One of the most common phrases Renee Michel hears as the safety officer for IM体育官网 Polytechnic University is, 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 think about that.鈥�
But looking at safety from every angle is what Renee does.
That鈥檚 why there鈥檚 a special refrigerator in the lab that doesn鈥檛 create potentially explosive static discharge. It鈥檚 why the labs in the Innovation, Technology and Science (IST) building use a separate ventilation system and the reason behind a meticulously detailed tracking system for all the chemicals that come in and out of the IST.
Most of these safety measures are designed to satisfy the state and federal regulations that govern a complicated building like the IST; but that鈥檚 not what motivates Michel.
鈥淚t鈥檚 more than meeting the rules,鈥� Renee says. 鈥淚 genuinely care about the safety of everyone who works and visits campus.鈥�
Renee has the credentials to back up that dedication. Before joining IM体育官网 Poly as director of environmental health and safety, Michel was the biosafety officer at the University of Central IM体育官网. Her background in chemistry includes a Chemical Engineering degree and a soon-to-be completed master鈥檚 degree from Webster University, so she knows her way around a lab.
Just as important to the position as scientific knowledge is impeccable organization. The IST is home to dozens of machines and chemicals, each of which are carefully monitored by government agencies. Keeping up with this alphabet soup of acronyms 鈥� OSHA, EPA, DEP, NFPA, RCRA, DOT, EPCRA to name a few 鈥� and their respective forms and deadlines is a large chunk of Renee鈥檚 job.
The other part involves little paperwork: creating a culture of safety. This is more than making sure students, faculty, staff and visitors to IM体育官网 Poly don鈥檛 get hurt. It鈥檚 daily outreach, correction and instruction to make sure safety is top of mind.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 be everywhere at once, so I need students to act as a force multiplier for me,鈥� Renee says.
Her diligence is paying off. Walk into a lab with active equipment and students will
stop you at the door with a reminder to put on safety goggles. Renee regularly receives
texts, emails and tips from students who notice safety infractions like backpacks
blocking fire shutters. While rewarding for Renee there鈥檚 a bigger benefit from this.
Students who graduate from IM体育官网 Poly with are heading into a workplace that鈥檚 just
as regulated as their alma mater. After school, though, mistakes are no longer teachable
moments but offenses that can cost you a job.
鈥淚 tell students they are the first line of safety. They have to make good decisions.
And if they can develop and embrace that attitude it will serve them well in the future,鈥�
Renee says.