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Charter

Biological and Chemical Hygiene Committee
University of Maryland

Article I. Introduction

Article II. Functions

1. BACH recommends policies regarding the minimization of biological and chemical hazards to the Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School.

2. Provides technical advice to the Director, Department of Environmental Safety.

3. The committee reviews reports of exposure of campus personnel to hazardous chemicals or microorganisms, as well as reports of chemical or biological contamination of facilities.

4. The committee develops and oversees safety and health training programs for students, faculty and staff.

5. The BACH Committee will establish a subcommittee which will serve as the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) as specified by the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules. This IBC Subcommittee will have its own charter, which must be approved by the BACH Committee, and will report its operations and findings to the main BACH Committee on a regular basis.

6. The IBC Subcommittee of the BACH Committee reviews protocols for research projects involving human pathogens according to the NIH/CDC publication Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories. The committee issues notices to approve proposals that are deemed to be consistent with federal and state safety guidelines and regulations.

7. The IBC Subcommittee of the BACH Committee reviews and approves protocols for research projects involving genetically modified plants, animals and microorganisms according to appropriate regulations of the National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Food and Drug Administration and the Maryland Department of Agriculture.

8. BACH evaluates whether hazardous chemicals are being used safely as specified by pertinent federal and state regulations. If unsafe conditions are found, the committee makes recommendations for correcting the situation.

9. BACH serves as a forum for the discussion of safety, health and environmental issues that affect the campus community.

Article III. Membership

1. Voting Members
   1. One faculty member from each of the following departments. Membership may be extended to staff in exceptional cases. Additional departments may be added if they are determined to be using hazardous or potentially hazardous chemical or biological materials.
      1. Agricultural Experiment Stations
      2. Animal and Avian Sciences
      3. Biological Resources Engineering
      4. Biology
      5. Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics
      6. Chemical Engineering
      7. Chemistry and Biochemistry
      8. Entomology
      9. Institute for Research in Electronics and Applied Physics
      10. Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute
      11. Materials and Nuclear Engineering
      12. Natural Resource Sciences and Landscape Architecture
      13. Nutrition and Food Science
      14. Psychology
      15. Veterinary Medicine
   2. Two (2) persons who represent the interests of the surrounding community
   3. One (1) member from the campus technical laboratory staff

2. Ex-Officio Members
   1. Executive Director, Graduate School
   2. Director, Department of Environmental Safety
   3. Director, Laboratory Animal Care
   4. Director, Health Center
   5. Representative, Engineering and Architectural Services
   6. Representative, Department of Operations and Maintenance
   7. Representative, Department of Procurement and Supply
   8. Chemical Hygiene Officer, DES
   9. Radiation Safety Officer, DES
   10. Biological Safety Officer, DES

3. Term of Membership
   1. The Chair serves a two-year term.
   2. Chair Elect serves one year.
   3. The voting members serve three-year terms.
   4. The Chair and members may be appointed for additional terms.
   5. Ex-officio members and Executive Secretary are appointed for an indefinite period.

4. Appointments
   1. The Chair shall be appointed by the Vice
   2. President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School.
   3. Voting members shall be selected by the Department Chairs and College Deans.
   4. The Executive Secretary shall be one of the ex-officio members representing DES and shall be appointed by the Director, DES.

Article IV. Management

1. At the beginning of each semester, the Executive Secretary shall poll the members to determine the day(s) of the week and time when the members are available for a meeting. The Chair shall select the day and time for the meeting, based on this survey.

2. There shall be at least five but no more than ten meetings per academic year.

3. Ad hoc or standing subcommittees may be established by the Chair subject to approval by the committee. Members of subcommittees shall be appointed by the Chair. Individuals who are not BACH members may be requested to serve on subcommittees.

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