What is a Safety Minute?

A safety minute is a brief discussion on a safety-related topic at the beginning of a meeting. The JST is currently collecting a database of safety minutes for departmental use. These short PowerPoint presentations will serve as examples & resources for these discussions.

Why are safety minutes important in chemistry?

• Safety minutes promote a proactive approach to safety. By discussing safety protocols in preparation for a safety incident, researchers will know how to promptly react & mitigate problems in the event they occur.
• They help to improve safety culture! Talking about safety as a lab starts a discussion and improve open discussions about how to perform tasks safely.
• Younger researchers may have less lab experience & may not be aware of all safety hazards associated with a procedure. By discussing safety topics prior to executing protocols can prevent a safety incident!
• These discussions can help pass down knowledge from more experienced researchers & help retain generational knowledge.