Chemical Safety Committee

The charge of this committee is to serve in an advisory and consultative capacity to the President of UTSA and the Vice President of Research, and to advise the Environmental Health, Safety and Risk Management Office and Research community in matters pertaining to the safe receipt, use, storage, and disposal of hazardous chemicals and toxins of non-biologic origin at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). Scope would include research and teaching laboratories, and all areas where hazardous chemicals are used or stored on UTSA owned or leased property. The committee is charged to review the impact of safety standards involving chemicals prior to their promulgation and execution; review plans for chemical safety programs (those required and/or those not required by law or by granting/contracting agency) in order to determine their applicability to the research/training function of UTSA; review and approve procedures and research protocols relative to the safe receipt, use, storage, and disposal of hazardous chemicals and toxins; review and advise on engineering controls and personal protective equipment relative to chemical & toxic hazards; and finally to serve as an avenue of appeal in cases of dispute and exception. The Committee may review results from EHSRM’s laboratory evaluation program or Compliance/Internal Audit functions in determining overall institutional safety compliance. The Committee normally meets at least four times a year. Additional meetings may be scheduled as needed.

Structure: 15 members

• Three faculty representatives from the Chemistry Department
• One faculty representative from the Biology Department
• One faculty representative from the Biomedical Engineering Department
• Two faculty representatives from the Physics and Astronomy Department
• One non-faculty Interim Laboratory Safety Manager, Laboratory Compliance Manager (ex officio, ORI)
• One non-faculty Laboratory Safety Specialist 1 (ex officio, ORI)
• Three faculty (alternates) representatives from the Chemistry Department
• One faculty (alternate) representative from the Biomedical Engineering Department
• One faculty (alternate) representative from Biology
• One non-faculty (alternate for Laboratory Safety), ORI (ex officio)
• Senior Research Compliance Coordinator (ex officio)

Members: