Environmental Health & Safety Newsletter

EH&S MISSION STATEMENT
The Medical College of Georgia, Environmental Health and Safety Division provides environmental safety services to staff, patients, and visitors. The three sections of EH&S - Radiation Safety, Environmental Health & Occupational Safety (EHOS) and Biological Safety ensure full compliance with all local, state and federal laws and effectively and efficiently meet the needs of those who require our services. We will continually improve the level and quality of services provided through creativity, teamwork and innovation.

IN THIS ISSUE:
OSHA & EPA Crackdown on Laboratory Safety and Hazardous Waste Management at Universities
Feature Series: Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation , Part II
Radiation Safety Laboratory Survey
Questions & Answers: Do you know the danger zone for foods?
Why Should You Practice Good Housekeeping in the Laboratory
DEPC Explosive
Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Available Chemicals
Commentary: A quote from Robert B. Reich, U.S. Secretary of Labor

OSHA and EPA Crack Down on Lab Safety and
Hazardous Waste Management Practices at Universities.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have spent considerable time addressing safety and health concerns in university laboratories over the past three years.

Last fall, EPA cited Yale University for various safety violations claim to threatened the safety of the students and the community. The most serious violations involved open or damaged hazardous materials containers, storage of incompatible explosive materials and improper labeling of waste containers. The university paid $348,000 to settle the allegations.

A few months earlier, Stanford University paid almost $1 million to settle a charge that it had mishandled hazardous wastes, most of which were generated in research laboratories. These two cases are warnings that universities must comply with the same health, safety and environmental rules as industry. Schools argue that rules should be less stringent rules for research facilities, pointing out that schools produce less hazardous waste industry. In addition, they feel students and faculty members are better educated about the risks.

EPA disagrees, saying that the safety and health violations pose a very serious problem. For example, investigators revealed in court papers that they found students at Yale University working with explosive waste without any formal training.

The Environmental Health & Safety Division manages MCG hazardous waste and low-level radioactive waste disposal programs. If you have questions about chemical storage, proper labeling, hazardous waste disposal practices, waste minimization strategies or training requirements, contact EHOS at ext. 1-2663. For information concerning radioactive materials, contact Radiation Safety at ext. 1-9826.

Modified from "Aware," North Carolina State University Environmental Health & Safety newsletter,
Vol. 2 No. 1.

FEATURE SERIES:
Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation - Part II

The last copy of the newsletter presented a rather formal discussion of the biological effects of radiation and some of the terminology associated with medical health physics. Although the medical community is responsible for much of the population exposure to radiation, this exposure is highly regulated and used to benefit our health. Other sources of radiation are much more insidious and, very often, overlooked. One source is the smoking of cigarettes.

Thirty-two years ago, scientists discovered that tobacco contains high concentrations of radioactive material. The radioactive nuclide that tobacco contains is polonium-210. Polonium-210 is an alpha emitter, the most highly ionizing radiation known to mankind, and particularly dangerous when in contact with living tissue.

When a person lights a cigarette, the polonium is volatilized, inhaled and quickly deposited in the living tissue of the respiratory system. It is estimated that the person who smokes one and one-half packs of cigarettes for one year receives a radiation dose to their bronchial tissue of approximately 16,000 millirem (one chest X-ray could deliver 20-30 millirem to the same tissue). In comparison, the federal limits of radiation exposure to the general public from man-made occupational radiation may not exceed 100 millirem per year or 2 millirem an hour.

The current federal regulations require tobacco companies to display the Surgeon General's warning that cigarette smoking may be hazardous health. Tobacco companies can and do challenge the validity of epidemiological studies that show a correlation between lung cancer and cigarette smoking, but there is no way that can challenge the fact that cigarettes do contain naturally occurring polonium and that the tissues of the lung are exposed to very high levels of ionizing alpha radiation.

