Safety Committees

University-Wide Oversight Committee

The U-M Research and Academic Safety Committee is the main oversight committee for the Research Smart initiative, and membership includes faculty, staff, student, trainee and administrative levels from research areas across the university, as well as representation from EHS, OVPR and the Provost’s Office.

The committee focuses on the academic and research activities that involve potentially hazardous materials or equipment and that occur in laboratories, shops or studios affiliated with the Ann Arbor campus and advises the U-M Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) and the Department of Environment, Health & Safety (EHS) on university policies for implementation of federal and state research safety regulations.

The Research and Academic Safety Committee also serves a coordinating role for the school/college/unit safety committees and assists these local bodies by reviewing how safety incidents and concerns are addressed and recommending improvements and remediation, as necessary.

Unit Safety Committees

Fifteen local safety committees (unit safety committees) have been established across twenty different schools, colleges, institutes and units on the Ann Arbor campus (see list below).

The unit safety committees focus on academic and research activities that involve potentially hazardous materials or equipment, and that occur in laboratories, shops or studios. The unit safety committees work to address communication and information-sharing challenges.
Unit safety committees are encouraged to meet at least quarterly. These meetings provide a forum for discussion of safety issues and include local problem-solving.

Unit Safety Committees Chair Roster