The Molecular Foundry aims to integrate safety into its organizational culture, and by doing so demonstrates that research that is safe is also innovative and productive. In order to support the safety-oriented culture at the Foundry, we have established a standing committee to assist the Division in solving complex safety problems.
As with scientific success, safety success at the Molecular Foundry relies on strong partnerships between users and staff. Both staff and users need to be vigilant while in the laboratory and to stop the work of their colleagues when unsafe behavior or conditions are observed. The Foundry promotes a “just culture” that prioritizes systemic solutions, rather than individual blame, for most stop work cases. However, temporary suspension of laboratory privileges for process assessment and retraining is often required.
Safety Training
Your Assigned Scientist and other staff contacts will inform you of all necessary safety training required for your work at the Foundry. Safety training is a combination of online courses, in-person courses, and on-the-job training by Foundry scientists and technicians. All required safety training must be completed and any controls specific to your project must be implemented before you may begin work. More about safety training.
Safety Resources
| Berkeley Lab Safety Resources Hub |
| Berkeley Lab Work Planning and Control (WPC) |
| Shipping and Receiving Hazardous Materials and Samples |
| Best Practices for Handling Inorganic Nanoparticles Waste in a Laboratory Setting, an article written by the Foundry’s Tracy Mattox, Carleton Falzone, and Jeff Urban |
| Impact of Source Position and Obstructions on Fume Hood Releases, an article written by the Foundry’s Tracy Mattox, Carleton Falzone, Tevye Kuykendall, and Jeff Urban |
| 2021 Foundry ISM Plan |
| Foundry Cold Trap & Dewar Use Policy and Procedure |
| Foundry Incident Scene Preservation Policy and Procedure |
| Berkeley Lab Pub 3000 ES&H Manual |
| Berkeley Lab Requirements and Policies Manual (RPM) |
Molecular Foundry Safety Committee
The Foundry Safety Committee assists the Division in solving complex safety problems, utilizing their collective knowledge and analytical skills to make recommendations to Foundry leadership. The objectives of the Safety Committee are to:
- Assist with clear and concise safety communications;
- Review and provide input to safety related documents (such as Division Self Assessments), reports and policy;
- Assist with the planning of division-wide safety events (such as the annual Foundry Safety Retreat);
- Present new or previously unidentified hazards and recommend controls.
Safety committee members help staff and users identify the appropriate EH&S resources to report and correct issues.
Safety Committee Members
| Current Chair: | Mike Wisherop |
| Foundry Leadership: | Branden Brough |
| Operations: | Mike Wisherop, Carleton Falzone |
| Imaging and Manipulation: | Paul Ashby and Virginia Altoe |
| Fabrication: | Scott Dhuey |
| Theory: | Steve Whitelam |
| Inorganic: | Tracy Mattox (also Chemical Safety Committee representative) and Nate Hohman |
| Bio: | Michael Connolly (also Lab Safety Advisory Committee representative) |
| Organic: | Liana Klivansky |
| NCEM: | Chengyu Song and John Turner |
| Foundry Shop: | Ed Wong |
| Laser Safety Committee: | Ed Barnard |
| User Executive Committee: | Eddie Zaia |