This article was modified and reprinted from the Utah State University, Safety Line, Issue No. 33, Fall, 1996.
Modified by Douglas L. Watson, Deputy Radiation Safety Officer, MCG

Radiation Safety Laboratory Survey Program

Written by Bill Stephany, Ph.D., Assistant Radiation Safety Officer

The Radiation Safety Guide, which is legally part of MCG's radioisotope license agreement with the state of Georgia, requires the Radiation Safety Office to perform periodic laboratory contamination surveys. We interpret periodic as monthly. The guide explicitly states that authorized users must perform weekly surveys. The primary purpose of both these surveys is to prevent contamination by radioactive material. They also provide continual compliance monitoring and personal contact between laboratory and radiation safety personnel. These surveys are a significant part of our routine work. The surveys complement the audit program, initiated in October. While the audit program focuses on programmatic items pertaining to formal authorization to use radioisotopes, the survey program focuses on day to day operational laboratory safety and compliance.

What importance do they have to you? Approximately 150 researchers use radioisotopes on campus. Would it surprise you to discover that their primary focus is on their research, rather than on the rules and regulations of the Radiation Safety Office? One contamination event, for instance, could do to MCG what it did to the National Institute of Health. Its investigation resulted in citations, fines, and a lot of unwanted publicity.

We are continually improving the quality of these surveys. We have modified the survey forms, redrawn all the laboratory drawings so they closely represent current configurations, and we carefully review the survey results from each lab. These results are tracked as well as our follow up of deficiencies. However, we attempt to resolve any problems at the time of the survey. Most laboratories have now designated one person as a point of contact, responsible for radiation safety compliance of daily laboratory operations. This is particularly important in those labs where multiple authorized users share the same work area.

We are making progress in every way to assure safety and to achieve compliance with regulations, being both more effective and more efficient. Your continual cooperation and our continual effort to listen to your suggestions and needs is creating a win win situation.

Questions & Answers

Q: Do you know the danger zone for foods?

A: Microorganisms most common to foods are bacteria and fungi. Foods stored at temperatures between 45o F and 145o F are potentially dangerous. This is the perfect temperature to promote the growth of microorganisms. Temperature control is one of the major keys to providing a safe and healthy meal. Hot foods should be kept above 140o F, cold foods between 32o F and 45o F, and frozen foods at 32o F or below. Food poisoning is not uncommon. To avoid it, do not allow foods to stand at room temperature for long periods of time. As a general rule, cold food should remain refrigerated until it is served. Hot food should be served hot, then allowed to cool down rapidly and refrigerated as soon as possible. Reheat leftovers as you need them.

Why Should You Practice Good Housekeeping in the Laboratory?

During a recent walk-through inspection, an EH&S staff member found it difficult to maneuver through some laboratories because floors and passageways are cluttered with empty boxes, containers and unused equipment. Work benches and laboratory equipment were left contaminated. Chemical storage facilities were untidy and laboratory safety equipment (eye wash stations and safety showers) was inaccessible. This is unsafe and unsanitary.

When pathways to work benches, safety equipment and storage facilities are obstructed, the potential for accidents and serious injury is increased. What happens when an employee is splashed with a chemical and can't get to the safety shower or eye wash station? What happens to your research procedure when it is contaminated by unclean laboratory equipment? What happens if you store magnesium under a sink and the sink develops a leak? What happens if you store nitric acid and acetic acid in the same location and they accidentally leak and come in contact with each other? What happens if a regulator walks in and sees all this? In order of their presentation, here are the answers to the above questions: serious injury to the employee, wasted time and resources, major explosion, another major explosion, regulatory citations, fines and eventually, laboratory shut-down,.

Bad housekeeping in a laboratory is no joke. It can be very serious. Floors and pathways cluttered with boxes and containers are an accident waiting to happen. A contaminated procedure is a waste of time and resources. Failure to routinely clean equipment will eventually lead to costly repairs or replacement. Accidental injury accompanied by an inability to get to safety equipment could cost an employee more than just a job. Finally, if you don't clean up your lab, eventually you could receive a fine, or risk lab closure.

