The research safety group at Princeton EHS oversees health and safety policies and procedures for a wide variety of research disciplines: radiation safety, laser safety, mechanical and aerospace engineering, robotics and materials science, as well as assisting in matters of laboratory design and security, waste management and mitigation of environmental hazards such as radon.
The goal of the research safety program is to minimize the risk of injury or illness to laboratory workers by ensuring that they have the training, information, support and equipment needed to work safely.
Steve Elwood, Associate Director for Laboratory and Research Safety
Steve's primary roles within the office are oversight of Laboratory Safety programs, including directing the work of lab safety staff and implementing programs that keep researchers safe and compliant with regulatory obligations, and helping lead the office as a member of the senior staff. "We help carry out the EHS mission through our leadership and by ensuring the most efficient and sustainable use of the University resources entrusted to us," he says.
"For me, it’s all about the people. Anyone who knows me knows that I am all about personal relationships. I make every attempt to get to know my colleagues as well as the customers we serve campus wide. I think making those personal connections makes everything else easier."
Stanley Howell, Program Manager, Chemical Safety
Stanley oversees the implementation of the chemical safety program and is the primary contact for incident investigations, regulatory issues, chemical storage and safety consultations.
Howell’s primary role at EHS is working with researchers to meet their regulatory obligations and ethical responsibilities and, just as importantly, “allow[ing] researchers the opportunity to successfully pursue the scientific endeavors that brought them to Princeton, while going home at the end of each day, safe, intact, and none the worse for any of the hazards they have been working with or around during the day,” he says.
He most appreciates the moments, “either hard won or serendipitous, when the realization dawns that good/smart science and safe/responsible science are actually synonymous.”
Colt Greer, Senior Program Manager for Radiation Safety
Colt's primary responsibility at Princeton it is to ensure the health and safety of everyone who works with radiation on campus. He utilizes his skills and knowledge as a certified health physicist to manage Princeton’s Radiation Safety Program, which includes oversight of ionizing and non-ionizing forms of radiation.
"I appreciate the opportunity to work with cutting-edge researchers in determining safe work practices in support of their research needs. It is always a pleasure to see a well-thought-out plan come together, especially when the safety requirements resonate with the end-users rather than being viewed as a burden," he says.
Chris Niles, Senior Laboratory Safety Specialist
Chris’ primary responsibility is managing EHS’ chemical waste program. He also does lab inspections and surveys, supports chemical safety efforts generally and assists with issues related to hazardous materials shipping.
Chris enjoys meeting “all the amazing researchers on campus” and getting to observe and learn from them. “I also get to keep them safe while doing their research and working with hazardous materials in the lab,” he adds. “Dealing with chemical waste might not be as glamorous but it’s still a way for me to make sure these hazardous materials are not getting into our environment and causing issues.”
Chelsea McDonnell, Health and Safety Technician
Chelsea can frequently be found “out and about” on campus. Splitting her time between laboratory safety and industrial hygiene, she delivers supplies, conducts radiation surveys, fit tests staff for respirators and helps handle lab waste, among many other duties. When in the office, Chelsea is an important part of EHS’s outreach effort, answering phones for the Covid Connector and even utilizing her design skills (including creating EHS’s 50th anniversary logo!) when not filing paperwork related to her technician activities.
Chelsea most appreciates her co-workers, “who are not just knowledge but also passionate about the work they do here”—but can’t resist a nod to our (mostly) reliable fleet of club cars, without which her job would be next to impossible.
Joan Hutzly, Laboratory Safety Specialist
Joan works primarily on inspection and maintenance of sensitive lab equipment (especially chemical fume hoods), prepares and updates Emergency Information Posters and other records in the SHIELD database, assists with radiation surveys, hazardous waste, spill cleans-ups and odor investigations. She is also well-known for collecting asbestos and lead paint samples, taking noise and air quality measurements and calibrating numerous instruments.
Joan appreciates the “very supportive office that is EHS. We all work together and help each other when needed. I also appreciate a job where I can move around a beautiful campus and interact with great people.”
Meagan Fitzpatrick, Assistant Director and Biosafety Officer
In the role of biosafety officer, Meagan oversees the University’s safety program for researchers working with biological materials. She also heads up the bloodborne pathogen program and field research safety program.
Before coming to Princeton in 2020, Meagan was Biosafety Officer for Georgia Institute of Technology and spent six years supporting the biosafety and laboratory safety program at Emory University, in addition to working in the private sector.
Halina Staniszewska-Goraczniak, Laboratory Safety Specialist
Halina is primarily responsible for supporting the implementation of biosafety programs. She works directly with laboratory staff providing consultations, technical assistance and training to integrate biosafety into laboratory operations and promote safe work practices based on regulatory requirements.
