Research Safety Officer Roles and Responsibilities
Thank you for being involved with the Research Safety Officer program at the University of
Minnesota. We all strive to maintain a safe and healthful environment for our faculty, students
and staff. As a Research Safety Officer, you play a large role in helping to continuously
improving our campus environment. This is a resource guide to help you understand your
responsibilities and identify key contacts available to assist you.
Responsibilities:
 Be familiar with UMN policies, procedures, and Department of Environmental Health and
Safety (DEHS) requirements addressing workplace health and safety
 Act as a liaison between DEHS and your lab groups to ensure compliance with the
regulations, assess new safety and health hazards, and consult with principal investigators
(PIs) to make sure they’re aware of health and safety concerns
 Coordinate training to ensure researchers understand their responsibilities and the policies
applicable to their research
 Schedule and participate in inspections of laboratories (in conjunction with departmental
safety committees and DEHS)
 Participate on or facilitates departmental safety committees
 Update the generic University Research Safety Plan to include location and departmentspecific information
University Health & Safety (UHS) Resource Groups
Research Safety
Description of Services: The role of the Research Safety program is to provide guidance and
ensure continuous improvement in the area of chemical and general safety in all research
laboratories at the University of Minnesota. Each Research Safety Specialist is assigned as a
service partner for a college within the University and we work directly with the RSOs assigned
to that college. Beyond performing annual safety visits with the RSOs in conjunction with
Biosafety, we serve as a liaison to help answer questions and connect you with other resources
within DEHS and UHS.
Contacts:
Joseph Klancher, Program Manager
(612) 626-3611,
klan0001@umn.edu
Jodi Ogilvie, Chemical Hygiene Officer
Service partner for the College of Biological Sciences
(612) 301-1214
jogilvie@umn.edu
Sabine Fritz, Research Safety Specialist
Service partner for the Academic Health Center
(612) 625-7227
fritz017@umn.edu
Anna Sitek, Research Safety Specialist
Service partner for the College of Science and Engineering
(612) 625-8925
engl0131@umn.edu
Greg Hansen, Research Safety Specialist
Service partner for the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Science
(612) 301-1158
hanse245@umn.edu
Cherie Lemer, Training Coordinator
(612) 626-7744
cmlemer@umn.edu
Resources:
Website: https://www.dehs.umn.edu/ressafety.htm
Training (DEHS): http://www.dehs.umn.edu/training_locator.htm
Laboratory Safety Plan: https://www.dehs.umn.edu/ressafety_rsp.htm
SOP writing resources (Joint Safety Team): http://www.jst.umn.edu/SOP%20resources.html
Laboratory Closeout Procedure: http://www.dehs.umn.edu/Docs/LaboratoryCloseout.doc
Identifying and Evaluating Hazards in Research Laboratories:
http://www.acs.org/content/dam/acsorg/about/governance/committees/chemicalsafety/identifying
-and-evaluating-hazards-in-research-laboratories-draft.pdf
Prudent Practices in the Laboratory: http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12654
A Day in the Lab (UCSD Lab Safety Video): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aA8mC5RIj5k
Biosafety
Description of Services:
The Biosafety Program provides advice on biological safety, biocontainment and biosecurity and
works with UMN laboratories to provide guidance and training for the safe handling of
biological agents and toxins, recombinant and synthetic DNA, and bloodborne pathogens.
Biosafety staff are members of the University’s Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) where
they provide oversight and ensure compliance with University policies, OSHA, NIH, CDC and
USDA/APHIS. In addition, the biosafety program manages the NIH’s Select Agent Program.
Biosafety works collaboratively with Research Safety for joint laboratory safety audits and
partners with many other departments across the University to provide input on projects, plans,
policies and initiatives that involve biological hazards.
