EH&S Newsletter

December 1996

Susan Martin, Director
Sim Shanks, Radiation Safety Officer

Table of Contents

Lock Boxes to Secure Radioactive Materials

On the Web

IN THE NEWS (A collection of brief safety/environmental related news articles)

CPSC Warns About Flexible Dangerous Flexible Gas Connectors Used on Home Appliances

Radioactive Contamination Incident in GU Lab

Working Alone in the Lab

Relocating Radiation-Using Researchers

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas

Radiation Safety Training Schedule

Send EH&S an email message

Survey Results:Lab Chemical Hygiene Training

RESULTS:

1. Training upon initial assignment is a regulatory requirement. Do you or someone else in the lab conduct this training for all lab staff upon initial assignment?
   Yes 49; NO 6

2. Would General Lab Safety training presented by EH&S be useful in conjunction with lab specific training provided by the lab?
   YES 42; NO 9; other 4: The course will be offered.

3. Should the proposed training (conducted by EH&S) be mandatory for lab staff.
   YES 28; NO 12: While the majority suggested the training should be mandatory, one response indicated that it is the P.I.s legal responsibility to ensure adequate training and should therefore be at the discretion of the P.I. (and considering educational and employment background). EH&S agrees with this viewpoint. However, if few people attend the training course, EH&S will be forced to redesign or discontinue the course due to staffing priorities.

4. Training is required upon initial assignment and as necessary thereafter. How often should this training be offered ?
   Annually 17; Semiannually 9; Quarterly 10: Responses indicated that new lab staff is acquired primarily during three time periods. The course will be offered three times per year. This may change at a later date, depending upon attendance.

5. How often should personnel be required to attend?
   Initially 27; Annually 10; Other 2: Again, this will be left to the discretion of the P.I. However, due to comments received on the survey, it is suggested that staff attend a refresher session at least once every two years.

6. Would it be beneficial to assemble a committee to determine training needs and course content?
   YES 15 NO 19 ; If yes, would you be willing to be a member? YES 10 : Staff volunteering to be a part of a committee did not represent the various GU departments. It was suggested by one respondent that EH&S design a course and invite interested P.I.s/ staff to provide additional input. EH&S will notify those persons having expressed interest in a committee when a draft course is ready.

EH&S wishes to thank all those that responded. We hope to have a course ready in the near future. If you have any additional suggestions or comments, please contact us.

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EH&S has placed an order for plexiglass boxes with combination locks. The boxes have a drawer rather than a lid so they may be stacked, or other items stacked on them. Cost for each box will be about $220.00. Buying the boxes in quantity significantly reduced the cost per box.

Cables will be provided to securely anchor any security box to your refrigerator, freezer, bench or cabinet. Radiation Safety is also looking into ways of applying hasps with padlocks to refrigerators or freezers without drilling holes.

If you are interested in one or more of the boxes or want information on other available lock boxes, security cables, or have questions concerning security of radioactive materials please contact Sim Shanks at 7-4712.

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• Accessing MSDSs from a computerized database at GU;
• Acquiring a copy of CDC guidelines, “Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories”;
• Obtaining select forms/ information published by EH&S;
• Obtaining a biohazard poster for your lab door (for labs working with potentially infectious material); and
• Lots of other cool stuff.

IN THE NEWS (A collection of brief safety/environmental related news articles)

Hospitalizations Tied to Ozone Pollution.

"Fatal Accidents on Rise,National Safety Group Says [Around the Nation]."

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The next day (arriving at 2 pm) he informed his co-workers. The lab manager immediately ordered a meter survey of the lab and personnel. The floor and shoes were again found to be contaminated. Radiation Safety (Rad. Safety) was notified and decontamination efforts initiated. Floor contamination was found in two offices, an elevator, and a dark room. All areas were decontaminated. Results of Rad. Safety surveys of two homes, three cars, a vending machine room, lunch room, autoclave room, and stairs revealed no contamination.

The Radiation Safety Committee (RSC) reviewed the incident and recommended that the posting, “RADIATION EMERGENCY PROCEDURES,” be changed and the incident be reviewed at radiation safety training sessions.

