When was the last time you updated the emergency contact information posted throughout your facility? How readily available are the phone numbers for your emergency coordinator, back up emergency coordinator, and safety officers?
The fifth edition of the BMBL, Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories, includes a statement encouraging individuals to discuss their personal health situations with an occupational health physician.
OSHA is promoting their second annual Safe + Sound Week, which is taking place August 13-19, 2018. This week is intended to raise awareness around workplace safety and encourage the proactive implementation of strong safety programs.
It finally appears that spring is on its way and there will be no more snow! Be prepared for spring by thinking about your PPE policy and consider any spring cleaning that could happen in your labs.
Consider taking a walk through of your labs with the sole purpose of looking at labeling. Keep an eye out for compliance with labeling of chemical bottles, aspiration flasks, tubes, samples, etc. How many instances of encountering a potential ‘unknown’ would you come across?
There seem to be more and more facilities operating with shared laboratory space these days. Some facilities have very clearly defined and distinct lab space for each company, and some facilities offer the opportunity to share bench space and equipment.
As companies evolve, relocations seem almost inevitable for many facilities. Relocating an entire facility, expanding to additional space, and downsizing all require involvement from EHS personnel early in the process.
As we are experiencing the third Nor’easter in a short period of time, this should serve as a good reminder to keep emergency planning documents up to date. Various regulations stipulate requirements for emergency planning, including OSHA regulations, the Massachusetts Comprehensive Fire Safety Code, and hazardous waste regulations.
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.
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.
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.
