NIOSH has updated their list of antineoplastic and other hazardous drugs, which is included as an appendix to their Preventing Occupational Exposures to Antineoplastic and Other Hazardous Drug in Healthcare Settings Alert.
Are flammable liquids being dispensed at your facility? If so, are proper bonding and grounding procedures in place? OSHA’s requirements for bonding and grounding of flammable liquids can be found in 29 CFR 1910.106.
September 5th was a NIOSH-approved holiday, N95 Day! If you are an employee that participates in a N95 respiratory protection program, hopefully you were able to participate in N95 Day to learn more about N95 filtering facepiece respirators.
In accordance with various regulations, many facilities require EHS training for all new employees upon hire and annually thereafter. It is great to have an established and informative training program in place, but do you remember to inform your employees of new hazards introduced into the workplace?
All employees should be thoroughly familiar with the emergency response procedures established for your facility. In addition to training and emergency information being posted, have you considered developing a ‘bail out binder’ to take with you in the event of an evacuation?
If you are conducting internal laboratory audits, how do you handle the findings? Once internal lab audits are implemented, the appropriate approach to handling the findings needs to established.
Developing and implementing policies for an environmental, health, and safety program needs to be a collaborative effort. There are various driving factors when considering what types of policies to implement including regulations, best practice implementation, particularly hazardous operations or equipment, etc.
There are many reasons to conduct internal lab safety audits, including preparing for regulatory inspections, promoting safety, and discovering what program elements could use some attention. Has your safety committee considered implementing internal lab safety audits?
Generators of hazardous waste are responsible for waste generated at their site from cradle to grave, meaning that the generator is responsible for waste until it is ultimately disposed of. A manifest using EPA form 8700-22, and 8700-22A if necessary, is required every time a hazardous waste generator offers waste for transportation for off-site treatment, storage, or disposal.
Does your facility hold a Category 2 MWRA permit? If so, it is likely that you are required to conduct semi-annual sampling by June 30, 2014. Many cities and towns located in Eastern Massachusetts fall under the jurisdiction of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Toxic Reduction and Control (TRAC) Department for industrial wastewater discharge.
How would the EHS program at your company be presented to a regulator that showed up at your door unannounced? Being prepared is essential. Many people use Memorial Day weekend as a time to prepare for the summer.
Implementing a safety committee with regularly scheduled meetings has many beneficial effects on a company’s EHS program. Do you have an established safety committee or have you considered gathering members for a safety committee?
