CDC Laboratory Safety Star: Mindy Dunn, PhD, DTBE
Mindy Dunn, PhD, DTBE safety officer, was recently recognized as the October CDC Laboratory Safety Star for her work in developing best practices, training, and tools for implementing and improving safety practices within Laboratory Branch. The CDC Laboratory Safety Star is a monthly effort by the Office of Laboratory Safety (OLSaf) within the Office of Laboratory Science and Safety (OLSS) to recognize CDC scientists who promote laboratory safety and best practices and whose work exemplifies the highest standards of laboratory safety.
Dunn began her position as a safety officer in DTBE in 2017. In this role, Dunn has applied her knowledge and previous experience as a laboratorian and leader to strengthen the safety program in DTBE. In addition to the daily functions of a safety officer, she has developed and implemented laboratory specific hands‐on trainings, begun and piloted a comprehensive biosafety plan for the branch. Her nominator, Jennifer Whitmon, PhD, specifically highlighted how Dunn “is interested in bringing creativity to safety training.”
A prime example of her creativity was showcased during last year’s National Biosafety Month, when Dunn created a Mobile Safety Station to better involve lab personnel in hands-on safety refreshers on hand washing, and proper glove doffing. At first, she had safety games and prizes in her office and asked people to drop by. “No one came,” recalls Dunn. “So I made a cart, put all my stuff on it…pushed it around the hall, and every time someone was in their office, I said, ‘Hey, do you want to play a safety game? I’ve got prizes.’” Taking the safety refreshers directly to staff proved to be an effective way to engage them. The mobile station was a success, and participation increased from 10 percent to 56 percent.
She serves as the 2019 vice‐chair of the DDID Infectious Diseases Safety Committee. Through this position, she hopes to encourage support among officers and wants to address the topic of leadership development in safety as well.
Her positive attitude and fun spin ideas do not make Dunn underestimate the seriousness of safety. She recognizes its importance on both the large and small scale. “We’re working in an important field: people’s health. And we want to keep encouraging people to come into the field, but if it is unsafe, if people end up with illness, that’s going to be discouraging. So, it’s important that the field itself is seen as a safe one. Smaller picture, I care about everyone in my laboratory. I want them to be safe, so I feel strongly about making sure that the people that I know are safe in what they’re doing.”
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