TTU’s Ongoing Response

Texas Tech conducted an internal investigation into the Jan. 7, 2010 accident and found that more than 20 internal protocols and procedures had been violated. Since the accident many changes have taken place including the formation of a new chemical safety committee; moving Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) into the Office of Research & Innovation; and adding EHS laboratory inspectors.

• Launch of TTU Chemical Gateway–Inventory and Delivery System - March 31, 2014
• Self-Assessment Survey Released - March 14, 2014
• TTU Launches Safety@TTU Campaign - Sept. 3, 2013
• Safety Letter from President Nellis – Aug. 29, 2013
• Technical Issues Resolved on Chemical Hygiene Plan Assessment – May 22, 2013
• CHP Assessment Deadline Set – April 29, 2013
• New Chemical Hygiene Plan – April 2, 2013
• Safety@TTU: Lessons Learned website launched – May 31, 2012
• Detailed Response to CSB Recommendations – May 30, 2012
• Incident Report for Nanotechnology 121, Oct. 27, 2011 – Feb. 8, 2012
• Memo on Waste Storage – Jan. 17, 2012
• Interim Guidance for Handling and Storing Chemical Waste at TTU – Jan. 17, 2012
• Incident Report for Chemistry 332, Oct. 14, 2011 – Jan. 13, 2012
• Institutional Laboratory Safety Committee Announced – Oct. 28, 2011
• Memo from Dr. Bailey – Oct. 19, 2011
• Snapshot of actions subsequent to January 2010 energetics incident – Aug. 16, 2011
• Lab Safety Program Peer Review – May 16, 2011
• Report of the Working Group on Laboratory Safety – July 19, 2010
• Memo from Dr. Bailey – Jan. 20, 2010
• Modified Safety Procedures – Jan. 18, 2010

Federal Agency Response

• Report of the Alert Safety Review Board Annual Visit to Texas Tech University: an ALERT partner – June 8, 2010
• Awareness and Localization of Explosives‐Related Threats (ALERT) - A DHS Center of Excellence for Explosive Detection, Mitigation, and Response – March 31, 2010

Presentations:

• "Keynote Panel: Learning from Others' Accidents to Prevent Your Own," Tuesday, July 19, 8:30 a.m., CSHEMA 2011 Minneapolis: Building Bridges for EH&S Success. Panel participants: Dominick Casadonte, Texas Tech University, Former Chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; James Gibson, UCLA, Director of the Office of Environment, Health & Safety; Mary Beth Mulcahy, U.S. Chemical Safety Board, Investigator; Randy Nix, Texas Tech University, Director of Environmental Health & Safety.
  

• "Chemical Safety at Texas Tech Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry: Responses and Lessons Learned Since January, 2010," Nov. 16, 2010, National Academies of Science "Safety Summit." Presenter: Dominick Casadonte, Minnie Stevens Piper Professor and Former Chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
  

Campus-wide Discussions & Lectures

• Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Partners with Department of Theatre and Dance to Foster Safety in Teaching Labs – Sept. 27, 2012
• Center for Undergraduate Research Training Session "Research and Lab Safety" – Feb. 1, 2012
• Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Seminar on Laboratory Safety – Oct. 12, 2011

Other Resources

• Safety@TTU: Lessons Learned website
• OP 60.17 – Chemical Hygiene Plan
  • http://www.depts.ttu.edu/ehs/Web/Docs/Chem_Hygiene_Plan.pdf
• OP 60.20 – Handling and Storing Explosives
  • /research/integrity/csb-response/downloads/Energetics-email-2-5-2010.pdf
• Institutional Laboratory Safety Committee (ILSC)