OSHA’s hazardous waste operations and emergency response regulation, 29 CFR 1910.120, stipulates requirements for emergency response operations involving releases of hazardous substances. Employees participating in emergency response are required to be trained based on the duties and function they would serve in an emergency response situation.
Every facility should have written emergency response procedures for the hazards present on site. These response procedures will vary not only based on the facility itself, but also based on the hazardous materials present, processes in place, and procedures being conducted.
Hazardous waste manifests are used to track hazardous waste shipped off site for treatment, storage, and disposal. When waste is removed by a licensed hazardous waste hauler, a uniform manifest is completed to identify and characterize the waste.
In Massachusetts, medical and biological waste is regulated by 105 CMR 480, Minimum Requirements for the Management of Medical or Biological Waste (State Sanitary Code Chapter VIII).
Laboratory Acquired Infections, LAIs, are difficult to track but are a true concern for many biological laboratories. Conducting thorough risk assessments to address potential hazards is a critical step in reducing the potential for LAIs.
On August 5, 2015, OSHA announced a proposed rule that would lower the permissible exposure limit for beryllium and lower workplace exposure to beryllium and beryllium compounds. The current PEL for beryllium is 2.0 micrograms per cubic meter of air, and was established by the Atomic Energy Commission in 1948 and adopted by OSHA in 1971.
Geiger- Müller survey meters (GM meters) are portable instruments used to detect and measure radiation. Facilities conducting work with radioactive materials detectable by GM meters need to have the meters calibrated at intervals not to exceed 12 months in accordance with 105 CMR 120.225.
Hazard assessments must be conducted to identify the physical and health hazards present in the workplace. This is a well known fact, but the next step is to provide all of the necessary personal protective equipment required to protect employees from the identified hazards.
In accordance with EPA and DEP regulations, hazardous chemical waste is either characteristic waste or listed waste. The EPA identifies and lists hazardous waste in 40 CFR 261 and MA DEP identifies and lists hazardous waste in 310 CMR 30.
The snow piles have finally officially all melted, and it is hot out there! Did you know that OSHA has a Heat Safety Tool available for download?
Any time a shipment of a hazardous substance is being prepared at your facility, it is important to have the appropriately trained individuals involved. Department of Transportation (DOT) training is required for individuals shipping hazardous substances, and signing a shippers’ declaration.
The use of fresh blood drawn from company employees is sometimes required when timelines in experiments are too tight to use of an outside blood supply vendor. Whenever possible, it is preferred that an outside blood supply vendor be used rather than an in-house blood donation program being established.
