Pursuant to UCLA Policy 811, all members of the UCLA community are required to conduct university operations in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations as well as with university health and safety standards and practices. UCLA Policy 996 empowers the CPSC to promote a safe working environment with respect to chemical and physical hazards in all research and teaching laboratories on campus, as well as shops that support research activities. The Committee advises and reports to the Chancellor through the Vice Chancellor for Research.

Definitions

Chemical Hazard: chemical agents or toxins that present a health, physical, or environmental hazard. Examples include but are not limited to the following (see Policies 811 and 905):

Physical Hazard: substances, equipment or activities that can threaten physical safety. Can include but are not limited to: impact (falling objects, explosions), fall hazards, pressure extremes (high/low), temperature extremes (hot/cold), noise, vibration, electrical, light (excluding lasers), welding, cutting, grinding, brazing.

Mandate

  • The CPSC will develop, recommend, update and maintain policies and procedures applicable to chemical and physical health and safety practices at UCLA in order to promote safe research practices. The CPSC will advise the Vice Chancellor for Research regarding compliance with safety related policies. To inform decisions and achieve these goals, the CPSC will:
    • Receive and review summary reports from the Office of Environment, Health and Safety (EH&S) laboratory safety inspections and incident reports related to chemical and physical hazards.
    • Review findings of inspection and hazard surveillance programs carried out by authorized EH&S personnel and State and Federal Regulatory authorities.
    • Receive and review reports from Departmental Health and Safety Committees as well as receive input from individual Faculty and Researchers.
  • The CPSC will establish and review strategies to ensure ongoing and adequate surveillance, hazard identification, and risk evaluation of laboratory activities related to chemical and physical hazards.
  • The CPSC will review annually the campus Laboratory Safety Manual, advise the Vice Chancellor for Research and Director of EH&S regarding its effectiveness, and propose improvements as necessary.
  • The CPSC will review requests for variances from established campus safety practices. The reviews for such requests could include consideration of regulatory requirements, analyses of risk assessments completed by EH&S, and consultations with EH&S, Campus Counsel, and OVCR Safety Oversight Committee (OSOC). After review, the CPSC will make recommendations to the Vice Chancellor for Research on accepting or not accepting these requests.

Committee Structure and Administration

Committee Chair

The position of Chair shall be appointed by the Vice Chancellor for Research from the existing voting membership of the committee. The position of Chair is a two-year appointment and is renewable.

Committee Composition

  • Ex Officio Voting Members
    • Chair, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry Safety Committee
    • Chair, School of Medicine Safety Committee
    • Chair, School of Dentistry Safety Committee
    • Chair, School of Engineering Safety Committee
    • Campus Chemical Hygiene Officer (EH&S)
    • Associate Vice Chancellor for Research – Laboratory Safety
  • At Large Voting Members
    • 1 Faculty member with expertise in biological/biochemical sciences
    • 1 Faculty member with expertise in chemical sciences
    • 1 Faculty member with expertise in physical sciences or engineering
    • 1 Faculty member with expertise in arts and architecture
    • Individuals who have special interest and/or expertise to serve as voting members will be appointed to the Committee on an ad hoc basis.
  • Ex Officio Non-Voting Members
    • Member of the Office of Legal Affairs
  • Non-Voting Advisory Members
    • The Chair of the CPSC may appoint individuals who have special interest and/or expertise to serve as non-voting advisors to the Committee on an ad hoc basis.

Committee Administration

Administrative and secretarial services for the Committee will be provided by the office of the Vice Chancellor for Research through the Office of Research Administration (ORA).

Committee Appointments

Voting members are appointed by the Vice Chancellor for Research

Terms of Appointment

Non ex officio voting members of the CPSC are appointed for two-year terms and may be reappointed to additional terms.
The term of appointment for a non-voting advisory member is contingent on the advisory need as determined by the CPSC.

Meetings and Operations

Voting

  • The Committee shall act by majority vote of the voting members present.
  • A quorum shall be a majority of the voting membership.
  • Electronic voting for all CPSC business matters is acceptable at the discretion of the Chair provided a complete electronic document of all issues relating to the item is forwarded to each voting member for their appraisal, comment and approval. Electronic voting shall require a three-day response to the Chair. The ability to vote electronically shall not be regarded as a reason for CPSC meeting nonattendance.

Meeting Frequency

  • The CPSC shall meet at least three times each calendar year, keeping with the academic calendar. Meetings shall be scheduled by ORA after consultation with CPSC members.
  • At the discretion of the Chair, special meetings may be called to:
    • Review and act upon laboratory incidents or causes for concern
    • Review and modify Laboratory Safety policies
    • Consider possible action items referred to the Vice Chancellor for Research or members of the CPSC.

Agenda

The Chair shall distribute an agenda to all members prior to each meeting.

Meeting Minutes

ORA shall provide administrative support to record, maintain and distribute minutes of meetings and other records. Copies of the minutes shall be sent electronically to all members of the CPSC.

CPSC Manager

Trevor Powell
trevor.powell@research.ucla.edu