Brian and interested colleagues,
This is one of the important topics that are part of all the courses taught by LSI. I have served as an expert witness in cases involving faculty and injured students for the past 35 years.
Attorneys always ask if I’ve ever testified in court.
My reply is that there’s good news and bad news.
The bad news is that I have never testified in court. The good news is that I’ve never testified in court. Once people understand what one ought to do, both the defendant, the plaintiff and their attorneys understand that it would be appropriate to reach a settlement and not go to trial.
Please call if you would be happy to have a private conversation..
Regard … Jim
James A. Kaufman, Ph.D.
President/CEO
The Laboratory Safety Institute (LSI)
A Nonprofit Educational Organization for
Safety in Science, Industry, and Education
192 Worcester Street, Natick, MA 01760-2252
508-647-1900 Fax: 508-647-0062
Cell: 508-574-6264 Res: 781-237-1335
Skype: labsafe; 508-319-1225
jim**At_Symbol_Here**labsafetyinstitute.org www.labsafetyinstitute.org
Chair, ICASE Committee on Safety in Science Education
International Council for Associations of Science Education
P We thank you for printing this e-mail only if it is necessary
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**med.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Brian Fortney
Sent: Tuesday, October 27, 2015 11:43 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL..EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Legal Liability for Undergraduate Teaching Labs
Good Morning!
Please reply and send attachments to: brian.fortney**At_Symbol_Here**utsa.edu
(Too, please feel free to help me get my questions to an appropriate listserv, and help me connect with that listserv. Thank you!) I write to this list in the hopes of guidance and advice regarding how to determine legal liability for myself (first year, Tenure-Track Assistant Professor) in regards to understanding the legal liability I need to assume if I am ordered to oversee two undergraduate general Chem/Physics/Bio teaching labs.
Background
Currently, a graduate student has been supervising/coordinating the undergraduate labs, but is set to graduate in another year. At that time (if ordered), I will become sole coordinator of the undergraduate labs, ordering, maintenance of safety equipment, etc. For the past many years, a tenured faculty colleague has had oversight of the labs, and all that they entail. Years ago, oversight used to be carried out by a permanent lab supervisor (non-tenure-track). Effective immediately or at the semester, it appears to be “added” to my job duties. (I was quite shocked.)
I am a new, first year, faculty member at The University of Texas at San Antonio. The teaching labs are situated within the College of Education and Human Development, with no apparent connection (that I can see) to colleagues in the College of Sciences. I must note, however, that I have no reason to doubt my colleague who currently has control and oversight of the lab coordinator/graduate student. I also have met my EH&S colleagues. I will also ask them the following questions.
Specific questions I seek help/perspectives in answering:
Thank you very much for helping on any and all points. Please respond to brian.fortney**At_Symbol_Here**utsa.edu
Sincerely,
Brian
---
Brian Fortney, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Science Education and STEM Education
The University of Texas at San Antonio
College of Education and Human Development
Curriculum and Instruction
Interdisciplinary Learning and Teaching
One UTSA Circle
San Antonio, TX. 78249
brian.fortney**At_Symbol_Here**utsa.edu
Ph: 210-458-7442
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