Tag: chemical safety
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Hazardous Materials Shipping Label Changes
Per DOT regulations, the Class 6 Infectious Substance label and the Class 9 Miscellaneous Hazard label have been updated. Effective October 1, 2014, commercial carriers have switched to new labels. Only trained personnel are permitted to ship hazardous materials, including dry ice. CLASS 6 INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCE LABEL For Class 6 Infectious Substance labels, the text “In U.S.A.…
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EPA and Georgia EPD Inspections
Hazardous materials that result from laboratory operations must be managed safely and in compliance with State of Georgia rules and regulations. EHSO has recently been notified that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GA EPD) are conducting unannounced inspections of universities and other entities in our area to ensure compliance with…
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Is Your Lab Leaving Emory or Relocating to another Lab on Campus?
Prior to departing from an assigned research space, all labs are requested to contact EHSO to schedule a Lab Decommissioning meeting. During this meeting, our office provides a comprehensive overview of the decommissioning process. This meeting is an opportunity to discuss the safety requirements that apply to your lab move. Additionally, at the meeting, we…
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Upcoming National Institutes of Health (NIH) Site Visit
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Biotechnology Activities (OBA) will conduct a site visit at Emory’s main campus on March 18th, 2014. During the site visit, the team will review and evaluate the institution’s compliance with the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules. The site visit will primarily…
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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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Labeling and Transfer of Chemicals
Lab personnel cannot use chemical containers that do not meet the labeling requirements of OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard. At a minimum, purchased chemical containers must have labels that meet the following: 1. The name of the chemical and the hazards of the chemical must be present on the label 2. The label must be legible…
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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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Hazardous Waste Compliance for Laboratories
Federal regulations governing management of chemical waste are written and enforced with the goal of protecting our environment. EHSO interprets these very complex regulations and implements programs, such as the Laboratory Self-Inspection Program, that assist laboratories with compliance. The lab inspection process is a tool researchers should use to evaluate compliance with laboratory waste management.…