DES Committees

Biological and Chemical Hygiene Committee

The Biological and Chemical Hygiene Committee (BACH) is a faculty committee that is concerned with laboratory safety. The committee works cooperatively with researchers, faculty, and staff to promote biological and chemical safety.

More information on the Biological and Chemical Hygiene Committee, including its function, membership and management, is outlined in its charter.

Design Criteria and Facilities Standards Committee

The Design Criteria and Facilities Standards Committee is a facilities management staff committee concerned with facility development initiatives. Consistent with the Governor's Executive Order 01.01.1996.03 - Regulatory Standards and Accountability and 01.01.1992.11 - Building Performance Standards for State Buildings, all facility designs must comply with the latest approved editions of applicable Federal, State, and local codes, regulations, and standards.

Formed by the Office of Facilities Management, this committee provides standards to serve as guidance for renovation and new construction projects, including health and safety subcommittee considerations.

Radiation Safety Committee

RSC Members are:

Dr. Gary Pertmer, Associate Dean, Materials & Nuclear Engineering
Dr. Mohammad Al-Sheikhly, Associate Professor, Materials and Nuclear Engineering
Ms. Sherry Pike, Assistant Radiation Safety Officer, CEES
Dr. Gary Coleman, Assistant Professor, NRSL
Dr. James Fettinger, Director, X-ray Crystallographic Laboratory
Mr. Steven Hand, Radiation Safety Officer
Mr. John Rodgers, Associate Director, IREAP
, Director, DES non-voting member

The University of Maryland has 3 state licenses, one of which is a Type A specific license of broad scope which requires the establishment of a radiation safety committee composed of a radiation safety officer, representative of management, and persons trained and experienced in the safe use of radioactive material.

The Radiation Safety Committee meets at least 3 times a year. Its members are appointed by the Vice President of Academic Affairs and the Provost. The Radiation Safety Committee is charged with acting on all aspects of the radiation protection program as stated in the campus Radiation Safety Manual.

Risk Management Committee

This coordinating committee serves to implement programs required by the State Employee Risk Management Agency, such as risk assessment surveys, and schedules training programs for the Injured Workers Insurance Fund to minimize campus employee accidents.

Traffic Accident Review Board

Mandated by the Governor's Fleet Safety Commission, this board reviews accidents involving state vehicles or drivers on University business to determine if the accident was preventable.

In addition, several campus departments have formed internal safety committees or have assigned safety coordinating duties to designated faculty or staff. DES assists these committees and safety coordinators to establish departmental programs.