We should be thankful for the successes we experience with our EHS programs, and remember to discuss them during safety committee meetings, company meetings, or general company updates!
It is hard to believe Thanksgiving is next week, which means the end of the year will be here before we know it! The end of the year presents the perfect opportunity to reflect on accomplishments achieved in your EHS program throughout the year and set goals for the coming year.
OSHA has announced the list of the top 10 violations for fiscal year 2018. There are two new citations on the list this year that have not shown up previously.
Lease requirements can be vague when it comes to stipulating the level of decontamination or decommissioning necessary upon exiting a space. Some leases are very clear that a full decommissioning must be completed in compliance with the ANSI standard, but other times there is room for interpretation.
Has anyone ever suggested ordering N95 respirators just in case they want to use them for a particular process or procedure? Have you ever found a box of N95 respirators sitting on a bench while walking through the labs? Try to avoid these scenarios and ensure the use of all respiratory protection is reviewed and approved.
When was the last time you walked through your labs paying close attention to the available disinfectants? And how long has it been since your Institutional Biosafety Committee or safety committee reviewed the disinfection procedures in place?
The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 (EPCRA), was developed to provide communities with important information about the hazardous substances in use at facilities in the area. Emergency planning is critical, and this act is intended to inform everyone involved so they can plan for possible emergencies involving hazardous substances.
There are many moving parts involved with the launch of the e-Manifest system, which occurred over the summer. Under the new regulations, receiving facilities must submit paper manifests to EPA within 30 days of receipt.
OSHA stipulates recording and reporting criteria for work-related injuries and illnesses in 29 CFR 1904.0-1904.11. There are various considerations to take into account when determining if an incident, injury, or illness is considered work-related and therefore needs to be evaluated for recording and reporting criteria.
Ensure your industrial discharge volumes are monitored on a regular basis to verify regulatory compliance. If you are the holder of a Low Flow/Low Pollutant wastewater discharge permit with the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA), be sure to keep an eye on the average daily discharge volume to confirm that this permit remains applicable to your facility.
Have you conveyed the importance of accurate hazardous waste labels to all employees working in your labs? Waste labels should be used to create waste stream information profiles, which are used to generate hazardous waste manifests when waste is removed for off-site disposal.
The second annual OSHA Safe + Sound week has arrived! It is not too late to participate in this fun event. Take a moment to check out who else is participating and what activities they are holding.
