The Engineering and Lab Safety Team at the University of Arkansas has been making significant strides in promoting laboratory safety since its establishment in 2016 by Jessica Morris (Ph.D. ’18), who is now software development manager/senior consultant at BakerRisk.

Tammy Lutz-Rechtin is the Ralph E. Martin Department of Chemical Engineering’s department's safety coordinator and serves as a mentor to the student group alongside Tom Spicer, professor and Maurice E. Barker Endowed Chair. The group is comprised of both graduate and undergraduate students, primarily in chemical engineering, but the group is open to students in other disciplines.

Anelisse Mendieta, the lab safety team’s current president, has played a pivotal role in advocating for lab safety. In April 2024, she was invited to speak at the American Chemical Society Division of Chemical Health and Safety session, where she shared the team’s efforts to elevate safety in research, actively engage students in lab safety practices, and foster collaboration between academic and industrial sectors.

Reflecting on the experience, she said, “The session was a powerful exchange of ideas, and it was particularly insightful to participate in a panel discussion featuring both industry and academic speakers, which highlighted the critical importance of safety in both fields. Networking with students and professionals dedicated to integrating safety into every aspect of chemical practice was truly rewarding, and I’m excited for the opportunities that lie ahead.”

One of the team’s major contributions to lab safety education is supporting the American Chemical Society’s peer-led workshop titled “RAMP in the Research Lab,” referring to the safety concept to Recognize hazards, Assess risks, Minimize risks, and Prepare for emergencies. Members have received funding to attend these highly effective courses.

In 2023, the lab safety team launched the first-ever CSHEMA Safety Week on the U of A campus in partnership with Environmental Health and Safety, Cintas, and the chemical engineering department. The week-long event gives graduate and undergraduate researchers opportunities to learn from area experts and participate in hands-on safety training.

This year’s Safety Week is planned for Feb. 9-14 with an expanded program that includes partnerships with safety leaders such as Matt Wengert, College of Engineering safety coordinator. Among Safety Week’s activities is a virtual workshop, scheduled for 1-4:30 p.m. Feb. 9, to introduce graduate students to the risk assessment process. The $25 workshop provides practical examples to enhance lab safety skills. Registration for the event via Eventbright can be found here.

The lab safety team actively organizes additional events and initiatives to promote lab safety on campus and beyond. These include:

• Speaker Series: Bringing in experts with a focus on safety topics such as alumnus Greg Nesmith (B.S.Ch.E. ’90), process safety risk analyst at Dow Inc.
• Collaborator Audits: Coordinating audits every fall in collaboration with the U of A’s Environmental Health and Safety and chemical engineering department. Last fall, team Vice-President Jude Obijiaku led this initiative with help from team Secretary Delight Manson-Endeboh. More than 20 student volunteers participated and visited 36 lab spaces. 
• Audit Training: Offering training sessions with Environmental Health and Safety for students and staff to enhance their audit capabilities. John Dixon, lab safety compliance coordinator, presented training for the audits for the students the week prior. 
• Moderation and Leadership: Mendieta has served as a moderator for American Chemical Society Lab Safety Team initiatives for the past year and will continue in this role.

In 2020, the lab safety team was one of 16 recognized nationally in a study by the American Chemical Society published in its journal ACS Chemical Health and Safety. During the coronavirus pandemic, the team sought innovative ways to engage students remotely and joined the society’s ACS Lab Safety Team Initiative in 2021, achieving further national recognition. Additionally, Lutz-Rechtin has served as a mentor for the ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety’s peer-led workshops since 2022. These workshops provide essential training for implementing best practices in laboratory safety.

The Engineering and Lab Safety Team continues to be a leader in promoting safety culture within academic research and beyond. With its impactful initiatives, dedicated leadership, and collaborative spirit, the team is paving the way for a safer and more engaged research environment at the University of Arkansas and on a national scale.