The following changes were initiated:

• Define a MINOR SPILL as: the spill area is less than 1sq. foot and activity less than 100 uci.
• Define a MAJOR SPILL as: the spill area is greater than 1sq. foot or activity greater than 100 uci.
• Require the Authorized User be notified when any spill occurs or contamination is found.
• If a contaminated lab must be left unattended after working hours, the lab must be locked and the new sign, “DO NOT ENTER CONTAMINATED AREA WITHOUT PERMISSION OF RADIATION SAFETY,” must be posted on all doors to the lab.
• After normal working hours (5pm), page the Rad. Safety staff by calling 7-HELP. Also call 7-4712 and leave a message on the Rad. Safety Audix (answering service).

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Radiation Safety (Rad. Safety) will schedule a wipe and meter survey of the lab which must be completed before packing, removing equipment, or maintenance work. Prior to the Radiation Safety wipe and meter survey, all radioactive waste should be transferred to the waste room. (Normal waste hours: Monday and Thursday, 11:00 to 11:30, Room WG-01, TRB.) Use of radioactive materials in the lab is prohibited following this survey.

If any wipe result indicates removable contamination over 100 dpm, lab personnel will be notified and asked to clean the item and provide Rad. Safety with documentation that the removable contamination is less than 100 dpm. When results indicate that removable contamination is less that 100 dpm, lab personnel will be notified that packing or removing lab supplies and equipment may proceed.

Prior to moving items from the lab:

• Notify Rad. Safety if radioactive materials are to be transferred to another Authorized User or shipped to another facility.
• Properly label and package radioactive materials in preparation for transfer to the new laboratory. Laboratory personnel must transport the radioactive materials within GU.
• The new location must be posted by Rad. Safety.

  Notify Rad. Safety when the move is complete. Rad. Safety must perform a Post Radiation Safety Survey before the lab may be used/occupied by another individual.

  If the Authorized User is leaving GU or will no longer use radioactive materials, the AU must provide all Radiation Safety Records to Rad. Safety.

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  ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas

  Twas the night before Christmas and Santa’s a wreck...
  How to live in a world that’s politically correct?
  His workers no longer would answer to “Elves”.
  “Vertically Challenged” they were calling themselves .
  And labor conditions at the north pole,
  Were alleged by the union to stifle the soul.

  Four reindeer had vanished, without much propriety,
  Released to the wilds by the Humane Society.
  And equal employment had made it quite clear
  That Santa had better not use just reindeer.
  So Dancer and Donner, Comet and Cupid,
  Were replaced with 4 pigs, and you know that looked stupid!

  The runners had been removed from his sleigh;
  The ruts were termed dangerous by the E.P.A.
  And people had started to call for the cops;
  When they heard sled noises on their roof-tops.
  Second-hand smoke from his pipe had his workers quite frightened.
  His fur trimmed red suit was called "Unenlightened."

  So, half of the reindeer were gone; and his wife,
  Who suddenly said she'd enough of this life,
  Joined a self-help group, packed, and left in a whiz;
  Demanding from now on her title was Ms.

  And as for the gifts, why, he'd ne'er had a notion
  That making a choice could cause so much commotion.
  Nothing of leather, nothing of fur.

  Which meant nothing for him. And nothing for her.
  Nothing that might be construed to pollute.
  Nothing to aim. Nothing to shoot.
  Nothing that claimed to be gender specific.
  Nothing that's warlike or non-pacific.

  No candy or sweets...they were bad for the tooth.
  Nothing that seemed to embellish a truth.
  And fairy tales, while not yet forbidden,
  Were like Ken and Barbie, better off hidden.
  For they raised the hackles of those psychological
  Who claimed the only good gift was one ecological.

  No baseball, no football...someone could get hurt;
  Besides, playing sports exposed kids to dirt.
  Dolls were said to be sexist, and should be passe;
  And Nintendo would rot your entire brain away.

  So Santa just stood there, disheveled, perplexed;
  He just could not figure out what to do next.
  He tried to be merry, tried to be gay,
  But you've got to be careful with that word today.
  His sack was quite empty, limp to the ground;
  Nothing fully acceptable was to be found.

  Something special was needed, a gift that he might
  Give to all without angering the left or the right.
  A gift that would satisfy, with no indecision,
  Each group of people, every religion;
  Every ethnicity, every hue,
  Everyone, everywhere...even you.
  So here is that gift, it's price beyond worth...

  "May you and your loved ones enjoy peace on earth." The Environmental Health and Safety Staff
  
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