What Area Safety Coordinators Need to Know

Last updated September 2, 2009 10:29:29 AM PDT

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Learn about the role and responsibilities of an Area Safety Coordinator and how to update your safety contact information.

If you are a principal investigator (PI), manager, or supervisor of an area where hazardous materials are stored or handled, you must designate an Area Safety Coordinator (ASC) or act in that capacity yourself.

PIs, managers, or supervisors remain accountable and ultimately responsible for workplace safety and compliance in areas under their control, even if they designate an Area Safety Coordinator.

Click on a topic for more information:

Responsibilities
Resources to help you do the job
Update your safety contact information
How ASCs differ from Department Safety Coordinators (DSCs)
Contacts

Responsibilities of an ASC include

Serve as a contact person for safety audits conducted by Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S). EH&S will review area safety performance during scheduled audits and work cooperatively with ASCs to address any problems.
- Read Research Assistance Program for information about frequency of audits and the scoring system auditors use.

Follow up on issues identified during EH&S safety audits within 10 days of receiving audit results. Correct problems identified in the audit, or notify the person(s) responsible for the violation.
- Perform an area self-audit 3 months after the EH&S safety audit. Target the issues revealed during the audit to identify persisting problems. EH&S will send out a reminder when this audit is due.

Conduct new employee orientations. Make sure new employees receive required and recommended safety training.
- For laboratory employees:
  - Complete the New Laboratory Worker Checklist (PDF) for all new lab personnel.
  - See General Lab Safety and Chemical Safety Training for training requirements.
- For trades and arts employees:
  - Find training requirements at:
    - Safety Training for Trades Employees
    - Safety Training for Arts, Crafts, and Theater Employees

Perform monthly inspections of fire extinguishers located inside your laboratory or the area under your control. Learn about fire extinguishers and inspection at:
- Fire Extinguisher Types, Maintenance, and Training
- Fire Extinguisher Inspection Checklist

Ensure proper disposal of chemicals that have been abandoned by personnel who no longer work in your area.
- See How to Request a Hazardous Waste Collection

Use the Integrated Safety and Environmental Management 5-step process to incorporate safety and environmental best practices into all work activities.

Coordinate safety activities with your Department Safety Coordinator. Receive and distribute information from EH&S to personnel in your area.

Resources to help you do the job

You don't have to start from scratch.

Read Safety Coordinator Resources for guidance.

Update your safety contact information

Most UCSD labs, shops, and studios already have a designated safety contact for their area. Research facilities have historically called these contacts "Lab Safety Contacts." The current contact name, "Area Safety Coordinator," acknowledges that areas handling hazardous materials include not only labs, but also shops and studios.

Use the online PI information form to update your safety contact information.

How Area Safety Coordinators (ASCs) differ from Department Safety Coordinators (DSCs).

ASCs do not serve an entire department. An ASC is assigned to a specific facility where work with hazardous material occurs, typically a lab, shop, or studio.

DSCs represent all their co-workers, regardless of the kind of work performed. Every UCSD department should have at least one DSC. Large departments and departments with multiple locations may need more than one DSC to be effective. Read What DSCs should know.