OSHA has been involved with a long-term project to be aligned with the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of classifying chemical hazards and providing labels and safety data sheets for hazardous chemicals.
OSHA has announced that Safe + Sound 2019 will be held August 12-18, 2019. This national event is intended to promote the value of workplace health and safety programs.
The updated Law M.G.L. Chapter 149 § 6 ½ requiring public sector workplaces to comply with OSHA regulations went into effect on February 1, 2019. While this is a significant change for public workplaces, OSHA does continue to have jurisdiction over private employers.
When facilities are established, safety manuals need to be put into place. Customization of the initial manuals can be challenging when the full scope of lab operations is not completely certain. As work evolves and work practices become firmly established, updates to the manuals may be necessary.
OSHA's Access to employee exposure and medical records standard, 29 CFR 1910.1020, stipulates the requirements for medical and exposure records. The requirements for how to keep these
records as well as the retention of these records is specified in this standard.
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?
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.
OSHA recently announced that they will begin enforcing certain requirements of the beryllium final rule, including the permissible exposure limits, exposure assessment, respiratory protection, medical surveillance, and medical removal provisions.
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.
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.
