Susan

Worked in a R&D environment for a medical device mfg.  Agree with your assessment – hard to use a stock technique developed for an industrial setting within R&D.  Especially without a clear understanding of the goals, needs, management/employee relationships, current business issues, and other relevant factors impacting EHS.  Seems like the key to the correct solution to improve EHS issues/culture is to start with a correct diagnosis.  And that can take significant cost and EHS & management time. Unions these days are especially skeptical of BBS, claiming that they blame employees for accidents.

That said, there are several programmes/consultants who could assist with diagnosis and techniques that work at the R&D “graduate level”.  Contact me for specifics. Sometimes it is easier for an outsider to review all the relevant issues since fellow employees can be perceived as invested. From my view, the better players have done work in adult learning, know business/legal constraints, are schooled in employee relations and employee engagement, and develop a long-term relationship.  Of course the hidden costs include time, follow-thru, and finding  issues that no one wants to deal with. 

With regards,

Mike

Michael N. Cooper MS, MPH, CIH

Senior Managing Scientist

Exponent / Failure Analysis Associates

149 Commonwealth Drive

Menlo Park, California  94025

mcooper**At_Symbol_Here**exponent.com

cell (408) 313-2127

office (650) 688-1760

Can anyone recommend any programs or consultants who have experience in promoting behavior based safety programs for R&D environments? I just don’t feel most of the “canned” programs will be well accepted in an R&D environment. My site is industry which is probably easier than academia but still challenging. Your thoughts or suggestions would be most welcome.

Thanks,

Susan Hadden

Environmental, Health & Safety

Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of J&J

1000 Rt 202

Raritan, NJ 08869

908-704-4295

Think BIG, Start small, Act Now!

(Barnabas Suebu, the governor of the Indonesian province of Papua)