Tag: biosafety
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EHSO Laboratory Safety Templates and Documents!
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Hazard Assessment Template Are you wearing the correct PPE while performing experiments? Do you know when to wear safety glasses or safety goggles? Do you know when a face shield is necessary? EHSO created the PPE Hazard Assessment Template to help researchers identify the proper PPE to wear. PPE selection should…
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Hazard Communication Standard Update: Globally Harmonized System
In March 2012, OSHA updated the Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) (HAZ COM) to align with the United Nations’ Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). Under the 2012 HAZCOM revision, significant changes were made to the chemical labeling and Material Safety Data Sheets. Chemical Labeling Chemical labels now must have…
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EHSO Inspections: We like what we see!
EHSO Inspections are underway in the research labs! We have inspected approximately 60 labs and we want to acknowledge how safe the researchers are working. Here are some good things we’ve noticed in the labs: Sharps – Labs are using the appropriate sharps containers. Sharps containers are in a locations close in proximity to the…
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Safety When Using Cryogenic Substances
Cryogenic substances are used in research to maintain ultra-cold temperatures. Liquid nitrogen is hazardous because it can maintain temperatures as low as degrees -153°C (-243 °F). In addition, liquid nitrogen releases vapors that can deplete the available oxygen in the area. Dry ice, which is solid carbon dioxide also presents a hazard. Dry ice begins…
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Biosafety SOP Template Example on EHSO Website
We now have a wonderful example of a Biosafety Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) document on our website. This document serves as an excellent example of how labs can use the Biosafety SOP Template to draft laboratory specific SOPs for work with biological and infectious material. Many thanks to Kathyrn Hudson in Dr. Thomas Kukar’s lab…
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Recent Biosafety Protocol & Regulation Changes
Recent changes were made the NIH Office of Biotechnology to the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant and Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules. Also, changes were made to Biosafety Protocol review process including the committee structure. These changes have been reflected in a Change Summary document that is posted on the EHSO website: http://www.ehso.emory.edu/programs/research/research-protocol.cfm Please review…
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Cleaning up Biological Spills
Minor spills can be safely handled without the assistance of EHSO or emergency response personnel. Spills are considered minor if the volume is less than 100ml. Here is a simple example. A researcher is walking to the BSC holding a few test tubes containing blood. On the way to the BSC, the researcher drops a…
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Changes to the NIH Guidelines & Biosafety Training
On September 12th, 2012, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) published a revision to the NIH Guidelines that will go into effect on March 5th, 2013. The most significant change to the Guidelines was the incorporation of research involving synthetic nucleic acid molecules. Due to the inclusion of these experiments to the document, the NIH…
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Alternatives to Traditional Thermal Distillation
Distillation of organic solvents is a necessary part of academic research. Typically, researchers use the distillation process to remove water, oxygen, and other contaminants from organic solvents. This process can be hazardous for several reasons: Reactive metals are used as drying agents Many organic solvents are flammable, and the heat required in the distillation process…
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Holiday Hazardous Waste Collection Schedule
The Environmental Health and Safety Office will suspend the normal hazardous waste collection schedule from Friday December 21, until Wednesday, January 2. If there is a critical need for waste collection during this time period please call at (404) 727-5922 or e-mail at chemwaste@emory.edu. This suspension will not impact Emory University Hospital. The normal hazardous…