The University of Maryland marked its second annual Lab Safety Awareness Week (February 9–13, 2026) with a series of events recognizing the individuals, systems, and shared commitments that sustain a strong culture of research safety across campus.
Observed nationally and championed by the Campus Safety, Health, and Environmental Management Association (CSHEMA), Lab Safety Awareness Week reinforces the principle that excellence in research depends upon excellence in safety. The initiative encourages institutions to integrate environmental health and safety into the core of the research enterprise, ensuring that innovation is supported by responsibility, collaboration, and care.
“A strong safety culture is built on shared accountability and daily leadership at every level,” said Mary J. Dorman, ESSR Executive Director. “My ESSR colleagues and I are grateful for the leadership and engagement of our campus leadership, our faculty and students, researchers, and facilities professionals. Together at UMD, we demonstrate that safety is not simply a requirement—it is a reflection of how we support one another and sustain excellence in research. It’s evident at UMD, safety is not viewed solely as a compliance obligation, but as a shared institutional value embraced by faculty, researchers, staff, and students alike.”
Left photo: Jason Lurie, FM Liaison for Animal Research and New Facility Construction, receives the Supporting Safe Laboratory Facilities Award during Lab Safety Awareness Week.
Right photo: Mahima Srivastava, Research Graduate Assistant, ENGR – Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, receives the Laboratory Safety Culture Spotlight Award alongside John Rutledge, Industrial Hygienist at ESSR.
Strengthening UMD’s Research Safety Framework
The University of Maryland continues to advance a comprehensive approach to research safety through coordinated leadership, clear expectations, and centralized systems.
Key components of UMD’s research safety infrastructure include:
- Expectations for Conducting Safe Research – Actionable guidance outlining shared responsibilities for principal investigators and research personnel.
- The UMD Research Safety Standard – A leadership-endorsed framework establishing requirements and best practices for hazard management.
- SciShield Safety Management Platform – A centralized compliance system that streamlines training, inspections, and documentation while increasing transparency and shared visibility into laboratory safety performance.
- Compliance Committees and Dedicated Safety Leaders – Peer-led governance and professional expertise ensure oversight, risk evaluation, and continuous improvement across the research enterprise. Dedicated safety professionals, including compliance officers and subject-matter experts, serve as a critical bridge between institutional standards and daily laboratory operations, providing specialized guidance to navigate complex regulatory and operational risks.
This structured approach reflects recommendations from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), which emphasizes that institutions must embed safety into research operations through leadership engagement, accountability systems, and open communication.
Guidance from APLU further underscores that a “generative” safety culture is built upon open dialogue, shared accountability, and the empowerment of every laboratory member to raise concerns without hesitation or fear of reprisal. Such an environment fosters trust, continuous learning, and collective responsibility.
In practice, this culture is reflected in everyday actions. When a researcher consistently wears appropriate personal protective equipment, when a principal investigator mentors students in thoughtful risk assessment, or when a staff member identifies and addresses a potential hazard, they are contributing to more than compliance. They are actively safeguarding colleagues, strengthening research integrity, and reinforcing a community built on mutual care.
Recognizing Safety Leadership Across Campus
A central component of this year’s Lab Safety Awareness Week was the recognition of individuals whose actions exemplify UMD’s commitment to safe research.
The Laboratory Safety Culture Spotlight Award honored two members of the research community:
- Mahima Srivastava, Research Graduate Assistant, ENGR – Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
- Michele Kaluzienski, Faculty Specialist, ENGR – Fischell Department of Bioengineering
These recipients were recognized for their proactive leadership, dedication to hazard awareness, and commitment to fostering safe laboratory environments within their respective units.
In addition, ESSR introduced the Supporting Safe Laboratory Facilities Award, recognizing the essential contributions of facilities professionals whose work directly supports laboratory safety. This year’s award was presented to:
- Jason Lurie, FM Liaison for Animal Research and New Facility Construction
By expanding recognition beyond laboratory personnel to include facilities leadership, UMD reinforces the collaborative and interdisciplinary nature of research safety.
Engaging the Research Community
Throughout the week, the Department of Environmental Safety, Sustainability & Risk (ESSR) hosted outreach activities designed to promote engagement and awareness. These efforts included distributing lab safety–themed Valentine’s cards across campus, reinforcing the message that safety is rooted in care for one another and shared responsibility. ESSR also guided a tour of the Environmental Affairs Building, providing participants with insight into campus safety operations and infrastructure.
Additional activities included a self-inspection raffle encouraging laboratories to proactively evaluate their safety practices. The Fushman Lab was selected as the raffle winner, receiving a celebratory ice cream social for the entire lab in recognition of their proactive participation. The week concluded with a campus gathering at the Edward St. John Learning & Teaching Center, where researchers and safety professionals reflected on collective efforts to maintain a safe and productive research environment.
Continuing a Tradition of Excellence
Lab Safety Awareness Week serves as both recognition and reaffirmation—recognition of those who lead by example, and reaffirmation of UMD’s institutional commitment to safety as a cornerstone of research excellence.
As UMD continues to strengthen its safety culture through leadership, collaboration, and innovation, the university remains committed to ensuring that every research breakthrough is supported by an environment where safety is valued, visible, and actively practiced.
Miriam Sharp, Assistant Director of Academic & Laboratory Safety and Chemical Hygiene Officer, presents an award during Lab Safety Awareness Week.