The Laboratory Safety Partnership is a joint effort between the ISU research community and EH&S to increase safety performance and awareness in laboratories. A Departmental Lab Safety Contact (DLSC) is appointed by the department chair and serves as the department’s representative within the Partnership, while members of the Laboratory Safety Group serve as the representatives for EH&S.

Department Lab Safety Contacts (DLSC)

The Partnership is aimed at empowering and developing the role of the DLSC in order to build a stronger relationship between EH&S and researchers. By creating trust, reliability, and cooperation between departments and EH&S, the message and practice of safety can be delivered more effectively.

This Partnership also provides an avenue for prompt feedback, therefore promoting timely and continual program improvement.

  • Increase safety performance and awareness in laboratories.
  • Build a stronger relationship between EH&S and researchers.
  • Facilitate EH&S safety surveys when/if needed.
  • Empower Departmental Lab Safety Contacts (DLSCs) to promote safety awareness throughout their respective departments.
  • Help DLSCs to ask questions and share knowledge related to Health and Safety.
  • Help EH&S gain awareness of department-specific safety needs.

The Departmental Laboratory Safety Contact (DLSC) serves as EH&S’ point of contact for laboratory safety within the department and is appointed by the department chair. Each department shall designate up to two DLSCs, and they must send the completed DLSC form(s) (PDF) to EHSinfo@iastate.edu.

The DLSC responsibilities specified below are the minimum requirements:

  • Assist laboratory supervisors in implementing requirements of the Laboratory Safety Manual (PDF) in laboratories under their administrative control.
  • Disseminate information published by EH&S.
  • Act as a conduit of departmental information and concerns to EH&S.
  • Assist EH&S with communication and coordination of safety surveys as needed.    
  • Act as the department representative within the Laboratory Safety Partnership Program.

 As safety liaisons, DLSCs can assume more duties upon receiving approval from the department chair. Should additional responsibilities be assigned, written approval from the department chair detailing these tasks must be submitted to EH&S.