Who are The 400? They are the 400 companies that Safety Partners has served during our 25-year history. They are the companies that created the Greater Cambridge/Boston Biotech Ecosystem, the Biotech Hub of the Universe.
OSHA has issued a Final Rule to Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses which will take effect on August 10, 2016, with phased in requirements taking effect January 1, 2017. This rule is intended to improve workplace safety and prevent injuries and illnesses by modernizing injury data collection, and better informing workers and the public about workplace hazards.
Are there employees at your facility that work with human blood, blood products, or other potentially infectious materials? Is there a chance that employees at your facility will come into contact with human blood, blood products, or other potentially infectious materials as a result of conducting their job duties?
ASHRAE 110, Methods of Testing Performance of Laboratory Fume Hoods, has been updated to a 2016 version. This standard, which covers a quantitative test procedure for testing fume hood operation, was first developed in 1985 and last revised in 1995.
If your facility is licensed to work with radioactive material, at least one sink was designated for radioactive waste disposal when the license application was submitted. This sink should be posted and a log to track the radioactive material disposed of down the drain should be maintained.
Scale-up can mean different things to different people in terms of actual quantities, but the scale-up of all laboratory work needs to be addressed. It is important for all lab workers to know about scale-up, and the steps that need to be followed when they are considering scaling up their work.
If you were to survey the scientists in your labs about their view of the EHS program at your facility, what do you think they would have to say?
No, not the kind of mermaids that swim in the ocean, the kind of mermades that synthesize oligonucleotides. It is becoming more and more common to come across these pieces of equipment that are designed to synthesize DNA and RNA oligonucleotides, and there are several EHS concerns that need to be addressed when beginning work with mermades.
Do you know that OSHA has four specific standards related to ladder safety – 29 CFR 1910.24 Fixed Industrial Stairs, 29 CFR 1910.25 Portable Wood Ladders, 29 CFR 1910.26 Portable Metal Ladders, and 29 CFR 1910.27 Fixed Ladders? These standards are specific to general industry, and 29 CFR 1926 Subpart X applies to construction ladder safety.
On March 28, 2016, OSHA announced that they have published a final rule to update requirements for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for workers in general industry, shipyards, marine terminals, longshoring, and construction.
All of the fume hoods at your facility need to be certified on an annual basis. The certification process verifies that the fume hoods are all operating as they should be and are therefore providing adequate protection for the workers utilizing a fume hood.
OSHA maintains an interactive map of enforcement cases with initial penalties above $40,000, which is updated on a weekly basis. Keep your facility off this map!