Contacts:
Betty Kupskay, Biosafety Officer
kupsk001@umn.edu
Phone: (612) 626-5590
Xiaohong Chen, Biological Laboratory Specialist
chenx448@umn.edu
Phone: (612) 612-624-5495
Claire Kari, Biological Safety Specialist
karix001@umn.edu
Phone: (612) 626-2145
Robin Tobias, Biological Safety Specialist
tobia030@umn.edu
Phone: 612-625-3084
Resources:
Website: http://www.dehs.umn.edu/bio.htm
NIH: http://osp.od.nih.gov/office-biotechnology-activities/biosafety/nih-guidelines
Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) 5th Edition:
http://www.cdc.gov/biosafety/publications/bmbl5/index.htm
IBC: http://www.research.umn.edu/ibc/index.html#.VCGBz_ldUms
Biosafety Level 3 Program: http://www.ahc.umn.edu/bsl3/
Radiation Protection
Description of Services:
The Radiation Protection Division (RPD) manages the University's licenses for the use of
radioactive materials issued by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Minnesota
Department of Health. These licenses allow faculty, staff and students to work with radioactive
materials at specific locations throughout the University system. The RPD also administers the
registration of the University's x-ray equipment, and all other machines that produce ionizing
radiation with the Minnesota Department of Health. The RPD provides training, conducts safety
audits, maintains records and more in order to help the University community retain its license
privileges and meet other regulatory obligations.
Contacts:
AHC: Janet Silsby, 612-626-1995, silsb001@umn.edu
St. Paul: Kelly Daigle, 612-626-6656, daig0006@umn.edu
Science & Engineering: Andy Astleford, 612-626-6940, astle001@umn.edu
Coordinate campuses: Bryce Armstrong, 612-626-6764, barmstro@umn.edu
X-ray safety: Barb Hodge, 612-626-3162, hodge139@umn.edu
Laser, non-ionizing radiation: David Paulu, 612-626-3293, paulu010@umn.edu
Dosimetry, Orders and Radioactive waste: Lis Woltjer, 612-625-1682, ewoltjer@umn.edu
Radiation Safety Officer: Brian J Vetter, 612-626-5247, vette001@umn.edu
Resources:
Website: https://www.dehs.umn.edu/rad.htm
IsoTrack inventory management system: https://www.dehs-tools.umn.edu/Radiologistix/
Chemical Hazardous Waste
Description of Services: The hazardous waste program operates out of the Thompson Center
for Environmental Management. Services include hazardous waste removal, hazardous materials
management, hazardous materials shipping, hazardous waste compliance guidance, chemical
inventory clean-out, chemical inventory movement for labs that change building locations,
controlled substances information and disposal, and disposal or recycling of chemicals including
hazardous compressed liquids and gases. The Chemical safety Day Program services University
of Minnesota and other non-profit institutions throughout the state.
Contacts:
Program Manager: Brian Brosnan for controlled substances and chemical security information,
(612) 624-6836, bros0020@umn.edu
Julie Beauvais for chemical waste packing forms, forms guidance, (612) 624-6060,
beauv001@umn.edu
Calvin Cole for hazardous waste compliance and hazardous materials shipping
(612) 624-6870, calvin@umn.edu
Robbie Eiker for chemical safety day program, (612) 626-3611, shuff001@umn.edu
David Johnson – Chematix guidance, packing form guidance and waste pickup problems, (612)
626-1829, johns308@umn.edu
Patrick Martin for hazardous waste clean-outs and hazardous materials movement between
buildings, (612) 624-7084, marti035@umn.edu
Jon Poling for testing unknown chemicals and disposal of controlled substances, (612) 626-1859,
polin004@umn.edu
Jon Wentworth for gas cylinder guidance and for chemical sewering approval, (612) 626-8736,
Wentw002@umn.edu
Resources:
Controlled Substances: http://www.dehs.umn.edu/consub.htm
Controlled Substances Disposal: Disposal of expired, excess, and unwanted controlled
substances
Chemical Safety Day Program: http://www.dehs.umn.edu/hazwaste_csdp.htm
Hazardous Waste Management: http://www.dehs.umn.edu/hazwaste.htm
Hazardous Materials Shipping: http://www.dehs.umn.edu/hazwaste_shiphazwaste.htm
Hazardous Waste Forms: http://www.dehs.umn.edu/hazwaste_chemwaste_servreq.htm
Chematix Information: CHEMATIX Online Hazardous Waste Pickup Request,
CHEMATIX Quick Reference Guide
Biological Hazardous Waste
Description of Services: The services for biological hazardous waste disposal vary by
department and building. Contact your building manager if in the Academic Health Center or
your Facilities Management district team manager for more information.
