When you are in an area where hazardous materialsare present, you could inhale harmful dust, fumes,mists, gases or other hazards every time you breathe inif the materials are used or stored incorrectly. The con-sequences to your health can be serious and long-last-ing, including lung damage, cancer or other illnesses,communicable diseases, and even death.

Harmful airborne materials can exist in nearly all workenvironments on campus. They can be odorless andcolorless, they can come from seemingly benignsources, and the type and quantity can vary dependingon specific activities in your work area. What can youdo to protect yourself?

Minimizing your exposure, using required PersonalProtective Equipment (PPE) and providing good ventila-tion all help to prevent illness and injury. Following yourdepartment or laboratory’s safe work practices andcompleting safety training is equally important.

Poster of the Month

Mostwork-placescontain atleast afew dan-geroussub-stances.How can

you take steps to stay safeand healthy at work? Thismonth’s poster containstips on preventing injuryand illness from airbornehazards and physical expo-sure hazards.

Download Poster

Links & Resources

Guide to Office Air Quality - from the EPA

The EPA’s Air Quality Glossary of Terms

OSHA’s Occupational Chemical Database

California Poison Control System

UC Material Data Safety Sheet Database

Video: The Lab Safety Song

Video: Disposable Respirator Instructions - from the CDC

Video: UC Berkeley FumeHood Safety

Video: UCSD Laboratory Safety Training

March 2012

Safe WorkEnvironment

Safety SpotlightUCA UC System-Wide Publication of the Environment, Health & Safety Leadership Council

Quick Tips onAvoiding Exposureto Hazards

What’s in

The ThingsYou Touch

The AirYou Breathe

Research indicates that American adults spend from 40 to 50 percent of their waking hoursat work. These hours can be filled with challenge, creativity and accomplishment. They canprovide learning and satisfying social contact. The one thing your working hours should notdo is endanger your health. Every work environment has its share of materials or processesthat can be harmful if not managed correctly. Some common threats include substances thatcause illness or injury through inhalation or skin contact. You can stay safe by practicingsafe material handling. Key steps are understanding the potential hazards in your workarea, and the precautionary measures you can take to avoid them.

Contact with hazardous materials, such as chemicals orinfectious substances, can occur in work environmentswhere these materials are used and stored. These haz-ardous substances can also endanger those who trans-port them as well as firefighters and other emergencyresponders who may come in contact with them in thecourse of their duties. Hazards come in all shapes andsizes, from harmful pesticides to laboratory chemicals tocommon household cleaners.

Even experienced professionals can experience illness,burns or other health impacts by misunderstanding thepossible dangers of handling certain materials. That’swhy it is important to review MSDSs before handlinghazardous materials.

You can stay safe by completing required training, fol-lowing basic safety guidelines and always using theappropriate PPE when you handle hazardous materials.

Continued Page 2 Continued Page 2

Your Workplace?

Physical Exposure Hazards

Airborne Hazards

Part of a laboratoy’s comprehen-sive Chemical Hygiene Plan,Engineering Controls define phys-ical systems and work processesthat keep harmful substancesaway from people and the envi-

ronment. EngineeringControls guide-

lines cover safety meas-ures that include:

� Building ventilation systems that direct airborne hazards away from lab staff

� Fume hoods andbiosafety cabinets thatseparate staff fromharmful airborne contaminants

� Specific exhaust meas-ures such as gloveboxes or snorkels� Taining and moni-toring to ensure thatvents and other engi-neering safety meas-ures are not coveredor diverted by near-by objects

Click here to learnmore about

Engineering Controls.

Administrative Controls include:

� Standard Operating Procedures(SOPs) that define safe laboratoryoperations

� Substituting less hazardous materi-als for highly hazardous materialswhen-ever possible

� Dividing the workload so no single person spends too much time inthe presence of hazardous materials

� Creating alternate schedules that allow employees to limit the time spent handling potentially dangerous substances

Hazard How are “hazardcommunications”different from otherforms of informationexchange?

In an institutional setting, hazard com-munication refers toa set of rigorousstandards defined bythe California Divis-ion of OccupationalHealth and Safety(Cal-OSHA).