Halina performs audits of laboratories to ensure appropriate work practices are performed, inspects proper storage, management and disposal of regulated medical waste and appropriate operation and certification of Biological Safety Cabinets and autoclave units.
"What I like about my job is that I interact with lab staff on all different levels performing a variety of tasks," Halina says. "I appreciate the collaborative environment of the EHS team where everyone is very knowledgeable and supportive."
Madison Hutchinson, Senior Laboratory Safety Specialist
Madison holds a unique role within EHS as an embedded senior laboratory safety specialist within the School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), reporting both up through the EHS office within the research safety team and through the SEAS Dean’s Office. Madison's primary responsibility is to be the EHS point person, resource, and partner for the entire SEAS research community.
“My primary focus is providing support to SEAS, acting as a central point of contact for safety within the School,” she says. The dual appointment allows her to “build relationships with researchers and administrators within SEAS and leverage my role within EHS to ensure both groups can achieve their goals.”
What does "Environmental Health and Safety" mean to you?
Steve: The meaning of EHS is something that is often discussed and asked of those of us who are in the field. I have put some thought to this question over the years. In the end the job is all about 'facilitating.' By that I mean we often turn out to be the ‘gatekeepers’ of a particular project or job. Potentially standing between a researcher and the next big experimental breakthrough. Looking at the job like this, I believe, puts the onus squarely on our shoulders to find a way… find a solution to a problem, that helps make the research possible.
This was instilled in me early upon my arrival here on main campus (a little over 20 years ago) by then Associate Director, now Assistant Vice President Robin Izzo. Since starting back in 2002, I have always come to the job making every attempt to add value to the process and move the research forward. I trust and hope the research community would agree.
Stanley: I still see “Environmental Health and Safety” as three interconnected elements—Environment, Health, and Safety—that together provide a roadmap for shaping one’s safety ethos.
- “Safety” can be seen as the perception of self; one’s well-being and security. As self-preservation tends to be generally innately understood, it is often the starting point to aid others in visualizing and understanding whether an action or decision is reasonable and responsible.
For example, if I try to do this experiment am I still going to have all of my fingers?
- “Health” is a conduit to extend the understanding of one’s actions and decisions beyond the self. If something is capable of causing you harm, it is often a manageable leap in thought to understand that it may be harmful to another’s health and well-being.
For example, if I am wearing special personal protective equipment (PPE) because I am worried that my experiment might splash/explode/etc, should my colleague sitting at a desk a few feet away or walking by my bench be taking similar precautions?
- “Environment” is a further extension of perception of how our actions affect the world around us, even if the potential for harm seemingly does not directly or immediately affect us at all.
For example, if you are working with a material that when a few grams of material would be atmospheric equivalent to a ton of carbon dioxide emission, should you conduct careful leak checks, implement strategies for capturing discharges so that it may be managed for controlled destruction or reclamation rather than being casually discharged out the building’s exhaust stack?
Chris: EHS has such an important meaning here at Princeton, making sure staff and faculty are safe in and outside the lab while not hindering any research or work that might be going on at the same time. It also refers to health and safety beyond that: the health of the environment and making sure the campus is safe in all areas.
Colt: Family and home are words that come to mind when I think about the meaning of EHS. We are a group of individuals that work tirelessly to support the University’s mission. In doing so, lasting relationships are established throughout campus as EHS supports all other departments in one way or another.
Chelsea: I think the “secret” that makes EHS, EHS, is how it operates as an efficient team. And for this to work delegation and support must follow. And that is this office's specialty. While, yes, most offices can delegate, what happens here, especially over the pandemic, is on a totally different level. The amount that this office puts into making sure backups and protocols are in place is amazing! This is what allows this office to function, so the day-to-day operations gets done, along with whatever incidents may happen on any given day, all on top of a pandemic.
Joan: EHS means supporting the campus community so that the work that the various groups are trying to perform is done in the safest way possible and in regulatory compliance. EHS provides advice, technical information and often helps facilitate different groups working together to achieve an improved situation.
Meagan: To me, 'Environmental Health and Safety' means growing and improving our safety culture so that our faculty, staff and students can thrive safely accomplishing their teaching and research missions. I’m delighted to be a part of the EHS team, helping to make an impact on the Princeton University EHS program.
Halina: EHS means campaigning for safety and health in spaces where people work. It means protecting workers and the natural environment, and also ensuring compliance with legal regulations.
Madison: [EHS] in large part involves assisting with the more practical aspects of protecting worker and environmental safety. For me, it is a rewarding combination of technical guidance, problem solving, and collaboration.