2nd Edition

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

By Nicolas A. Valcik Copyright 2013
    244 Pages 38 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    Completely revised and updated, Hazardous Materials Compliance for Public Research Organizations: A Case Study, Second Edition presents a case study of one university’s policies and practices with regard to the procurement, use, storage and disposal of HAZMAT in the context of a changing internal structure and regulatory environment. The author’s presentation is no-holds-barred, using interviews, archival documentation, and unobtrusive observations as a participant where the research institution was at times noncompliant with the new federal guidelines.

    See What’s New in the Second Edition:

    • Incorporates issues with all types of hazardous materials instead of just focusing on biological HAZMAT
    • Updated information on current regulations on HAZMAT in relation to universities and research centers
    • Follow-up on the case study university, disclosing the university’s progress in resolving the security and safety shortcomings

    By implementing key improvements in safety and security, the universities can also more easily obtain research grant money and satisfy both state and federal safety requirements. This book includes recommendations to improve safety while using and storing biotoxins, chemical, radioactive material, and industrial waste, and to improve overall security at the university. It also highlights improvements that can make the environment a safer and more secure location to perform biological research.

    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.