Category: EHSO
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H5 Avian Influenza Virus Exemption
Authors: Kalpana Rengarajan, PhD & Rashida Moore, DVM Select agents are biological agents and toxins that have the potential to pose a severe threat to both human and animal health, plant health, or to animal and plant products. These materials are regulated by the Federal Select Agent Program, under 7 CFR Part 331, 9 CFR…
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World Health Organization SARS-CoV-2 Guidance – Biosafety Updates
Authors: Kalpana Rengarajan, PhD, Director Research Safety, EHSO & Rashida Moore, DVM, DACLAM, Assistant Director, EHSO/Asc Staff Vet Scientist, EPC The World Health Organization (WHO) recently published interim guidance on laboratory biosafety related to SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). The guidance includes updated recommendations for research and shipping procedures and reflects the latest SARS-CoV-2 scientific knowledge. The guidance…
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Biological Safety Protocol Electronic Submission
Author: Scott Thomaston, AVP, EHSO For the last several years the Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHSO) has been utilizing software named BioRAFT as an electronic platform for investigators to submit their Biosafety protocols. Recently BioRaft has been rebranded and is now SciShield. Aside from the name change the software remains the same, including the…
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Dual Use of Research Concern
By Scott Thomaston, Assistant Vice President, EHSO Some biological agents used in research are considered to be Dual Use of Research Concern (DURC) because of their ability to be used both for benevolent purposes or modified in such a way as to present risk to public health and safety, agriculture, animals, and the environment. This…
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High Containment Laboratory Program
Author: Scott Thomaston, AVP, EHSO The commissioning of the Health Sciences Research Building Phase 2 (HSRB2) brings a significant increase in Biosafety Level 3 (BSL3) and Animal Biosafety Level 3 (ABSL3) capacity to our research community. This addition of 12 high containment labs significantly adds to our ability to work with infectious biological agents that…
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EHSO Information Technology Upgrade
Author: Scott Thomaston, AVP, EHSO As part of the ORA Information Technology modernization initiative, the Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHSO) continues to refine and consolidate data management systems to eliminate redundancy, decrease inaccuracies and better inform critical decisions. A significant step in this process is the expanded use of the Environmental Health and Safety…
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2023 ORA Dragon Service Awards
On April 24, 2023, the Office of Research Administration (ORA) held the fourth ORA Dragon Service Awards. This is part of an ongoing commitment to recognize and celebrate the contributions and achievements of ORA’s staff and members of the Faculty/Research community who demonstrate outstanding partnership with ORA. The winners of this year’s awards were nominated…
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Introducing the Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHSO) Occupational Health Program
The Mission of the Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHSO) is to engage the Emory community in managing environmental, health, and safety risks, reducing workplace injuries and illnesses, and decreasing environmental impact. Multiple EHSO units including Research Safety, Industrial Hygiene, Occupational Safety, Radiation Safety, and Environmental Programs contribute to this mission by providing expertise and value-added services…
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Institutional Biosafety Committee
The Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHSO) partners with the Emory Community to provide environmental, health, and safety (EHS) practices that enhance and support our world-renowned, cutting edge research. This is accomplished by managing EHS risks to reduce the potential for workplace injury or illness. A primary focus of EHSO is managing the safe use…
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Preparing Research Laboratories for Winter Recess
During this season of family and friends, it is easy to be distracted by holiday preparations. We must remember that laboratories requires constant attention to operate safely and effectively. By taking a few precautions and preparations, labs can remain safe for researchers and service personnel, as well as safeguard experiments. Laboratory buildings are remarkably complex…