When walking around your facility, be sure to check for compliance with ceiling clearance requirements. Most people are aware that storage of materials within 24 inches of the ceiling and 18 inches of a sprinkler is not permitted. However, these requirements are very easy to forget when space is limited.
Many of you are likely spending some time going through your EHS records for this year, and preparing recordkeeping systems for the new year. As you know, there are numerous regulatory requirements for how long you must maintain specific records.
January 18, 2017 will mark the effective date of OSHA’s final rule that clarifies making and maintaining work-related injury and illness documentation. The amendments in this rule do not stipulate any new compliance obligations, and the injury and illness reporting requirements remain the same.
As general awareness around nanotechnology and the use of nanoparticles continues to increase, so do the resources for nanoparticle safety. The general definition of nanomaterials is materials that have a length scale between 1 and 100 nanometers. The unique properties that materials of this size exhibit present unique safety concerns.
The Hazardous Waste Generator Improvements Rule was published in the Federal Register on November 28, 2016. This rule will be effective on May 30, 2017.
If you have employees that fall under OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogen Standard working at your facility, be sure to maintain records of offering covered employees the Hepatitis B vaccine in accordance with the standard.
Everyone knows that the holiday season is a busy time of year, with many people rushing to avoid being late for holiday events, finish their shopping, or hurry home to enjoy their families. Now is a good time to remind everyone to take time to follow the established EHS practices at your facility and not take any short cuts to finish early or simply on time.
If a hazardous chemical was spilled in your lab right now, would the researchers know if they could clean it up themselves or not? Rather than wondering what the thresholds are for cleaning up a spill in house when there is a puddle on the floor, consider developing a spill response chart for the main hazardous chemicals present in your lab.
After you have spent time and energy revamping your waste handling procedures and retraining lab workers, consider establishing a constant reminder to preserve your hard work. A waste handling flow chart can be created with pictures to clearly demonstrate how particular waste streams should be disposed of.
If you are running a radiation safety program, be sure that the individuals trained to receive shipments of radioactive material are following the established package receipt procedure. The procedure should clearly explain the entire process of how the package will be received from the vendor through being placed into the final on-site storage location.
Wash your hands. This is a statement that you have probably heard a million times over, starting as far back as you can remember. Did you know that employers are responsible for ensuring that employees wash their hands after removing PPE by regulation?
October 17, 2016, marked the 30th anniversary of the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) program! This anniversary is certainly something to celebrate as the TRI Program incentivizes industrial facilities to prevent pollution and informs communities about the toxic materials being used in the surrounding community.
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