Poor housekeeping practices violate several regulations. Obstructed walkways, inaccessible safety equipment, improperly stored chemicals or biological material, unclean equipment and improper labeling are often cited by regulatory inspectors. Regulatory violations carry a potential fine for the perpetrator, the institution and any other person designated by the inspector as responsible. A responsible party can be anybody who knew about the problem and didn't do anything to correct it. For some violations, there is the potential for jail time. This is especially true when violations involve hazardous chemicals or biohazards, and regulatory inspectors do not accept ignorance as an excuse. This is why we conduct random walk-through inspections and annual laboratory safety audits, and to prevent accidents before they happen. But, our efforts require cooperation and support to be effective.

Good housekeeping in the laboratory is essential to personnel safety. It is also a prudent, cost-effective practice, and it is a regulatory requirement. As a minimum, you should:

• Keep floors and passageways clean and free of obstacles.
• Ensure that safety equipment such as eyewash stations and safety showers are not obstructed.
• Do not use safety showers as storage facilities for equipment or supplies.
• Clean laboratory equipment and work benches after each use.
• Inspect chemical storage facilities for damaged containers or poor labeling, and properly segregate your chemicals.
• Conduct periodic informal safety inspections, and document them.
• Ensure that all personal protection equipment is properly stored and maintained, and lab employees know where to locate them.
• Ensure that you and your employees know the hazards of the chemicals in your area.
• Protect your employees and yourself from hazards by making housekeeping a part of your daily routine.

EH&S conducts formal semiannual laboratory safety audits as a part of the regulatory requirement.

These audits include good housekeeping practices. We provide a copy of an EH&S Lab Safety Audit Checklist to all managers prior to conducting the audit. This is a list of the specific requirement with regulatory references. Laboratory personnel can use this document to self-inspect on a routine basis. If you don't have a copy, call our office at 1-2663 or e-mail Charles Lamke.

EH&S is a laboratory support service. If you're having trouble meeting the requirements, call us. We can assess your lab and make recommendations that are consistent with regulations. For more information concerning good housekeeping requirements, call EH&S at ext. 1-2663.

DEPC - Explosive

Diethyl pyrocarbonate (DEPC) is commonly used in molecular biology. DEPC is moisture sensitive and hydrolyzes to CO2 and ethanol upon exposure to moist air or water. Bottles of DEPC will absorb moisture upon being opened; release of CO2 during subsequent storage may lead to pressure buildup and spontaneous explosion. Such an incident recently occurred in a lab at another university. Spontaneous explosion of new unopened bottles can also occur.

Every bottle of DEPC, whether new or previously opened, should be considered an explosive hazard. DEPC should be purchased in small quantities and used as soon as possible after purchase. DEPC should be stored tightly capped and refrigerated, with desiccant, in the original metal shipping containers. These may be placed inside larger metal receptacles for added protection. Allow DEPC to equilibrate to room temperature before handling. Wear goggles and protective clothing, and open bottles behind a shield in a chemical fume hood.

Adapted from "Lab Safety Spectrum," McGill University

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Carbon monoxide (CO) in the home is a serious concern, because it is an odorless and colorless gas that can accumulate to deadly concentrations without warning. In the last few years, technical advances have made it possible to develop CO detectors that are cheap enough for home use. However, their use requires some thought and planning. This article describes how home-style CO monitors work and how to use them.

How they work:

Household carbon monoxide detectors measure CO accumulation in the air of the space they protect. The current generation of CO detectors sound an alarm when the exposure to CO in the air corresponds to 10 percent carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) level in the blood. Since 10 percent COHb is at the low end of CO poisoning, the alarm may sound before people feel particularly sick. In some instances, outdoor air pollution can cause low levels of CO to be present for long periods of time - these background conditions can cause some CO detectors to alarm. However, it is still important to treat all CO detector alarms as real until proven otherwise.

