If you were to think back about this past year and how many risk assessments you conducted, what do you think the number would be? Do you have a plan in place to ensure that a thorough risk assessment is conducted prior to new biological agents being introduced into the laboratory?
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MA DEP) regulates Universal Waste, which includes hazardous batteries, mercury containing devices such as thermometers, mercury containing lamps, and pesticides. Be sure that your facility is properly collecting, storing, and disposing of universal waste streams.
As Safety Partners enters our 25th year, we are proud, humbled, and thankful. We are proud.
As of January 18, 2017, the FDA has banned powdered surgeon’s gloves, powdered examination gloves, and absorbable powder for lubricating a surgeon’s gloves. Manufacturers of powered gloves have been sending notices to customers to advise them of the ban and request that any banned products currently available in the workplace be disposed of.
Safety Partners, Inc. is proud to announce the promotions of Jennifer Reilly to Chief Operating Officer and Sarah Mueller to Vice President of Quality, Research, and Training. Safety Partners is the leading environmental, health, and safety consulting firm serving the life sciences industry in greater Boston.
On January 6, 2017, OSHA issued a final rule to reduce workplace exposure to beryllium. Previous standards were based on out dated studies and data, and more recent data demonstrates that serious lung disease can result from low level exposures to beryllium.
The 2017 Update to the Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of Biotechnology was released by the EPA, FDA, and USDA on January 4, 2017. The so-called Coordinated Framework is accompanied by the National Strategy for Modernizing the Regulatory System for Biotechnology Products.
When walking around your facility, be sure to check for compliance with ceiling clearance requirements. Most people are aware that storage of materials within 24 inches of the ceiling and 18 inches of a sprinkler is not permitted. However, these requirements are very easy to forget when space is limited.
Many of you are likely spending some time going through your EHS records for this year, and preparing recordkeeping systems for the new year. As you know, there are numerous regulatory requirements for how long you must maintain specific records.
January 18, 2017 will mark the effective date of OSHA’s final rule that clarifies making and maintaining work-related injury and illness documentation. The amendments in this rule do not stipulate any new compliance obligations, and the injury and illness reporting requirements remain the same.
As general awareness around nanotechnology and the use of nanoparticles continues to increase, so do the resources for nanoparticle safety. The general definition of nanomaterials is materials that have a length scale between 1 and 100 nanometers. The unique properties that materials of this size exhibit present unique safety concerns.
The Hazardous Waste Generator Improvements Rule was published in the Federal Register on November 28, 2016. This rule will be effective on May 30, 2017.
