If you have an established Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), take advantage of your IBC and keep the meetings interactive. Rather than approaching IBC meetings in a manner that checks a regulatory compliance box, use the meetings to have in-depth conversations about the biosafety program implementation at your facility.
The Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA) is authorized by Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA). In an effort to keep communities aware of the hazardous chemicals present at facilities exceeding certain thresholds, Section 311 and 312 of EPCRA stipulate requirements for the reporting of hazardous chemical storage.
If your facility is located in MA and is licensed to work radioactive materials, you should have recently received the Calendar Year 2015 Radioactive Waste Survey. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health Radiation Control Program requires all licensed facilities to complete a survey every year declaring the generation of long-lived radioactive waste during the preceding calendar year.
Just about everyone has heard a story about a cryotube exploding after being removed from storage. Do not end up being the source of the story with an unfortunate injury resulting from an exploding cryotube.
As the end of 2015 rapidly approaches, take a moment to reflect on what the 2016 EHS program will entail. How robust was the 2015 EHS program, and what improvements will be integrated during next year? This time of year is always busy, but establishing clear goals for your 2016 EHS program will start the year off on the right foot.
As you prepare for extended breaks during the holiday season, make sure all unattended experiments are well thought out. A full review of any experiment, process, or reaction being left unattended at your facility should be conducted.
As companies grow, the chemical inventory changes, the biological inventory changes, and lab procedures evolve. Remember to remind all lab workers of the sink disposal requirements.
When personal monitoring is necessary to determine potential exposure levels, make sure the first step you take is to develop a comprehensive occupational exposure monitoring plan.
Many times, safety committee meeting conversations focus on reviewing incidents and near misses, suggested policy implementation, and necessary improvements to the EHS program in place. Remember to add an agenda item focused on sharing success stories related to your EHS program!
What are the ‘normal business hours’ at your facility? Do people tend to come in later in the morning and stay later into the evening, or are people early birds and arrive just after the sun rises? Do experiments or other lab tasks require individuals to work on the weekends?
Many people working in laboratories are astonished when they learn that the water from the safety showers in their lab space does not drain into a floor drain. These safety showers are intended to flush an individual off in the event of an exposure, but where does all of the water go?
Does your facility have an established policy that clearly specifies if lab workers are permitted to bring cell phones, earbuds, and other personal items into the lab while conducting work?
