Undergraduates are never allowed into a lab alone.  Graduate students are
given the same accessibility as postdocs, meaning they can work alone
(many of our research groups consist of one or two people TOTAL, so they
really don't have a choice).  We do however recommend notifying security
if working alone after hours and our security are trained to check on
researchers in this situation every half hour. We run a "one building"
research center, so our guards are patrolling every wing 24-7.

During safety training for graduate students, we also emphasize that they
perform hazardous operations during business hours or with a colleague
present (even from another lab if need be) after hours.

I would prefer that no-one work alone, ever.  However, the nature of our
funding structure dictates than many PIs only have support for one post
doc and/or grad student per grant, meaning that we have entire labs that
run with only one researcher in the lab.  Short of pulling funding or
combining lab spaces, there is no way to enforce a buddy policy.

Brandon Chance

Safety and Environmental Compliance Manager
Office of Building Operations & HSSE
Texas A&M University at Qatar
brandon.chance**At_Symbol_Here**qatar.tamu.edu


PO Box 23874 | Doha, Qatar
TAMUQ Building Room 225E | Education City

(o) +974.4423.0495 | (m) +974.6668.3552 | SkypeIn USA 001.281.764.1776

www.qatar.tamu.edu

It’s Time For Texas A&M

On 10/4/11 3:07 PM, "Secretary, ACS Division of Chemical Health and
Safety"  wrote:

I would like to know the policy of your Institution regarding "Students
Working Alone."  Even during daytime/business hours, if they are in the
lab alone, not just after hours.
From: Patricia Redden 
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Policy on Students working alone
Date: October 3, 2011 2:01:48 PM EDT

We are purely undergraduate.  Our students are not allowed to work
alone in the lab under any circumstances.

Pat Redden
St. Peter's College
==From: Bill Luttrell 
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Policy on Students working alone
Date: October 3, 2011 2:12:02 PM EDT

Hi Teresa,

  Our policy is that students are not to work alone in the laboratory
at any time.

Dr. Bill Luttrell

William E. Luttrell, PhD
Associate Professor and Chair
Department of Chemistry and Physics
Oklahoma Christian University
2501 East Memorial Road
Edmond, Oklahoma  73013-5525
Phone:  405-425-5421
Cell:  405-370-3128
Fax:  405-425-5446
Email:  bill.luttrell**At_Symbol_Here**oc.edu

==From: tony pappantoniou 
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Policy on Students working alone
Date: October 3, 2011 2:35:26 PM EDT

Teresa,
I teach at a community college. Students are never allowed to work alone.
A faculty member must always be present when students are doing any lab
work.
Tony Pappantoniou
Assistant Professor of Biology
Housatonic Community College
Bridgeport CT

==From: "Dr. Saeed Al-Alawi" 
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Policy on Students working alone
Date: October 3, 2011 4:08:19 PM EDT
HI

If the students wants to work alone in the Lab. during the working hours
8.00 - 15.30, the students should notify the instructor and the lab.
technician responsible for the lab.

The students not allowed to work after the working hours in the Lab.
Regard

Dr. Saeed Al-Alawi
Chemistry Department
University of Bahrain

Previous post   |  Top of Page   |   Next post