The Research Safety Branch (RSB) is responsible for a comprehensive range of services designed to protect employees and maintain safe workplaces. Our core duties include conducting thorough investigations of workplace incidents and injuries to uncover root causes and prevent recurrence. Another core responsibility is supporting the Animal Care and Use Committees (ACUC) by reviewing protocols, assessing risks, providing specialized training, and checking facilities for safety.
An additional key responsibility is performing lab clearance surveys, which are carried out after decontaminating research spaces to ensure safety before renovation or equipment servicing. Safety specialists regularly execute safety surveys to diagnose potential hazards, gauge employee perceptions of safety, and assess the effectiveness of organizational safety policies. We also provide support for hazard remediation, working closely with other safety programs to identify, contain, and safely clean up environmental, biological, chemical, or structural hazards.
Beyond these technical tasks, RSB is instrumental in outreach and communications. We design educational materials, conduct specialized training sessions, and collaborate across the Division of Safety to foster a strong safety culture. We are engaged with employees and management to help drive ongoing improvements in safety practices and encourage active participation in maintaining a safe work environment.