Contacts:
Facilities Management: 4-2900
Resources:
Website: http://www.dehs.umn.edu/PDFs/infectwaste-plan.pdf
Facilities Management: http://www.facm.umn.edu/
Occupational Health and Safety
Description of Services: The Office of Occupational Health and Safety works to promote and
protect the health and safety of all employees, students, volunteers, and visitors who participate
in activities related to the University's missions of teaching, research, and service.
Some of the specific areas of responsibility include:
 Respiratory Protection including medical evaluations, and training
 Hearing conservation including coordination and tracking of required audiometric
examinations
 Bloodborne Pathogens
 Research Occupational Health Program (ROHP)
 Drug and alcohol program
 General OSHA compliance
 Administration of the Medgate program
Contacts:
Office of Occupational Health and Safety
612-626-5008
Confidential Fax: 612-626-9643
uohs@umn.edu
Paul Allwood, Director
612-625-5422
allw0001@umn.edu
Paul Serafini, OHS Specialist
612-625-8043
seraf006@umn.edu
Tricia Van Ee Molbert, Program/Project Specialist
612-626-5886
vane0080@umn.edu
Resources:
Website: http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/ohs/
Emergency Management
Description of Services:
The Department of Emergency Management (DEM) is a system-wide enterprise-wide function.
As part of the University of Minnesota’s advancing operational excellence and renewed
partnership, DEM works in collaboration with internal and external partners through planning,
preparing, responding, and recovering for and from natural and human-made disasters. In
addition, the University of Minnesota Emergency Medical Services (UMEMS) is a division of
the Department of Emergency Management, and provides Basic Life Support coverage at
University sponsored events, continuing education, EMS courses, and emergency management
assistance.
DEM oversees the implementation and maintenance of emergency preparedness initiatives on
campus. The department maintains the Campus-Wide Emergency Alert System (CWEAS), an
array of outdoor, voice-based warning speakers to be used in emergency situations. TXT-U, the
University system’s emergency text alert system, is operated by DEM, as well as the Tone Alert
Radios (TAR). In addition, DEM has worked to install fire panel annunciation in five buildings
thus far that can be set off by the Public Safety Emergency Communications Center (PSECC) in
case of an emergency. The annunciation system allows the fire alert system to communicate the
source of the emergency, which will allow for a quicker and more efficient response.
The University of Minnesota-Twin Cities has nearly 200 automated external defibrillators
(AEDs) and more than 350 trained responders. DEM maintains the AEDs on the Twin Cities
campus and on the system campuses, and educates the University community on the use of the
units.
DEM also coordinates the development of emergency plans on campus. There are four levels of
emergency plans at the University of Minnesota:
 Building Emergency Plans (BEP)
 Operational Continuity Plans
 Emergency Operations Plan (EOP)
 All-Hazards Mitigation Plan
The DEM participates in several exercises throughout the year to prepare for emergencies at the
Twin Cities and the system campuses. At least once a year, DEM will conduct an exercise to test
emergency response and evacuation procedures at each campus to fulfill Federal Clery Act
requirements. The University community is notified of this exercise and the goals of emergency
response and leadership personnel.
DEM serves the Twin Cities, Crookston, Duluth, Morris and Rochester campuses.
Contacts:
Department of Emergency Management
612-625-8047
dem@umn.edu
Lisa Dressler
Emergency Management Director
612-625-9446, dressler@umn.edu
Mike Martin
Assistant Director
612-626-1388, memartin@umn.edu
Krysta Reuter
Emergency Management Coordinator
612-626-1518, kreuter@umn.edu
Nick Greco
UMEMS Team Manager
612-626-1312, njgreco@umn.edu
Resources:
Website: http://www.dem.umn.edu/
Additional Helpful Contacts
Facilities Management
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
612-624-2900
612-626-2126