EH&S Newsletter

December, 1997

Susan Martin, Director
Sim Shanks, Radiation Safety Officer

Table of Contents

Radiation Safety Training Schedule

Send EH&S an email message

Lab Safety Assistance

Chemical Hygiene Plan
OSHA Chemical Hygiene regulation
Chemical Hygiene Training records
Standard Operating Procedures
Material Safety Data Sheets
GUMC Laboratory Safety Guidelines
Chemical Inventory
Bloodborne Pathogens Policy
OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens regulation
Bloodborne Pathogens Training records
Hepatitis B Vaccination records
D.C. Fire Codes Requirements (summary)
Chemical Compatibility Storage Guidelines
Emergency Phone Numbers Poster
GUMC Waste Disposal Guidelines
Eyewash Inspection Documentation Form

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For the answers to the crossword puzzle appearing in the September EH&S newsletter, click here.

The formal report of NRC findings from the Sept 2-5, 1997, inspection was received November 25. No citations were received as a direct result of research activities. However, two notices of violation were received for failure to perform routine surveys and inadequate training of personnel. Each was assigned a Severity Level IV (the least severe).

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Post It Notes Cause Problems for Recyclers. USA Today, 7 October.
It appears as though those godsends of the work place known as Post-It Notes are now causing
problems for the paper recycling industry. Evidently, removal of the “sticky” ends from Post-It
notes during the recycling process is proving to be a costly technical problem. It was suggested
in the USA Today article that little sticky notes are feature players in the financial problems
currently faced by the paper recycling industry. The solution? According to Said Abubakr, head
of “stickies” research at the US Forest Service, a new “sticky” formula and design is in order.
Judging by the popularity of Post-It Notes, these problems will probably be “sticking” around for
quite a while. (That just had to be said!)

“FDA Rules Latex Gloves Must Have Warning Labels." Wall Street Journal, 1 October
The FDA has ruled that all medical devices containing latex must be labeled with warnings that
latex can cause allergic reactions. The rate of allergy in the general public stands at less than 1%,
but the risk is higher among workers with frequent exposure. In 1989, 16 children died from
exposure to latex.

“BU to spend $2m in EPA Settlement” Globe, 9 October Boston University agreed to spend upwards of $2 million on environmental improvement
projects to settle federal charges that it allowed an oil spill to pollute the Charles River and
mishandled hazardous waste at its medical campus.

The settlement, apparently the largest federal environmental action ever taken against an
academic institution, includes (among other items) a $253,000 fine and $518,000 worth of work
to improve the river and a community garden near BU's medical campus.

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According to GUMC policy, in the event of a fire employees are to evacuate, activate the alarm as they leave, and call 7-HELP. If you choose to use a fire extinguisher, remember the following:

If you have any questions regarding fire extinguisher use, regulations, etc., please contact EH&S.

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A new employee, Chris Alston, has joined the Radiation Safety Program of EH&S. Chris comes
to GUMC from the Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, where he was the Radiation Safety
Officer. He has many years of experience in the biomedical, environmental, and general
consulting arenas. He hopes, among other things, to further his academic progress as a result of
his employment at GU.

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• 2,556 transportation
• 1,144 violence
• 1,005 object/equipment
• 684 falls
• 523 harmful substances
• 200 other
• 1000 deaths occurred in the construction industry
• 39,100 workers were killed off the job
• 22,200 off the job deaths were due to vehicle accidents
• 9,500 workers were killed at home
• 3.9 million workers were injured at work
• 6.3 million workers were injured at home
• The cost of the work place injuries and deaths was estimated at $121 billion.

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July brought a series of unannounced inspections by the Fire Marshall. The initial inspections were conducted in Building D and TRB. Of greatest concern to the Fire Marshall was the storage of flammable liquids on the floor, liquid acids stored with liquid flammables, and excessive flammables. While these (and other) deficiencies were cited (but corrected immediately), a number of laboratories received no citations. No fines were levied during this time.

Following the above inspections the Fire Marshall discussed improving lab safety practices in several regards.

• First, and of most significance to laboratories, is the storage of dry chemicals (even in small quantities) according to hazard class. Chemical manufacturers support or facilitate this practice by including storage codes on lab reagent bottles.
• Labeling storage locations (i.e. Flammable, Acids, Bases, Oxidizers, Toxics), regardless of quantities.
• Storage of non-hazardous chemicals off the floor or in secondary containment while on the floor.
• Labeling lab doors with chemical hazard information was discussed. The Fire Marshall requested that a sign similar to the NFPA diamond that appears on some chemical bottles be placed on doors. Some researchers may remember that this system was widely used on lab doors several years ago. However, the system was found to be unwieldy for most research laboratories. Numerous firefighters (and fire marshalls) across the country are advocating returning to this use of the NFPA diamond in order to provide general information to firefighters during a fire. GUMC and the Fire Marshall are still discussing the specifics of this request.

