Workshops

Foundations for building a safety culture in a Shared Resource Laboratory

Sunday , Nov 20
3:30 pm
90 Minutes

Shared Resource Laboratories (SRLs) are in a unique position, supporting research outcomes from a diverse range of researchers, often from many different laboratories. Each of these researchers likely work within laboratories with varying safety policies, expectations and overarching safety cultures. This leaves the SRL to train and support new behaviours. This workshop will focus on identifying key practices that facilities can incorporate to foster safety awareness, improve safety, and support compliance in their facilities.

Presentation: Framing the context of facility safety, responsibility, and reputational risks
Activity: Invite group to respond to some contextual questions focused on highlighting shared risks and challenges
Activity: As a group have a guided discussion on the most prominent responses
Presentation: How we can work to support safety awareness and compliance in our SRL: key strategies and the importance of “why”
Open the floor for questions and final group discussion

What You’ll Learn:

At the end of this workshop attendees should:

  • Understand the role they play in the wider context of their organisation
  • Have built a deeper understanding of risks and challenges shared by SRLs
  • Conceptualise strategies for supporting a positive safety culture

Register now

Avrill Aspland

Avrill is the Operations Coordinator for Sydney Cytometry, a Core Research Facility of the University of Sydney and Centenary Institute in Sydney, Australia. Key to her role is the management of facility operations, invoicing, event management and biosafety processes. She provides key technical expertise to the application of biosafety control measures, collaborating closely with safety officers and researchers. Through this collaboration and oversight of the safety framework, she facilitates efficient access to technologies while maintaining a safe space for all staff and users. Avrill is an active member of the International Society for the Advancement of Cytometry’s Biosafety Committee, working alongside world-leading experts in Shared Resource Laboratory biosafety to deliver improved safety outcomes to the global cytometry community. Alongside membership with the Australasian Cytometry Society and the International Society for the Advancement of Cytometry, Avrill is also a member of the American Biological Safety Association International. Leveraging her background in biological sciences and facility management experience, Avrill translates biosafety principles and practices into the Shared Resource Facility context.