Using a Detector:

Follow manufacturer's recommendations about where to put it in your house. Check with your local fire department and determine if it has a special number to call in the event of a CO detector alarm. Test CO detectors at least once a month, following the manufacturer's instructions. Replace detectors according to the manufacturer's instructions, usually about every two years.

If the Alarm Sounds:

If your carbon monoxide detector alarms, your reaction will be based on whether anybody shows signs of CO poisoning (fatigue, headaches, nausea). If anyone shows signs of CO poisoning, have everyone leave the building right away. Leave the doors open as you go. Use a neighbor's telephone to report the CO alarm, and get immediate medical attention. If no one has symptoms of CO poisoning, open the windows and doors, shut down the heating and cooking equipment, and call a qualified technician to inspect all combustion equipment. Watch carefully for signs of CO poisoning.

CO detectors are not substitutes for smoke detectors, which detect the products of fire and give an earlier warning. Know the difference between the sound of the smoke detectors and the CO detector. You should have a home evacuation plan for these emergency situations. A reprint from UVM

Safety Notes #47, by Ralph Stuart, University of Vermont

SAFETY NOTE

You'll never know what you never ask.

So, ask what you do not know, before the people who do

are not around to ask.

Charles Lamke, EHOS 1996

Available Chemicals

To request chemicals listed below, or to contribute a chemical for exchange, call EH&S, at 706-721-2663, or FAX: 706-721-2447.

Acetone 3ea 500 ml
Acetone 2ea. 4 lt
Acetaldehyde 500 gr
Ammonium Acetate 6ea. 500 gr
Acetic Acid 1 pt
Benzimidazole 225 gr
Calcium Carbonate 450 gr
Calcium Chloride 5 lb
Carbowax Peg 6000 400 gr
Congo Red 75 gr
Ethylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether 3 x 1 qt
Ethylene Glycol Monoethyl Ether 1 qt
Fumaric Acid 1 kg
Gluconic Acid Lactone, D- 475 gr
Hydrochloric Acid 500 ml
Hydrochloric Acid 2ea 2.5 lt
Hydroxylamine Hydrochloride 6ea. 100 gr
Malic Acid, DL- 1000 gr
Methionine, L- 1 kg
N,N-Dimethylacetamide 500 ml
Phenol 5 ea 500 ml
Phenol Ultrapure 500 ml
Polyvinylpyrolidione . 75 kg
Potassium Oxalate 3 oz
Potassium Permanganate 453 gr
Propanol, 2- 3ea. 4 lt
Propionic Acid l 1t
Putrescine 100 gr
Sodium Hydrosulfite ea. 500 gr
Sodium Phosphate Dibasic 500 gr
Sodium Phosphate Monobasic 500 gr
Sulfuric Acid 2ea 2.5 lt
Toluidine Blue O 25 gr
Trichloroacetic Acid 2 x 500 ml

Exchange chemicals will be delivered to your lab upon request. Chemicals for contribution will be picked up on Wednesdays during the routine chemical waste collection.

COMMENTARY

Some propagandists accuse the federal regulatory agencies of farming public fears about so-called "unproven" hazards. We reject this "What you can't see can't hurt you" attitude. It is especially misguided in the occupational disease area, where so many hazards are proven beyond any reasonable doubt - and where evidence of success of regulation is undeniable.

Quoted from: Robert B. Reich, U. S. Secretary of Labor.

Associate Vice President: James S. Davis, Ph.D.
Editor: Dolly E. Hobbs
Technical Editors:
Charles Lamke, M.S.: Chemical, Occupational, Environmental, and Biological Safety
William Stephany, Ph.D.: Radiation Safety

Biological Safety  | Chemical Safety | EHOS | Fire Safety  | Radiation Safety | EH&S Training

Environmental Health and Safety | Medical College of Georgia
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January 05, 2007