Inspections continued with EH&S and the office of Safety and Environmental Management (SEM) inspecting laboratories in all GUMC buildings and assisting staff in understanding the recommendations. The Fire Marshall continued to inspect laboratories, but more as a follow up to the inspections and corrective actions GUMC was required to perform.

Subsequently, a recent small (i.e. benchtop and shelves) fire in a GUMC laboratory resulted in additional inspections of several GUMC labs. Three fines were levied for storage of chemical containers on the floor (unrelated to the fire).

It is noteworthy to mention that the D.C. Fire Marshall utilizes the BOCA National Fire Code/ 1990. This is a national code that individual cities can incorporate at their discretion. As with most regulations, the code provides (very) broad latitude to the jurisdiction/ inspector. In interpreting the BOCA code, the jurisdiction/ Fire Marshall utilizes a variety of sources including non-incorporated codes (such as NFPA, ACS, ANSI, ASHRAE, CGA, etc.). The GUMC Laboratory Safety Guidelines discusses numerous lab safety practices advocated by the Fire Marshall (as well as other regulatory entities). An annual publication of EH&S, “D.C. Fire Code Requirements”, highlights many of the most common requirements.

Lastly, remember that the Fire Marshall is not the only reason for maintaining a safe and regulatory compliant laboratory. Federal OSHA and EPA regulations carry much more severe punishment. Similarly, litigation as a result of injury or illness is extremely costly. But, most of all, we should strive to keep our laboratories and staff members as safe as reasonably possible.

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The hanging of greenery around the house, such as holly and ivy, is a winter tradition with origins well before the Christian era. Greenery was brought into the house to lift sagging winter spirits and remind people that spring was not far away.

"Wassailing" is an ancient custom that is rarely practiced today. The word "wassail" is derived from the Anglo-Saxon phrase “waes hael”, meaning "good health". Originally, wassail was a beverage made of mulled ale, curdled cream, roasted apples, eggs, cloves, ginger, nutmeg and sugar. The legend says that a beautiful Saxon maiden named Rowena presented Prince Vortigen with a bowl of wine while toasting him with the words "Waes hael". Over the centuries a great deal of ceremony developed around the custom of drinking wassail. The bowl was carried into a room with great fanfare, a traditional carol about the drink was sung, and finally, the steaming hot beverage was served.

The hanging of stockings by the fire supposedly dates back to the actual Saint Nicholas, a bishop in Lycia in Asia Minor (present-day Turkey) during the fourth century AD. According to the legend, there was a poor man with three daughters who could not provide a dowry for them to be married. One night, Nicholas secretly dropped a bag of gold into an open window of the house. The oldest daughter was then allowed to be married. This was repeated later with the second daughter.

Finally, determined to discover his benefactor, the father hid by his daughter's window until he caught the saint. Nicholas begged the man to not reveal his identity. Word got out anyway, and when anyone received a gift from an unknown source, it was attributed to Saint Nicholas. In one legend, the third daughter had hung her stockings by the fire to dry them. When St. Nicholas tossed in the bag of gold, it landed in one of the stockings. Thus the tradition began.

The practice of hanging mistletoe in the house dates back to the times of the ancient Druids. It is supposed to posses mystical powers which bring good luck and ward off evil spirits.

Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, is celebrated for eight days to commemorate the victory of the Jews over the Hellenist Syrians in 165 BCE. Following their victory, the Maccabees, sons of the Priestly Hasmonean family which led the Jews in their revolt against the Syrian overlords, entered the Holy Temple in Jerusalem defiled by the Syrian invaders, cleansed it and dedicated it anew to the service of God. Then, in memory of their victory, the Maccabees celebrated the first Hanukkah. (Hanukkah is the Hebrew term for dedication.)

The Talmud, the body of Jewish oral law, relates how the Judean heroes, led by Judah Maccabee, were preparing to rededicate the Temple and were unable to find enough undefiled oil to light the lamps. However, in one of the Temple chambers, they found a small cruse of oil which, under normal circumstances, would have lasted only one evening. Miraculously, this small amount of oil kept the Temple lights burning for eight nights until new oil fit for use in the temple could be obtained. This is the miracle commemorated by the kindling of the Hanukkah lights .

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