Hazardous Materials Compliance for Public Research Organizations A Case Study, Second Edition

Regulatory Change and Organizational Responses: A Case Study of the Procurement, Use, Storage, and Disposal of Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) in a University Environment
Introduction

Rise of Federal Agencies’ Influence over Research Institutions
Background of Federal Government Involvement with Research Universities
History of Federal Agencies
Major Federal Guidelines Applicable to Research Centers and Research Universities
Risk Assessment: HAZMAT at Research Centers and Higher Education Institutions

Organizational Framework: Organizational Drift, Life Cycle, and Agency Theory
Organizational Theory with Regard to Research Activities
Researching for Life Cycle Characteristics

Threat Matrix to Public Research Organizations
Safety and Security Issues for Research Organizations
Higher Education Threat Categories
On Which Categories to Focus and Why
Methodology
Introduction to Research Design
Data Collection
Evolution of Research Topic and Theory
Ethical Considerations in Research
Research Method: Interviews
Research Method: Unobtrusive Observations
Research Method: Archival Documentation
Research Method: Participant Observation
Ethical Dilemmas of Research

How HAZMAT Conditions in the Science Buildings Evolved
Historical Context
Research Think Tank
Evolution from Research Think Tank to Graduate University
Transition to an Undergraduate and Graduate University
University Adds Lower Division Undergraduates
Obtaining Background Information
Who Made Decisions with Regard to HAZMAT?
How the University Has Evolved Since the Early 1970s
How D1 Became a HAZMAT Issue
Organizational Responses to Known HAZMAT Issues

Security Survey on Campus
Security Survey
Methodology of Security Survey
Design Aspects of the Campus
General Observations
Skywalks
Utility Tunnels
Summary of Security Measures Currently in Place
Summary of Security Measures in Place but Not Used
Summary of Security Measures Not in Place

Existing Policies and Procedures
Gathering Data
Methodology for Obtaining Existing Policies and Procedures
Evolution of HAZMAT Policies: 2002–2005
Existing HAZMAT Security Policies

Practices and Procedures at Other Institutions
Research Centers and Higher Education Institutions’ Global Issues with HAZMAT
Federal Issues and Impacts with Research Centers
Best Practices at Benchmark Universities
General Characteristics of Institutions’ Environmental Health and Safety Offices
Best Practices at Highly Ranked Research Institutions
Summary of Applicable University HAZMAT Policies
Process of Mutual Accountability for Biosafety

Summary, Recommendations, and Concluding Remarks
Organizational Theory in the Context of the Research
Summary of the Research Methods
Summary of Research Issues and Findings
Concluding Observations
Recommendations

Epilogue
Appendix A: Representative Federal Statutes for Research Organizations with Regard to HAZMAT
Appendix B: Questions Asked of Faculty about the Evolution of the University
Appendix C: Interview Questions Asked of Staff Members on Current Hazmat Policies, Practices, and Procedures
Appendix D: Interview Questions Asked of Former Assistant Director of Environmental Health and Safety at University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW) Medical Center on HAZMAT Policies, Practices, and Procedures
Appendix E: Interview Questions to Faculty Senate and Safety Committee
Appendix F: Interview with Former Director at Research Think Tank
Appendix G: National Science Foundation Rankings

Biography

Valcik, Nicolas A.