Tag: PPE
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Hearing Safety in the Workplace
According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), 30 million workers are exposed to hazardous noise every day, ranging from sounds of a power lawnmower to shots fired from a shotgun. This noise can cause severe damage to the ear and produce permanent hearing loss. Noise-induced hearing loss is the number one…
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October is Biosafety and Biosecurity Month
2019 is the 6th anniversary of the Biosafety & Biosecurity Month. The NIH’s Office of Science Policy (OSP) initially created National Biosafety Month to encourage institutions to highlight the importance of biosafety and undertake activities to strengthen their biosafety programs. The theme for 2019 is “Beyond the Lab: Increasing the Visibility of Biosafety and Biosecurity”…
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In the News… Lessons Learned
Unforeseen laboratory accidents and incidents can occur as a result of working with different types of hazards associated with research activities. Over the last several years, high profile events at universities across the country have raised concerns about lab safety programs and efforts to mitigate hazards and risks. In recent news, a student at the…
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Do I Need Respiratory Protection?
Emory has a commitment to its faculty and staff to keep them safe while they conduct the research that has made its name globally recognized. A hazard found while conducting research activities is airborne contaminants. This includes chemicals, animal dander, physical hazards, including nanoparticles, and/or biological agents. Emory uses the “Hierarchy of Controls” to minimize…
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What is the purpose of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in a Biological Research Facility?
It’s really not a simple answer and requires an understanding of general biosafety. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines biosafety as principles, practices, and strategies aimed at minimizing the unintentional release of a biological agent. Biosafety is achieved by utilizing the four primary controls – engineering, PPE, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and administration. These controls…
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Do You Protect Your Eyes/Face?
Protecting your eyes and face is important in the workplace and outside of work. 40% of all accidents that cause blindness occur at home. OSHA states that eye injuries cost employers over $300 million per year in lost production time, medical expenses, and worker compensation. Things to consider when working with hazardous material in the lab: Be…
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Lessons Learned: Recent Injuries From Research Laboratories Involving Broken Glass Pipettes
A common task in research laboratories is aspiration of solution through a vacuum line system. The solution is aspirated via a pipette connected to rubber tubing, then collected into a side arm flask for later treatment and disposal. One hazard posed by this task involves fitting or removing pipettes to the end of rubber tubing.…
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Do I Need Respiratory Protection?
Emory has a commitment to its faculty and staff to keep them safe while they conduct the world renowned research that has made our name globally recognized. One of the hazards some our researchers face are airborne contaminants. These can be chemicals, animal dander, physical hazards (such as nanoparticles) and biological agents. Emory uses the…
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What is the Purpose of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in a Biological Research Facility?
It’s really not a simple answer and requires an understanding of general biosafety. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines biosafety as principles, practices, and strategies aimed at minimizing the unintentional release of a biological agent. Biosafety is achieved by utilizing the four primary controls – engineering, PPE, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and administration. These controls…
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Summer Clothing and Lab Safety
The weather is warming up, and while shorts and sandals are great if you are spending time outside, it is important to be properly dressed when working in a laboratory to reduce injuries if an accident occurs. Along with proper attire, remember to use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) according to your laboratory’s PPE Assessment Form.…