ensures that Safety Data Sheets for the department are maintained and received with incoming shipments of hazardous chemicals and that SDSs are readily accessible for laboratory employees. Ensures that labels on incoming containers of hazardous chemicals used in science laboratories are not removed or defaced and that secondary containers have appropriate labeling.
Works with the Safety Committee to establish criteria that will be used to evaluate potential employee exposure to hazardous chemicals. Evaluates potential exposures and recommends employee exposure monitoring and/or medical consultation. Monitors and maintains records of health and safety issues in the laboratories in accordance with CHP and college policy.
Implements control measures that will be used to reduce employee exposure including engineering controls, the use of personal protective equipment, and hygiene practices.
Participates in laboratory audits conducted by outside consultants. Conducts periodic in-house laboratory inspections to ensure compliance with laboratory policies and the OSHA Laboratory Standard.
Performs related duties as assigned.
Working Conditions/Physical Requirements:
Work is indoors with hazardous chemicals. Work involves moving throughout the laboratories in an area with an outside perimeter of nearly an eighth of a mile. Work may involve lifting carboys up to 30 lbs. on an occasional basis, and moving compressed gas cylinders about the laboratory, and climbing stepladders. Desk work also required.
Supervision:
Under the general supervision of the Dean of Math and Science Division. Receives day to day direction for the Department Chair. Performs routine duties without receiving instruction. Receives instructions as needed for specific assignments.
Minimum Acceptable Qualifications:
Education: Bachelor's degree in chemistry with an emphasis on strong laboratory skills and instrumentation. CHO training preferred.
Experience: Three years of chemical laboratory experience including operation and maintenance of common laboratory instrumentation. Working knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet and chemistry software required. CHO experience preferred. Laboratory managerial experience involving accounting and budgeting is desired.