Cultivating Safety Culture through Peer-Led Safety Minute Slides and Videos in Chemistry Research Environments

Academic chemistry laboratories present complex and evolving hazards that extend beyond chemical toxicity to include physical, procedural, and organizational risks. Although formal training and regulatory compliance are essential, persistent gaps in hazard recognition, risk perception, and day-to-day safety behaviors highlight the need for scalable approaches that cultivate a proactive safety culture through continuous reinforcement, shared responsibility, and open communication. Here we describe the design, implementation, and assessment of a peer-led Safety Minute program implemented in a research-active academic chemistry laboratory. In this model, all research group members (current and alumni; alumni contributions were made during their time in the lab) deliver brief (1-3 min) Safety Minutes during weekly group meetings using standardized slide templates. Presented materials are archived in a searchable digital repository, and the program was expanded in 2025 to include student-produced 1-3 min video demonstrations of best practices for selected procedures. To maximize accessibility and reuse, Safety Minute videos are shared publicly, and slides/posters are disseminated through open repositories. Program outcomes were evaluated through an anonymous survey of participants (n=18) including Likert-scale and open-ended items. Responses indicated high perceived gains in hazard identification confidence, willingness to discuss unsafe practices with peers and advisors, and sustained engagement enabled by the short, visual format without detracting from research productivity. Qualitative feedback emphasized increased peer accountability, normalization of safety conversations, and the educational value of creating Safety Minutes. Collectively, these results support Safety Minutes as a low-barrier, adaptable, and sustainable framework for strengthening laboratory safety culture and generating reusable open educational resources for research and instructional settings.