On February 7, 2018, the Plumbing Board enacted a policy that adopts the ANSI Z-358.1 Standard for Emergency Eyewashes and Shower Equipment. The MA Uniform State Plumbing Code, 248 CMR 10.00, ANSI Z-358.1 standard, and OSHA regulations present several inconsistencies with requirements for the installation, operation, and maintenance of emergency eyewashes and safety showers.
OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogen Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030, applies to all occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infections material as defined in the standard. Employers that have covered employees are required to develop and implement an Exposure Control Plan to minimize employee exposure.
In accordance with 105 CMR 120.210(C), facilities licensed to work with radioactive materials must review the radiation protection program content and implementation at intervals not to exceed 12 months. This should be a formal process that is documented to demonstrate compliance with this requirement.
If you are registered with the MA DEP as a Large Quantity Generator (LQG) of hazardous waste, do not forget that 2018 is a year when biennial reports must be filed. A new electronic reporting system called RCRAInfo Industry Application (RIA) must be used to file.
OSHA is strongly encouraging employers to join the trend towards incident prevention by identifying and addressing hazards before they lead to injury or illness. While employers are reviewing their OSHA 300 logs, they are asking companies to use these logs as a road map to finding and fixing hazards.
The Massachusetts Comprehensive Fire Safety Code, 527 CMR 1.00, was revised as of January 1, 2018. The revisions mainly update this code by adopting the 2015 edition of NFPA 1, with amendments specific to Massachusetts. The previous version was based on the 2012 edition of NFPA 1.
As incidents, accidents, and illnesses are reported throughout the year, incidents that meet OSHA recordable criteria must be recorded on the OSHA 300 log. All employers that fall under Part 1904 are then responsible for posting the OSHA 300A form by February 1st of the following year.
When completing researcher applications to possess controlled substances with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and MA Department of Public Health Drug Control Program, be sure the information on each application is consistent.
Happy New Year to everyone! Wishing you all a very safe, healthy, and happy 2018! Consider taking time now to organize your EHS records and start the new year off headed in the right direction. Ensure your records are clearly organized, and key personnel are well aware of the organizational structure.
I hope everyone is enjoying a wonderful and safe holiday season! Everyone is busy this time of year, and many people are rushing to complete tasks as quickly as possible. Remember that even researchers with extensive experience can have incidents and accidents, and in fact expertise can lead to complacency.
OSHA has announced the date for the second annual safe and sound week, which will be held August 13-19, 2018. This national event is intended to promote the value of workplace health and safety programs. Employers are encouraged to hold events and activities that highlight the elements of their health and safety program during this week.
The MA DEP is now using a state version of the federal Notification of Hazardous Waste Activity form #8700-12. All generators of hazardous waste and waste oil must use this form going forward. Prior to this form being rolled out, there were two separate forms for generators to use to notify the DEP of hazardous waste and waste oil generation depending on the volume of waste generated per calendar month.