Designed to protectemployees, officialhazard communica-tion processesensure that employ-ees are kept informed ofworkplace risks and how toavoid them. UC Policies andProcedures include provi-sions for written hazardcommunication programs,which can include:

- Requirements foremployee training, certification and accessto information

- Identifying hazards and how they can affecthealth

- Development of hazardous materialsmanagement plans

- Labeling, storage, dispensing and disposal guidelines

- Chemical Hygiene Plan Communication

- Emergency ResponseProcedures

- MSDS (Material Safetyand Data Sheet) content and distribution

- Defining areas of respon-sibility in the communi-cation processss

Every campus work environment has the potentialto contain airborne hazards that could have negative health impacts, such as:- Vapors, mists or dust from common office supplies

and cleaning materials- Pathogens, including bacteria, viruses and

parasites- Aerosolized mists- Harmful fumes and gases - Airborne particles from

grinding and metal-working- Concrete, wood and asbestos dust and other

construction-related particulates- Harmful vapors that result from plumbing, HVAC and

electrical work- Dust and other contaminants from plants, animals

and soils involved in agricultural operations - Toxins from fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides- Off-gassing from furniture, carpet, paint and plastics- Smoke and steam- Oxygen-depleted air- Air that is extremely hot or cold

Coming into contact with these hazardous materialscan cause damage to skin, eyes, neurological andother physical systems:- Carcinogens- Corrosive substances, including acids and bases- Toxic materials such as solvents, adhesives,

reagents and other chemicals- Biological agents and their toxins- Flammable liquids- Radiological agents- Cryogenic liquids- Pyrophoric materials (substances that sponta-

neously catch fire upon contact with the air) andother specialized researchmaterials

- Toxins found in householdmaterials such as cleaningsolutions and drain cleaners

- Dangerous substances present in common officesupplies and processes

- Contact with extreme heat and cold- Novel materials and procedures such as those

used in nanotechnology and prion research

Com

munica

tion

EngineeringControls

Also included in a laboratory’s comprehensiveChemical HygienePlan, Administra-tive Controls provide guidelinesthat help laborato-ry staff to avoidinhaling or physically contact-ing dangerous substances.

Adminis-trative

Controls

Hazard communicationsare essential in laborato-ries, workshops, animalfacilities and any work-place that could containhazardous materials.

Click here for more information.

Tools ThatKeep You on a Safe Path

Work together with your supervisorand co-workers to implement a consis-tent safety effort.

� Read and follow department safety guidelinesand emergency response procedures

� Complete all required training and certification� Maintain a safety mindset; consider all possible risks

before you begin to work� Don’t allow distraction, rushing or complacency cause

you to take shortcuts or skip a safety procedure� Always use required Personal Protective Equipment� Notify your supervisor or safety coordinator if you

observe a safety or health hazard or if PPE or safetydevices need replacement

� Report any work-related illness or injury, no matter howminor, to your supervisor immediately

Laboratories that store hazardous chemi-cals are required to have a ChemicalHygiene Plan. Implemented by theDepartment Chair or Director, theplans guide the staff in safely stor-ing, using, documenting and dis-posing hazardous chemicals.

Knowing what is stored onsite and keeping it storedcorrectly not only benefitsstaff in your department. Maintenance staff, peo-ple responsible for transporting and disposingmaterials, and emergency responders must alsobe protected from exposure to chemicals duringthe course of their work.

Chemical Hygiene Plans help staff practiceessential safety measures, such as storing

incompatible chemicals in separate cabinets,proper labeling and registration and

securing of controlled materials.

Some items you throwaway can be hazardous tocustodians and waste han-dlers, or could damage theenvironment if processedas ordinary trash. Danger-ous powders, liquids orairborne hazards can con-taminate the area beforepick-up. In workplaceswhere hazardous materialsare used, authorized haz-ardous waste proceduresmust be followed. Refer toyour campus or facilityguidelines for safe dispos-al requirements.

If you are not sure aboutyour area’s waste disposalguidelines, contact yourUC EH&S office for infor-mation. The following areexamples of materials thatmust be disposed accord-ing to specific safe han-dling procedures:

�� Red medical waste bags �� Animal waste or animal

products from researchand agriculture projects

�� Sharp items: medicalsharps, broken glass,used blades and othersharp objects

�� Fluorescent tubes andCompact FluorescentLight bulbs (CFLs)

�� Solvents, corrosives,cleaners, adhesives,paint and other chemi-cals found in laborato-ries and wood-, metal-and automotive-shops

�� Leftover building materials that couldcontain asbestos orother health hazards

�� Leftover fertilizer, pesti-cides and herbicides

Why Didn’tthe CustodianPick up MyTrash?

Using Personal ProtectiveEquipment (PPE) is essen-tial to personal safety,

especially if you cannotseparate yourself fromthe hazard by barriersor ventilation systems.

Be sure to wear PPEthat is required for your

department and the workyou are doing.

Complete the proper train-ing before using respiratorsor other specialized PPE.

Replace gloves, masks or other PPE items if they areworn, damaged or do not fit correctly.Example of PPE used on campus:

� Lab coats and gowns� Dust masks and respirators� Slip-resistant shoes� Protective footwear� Gloves and gauntlets� Glasses or goggles, with side

protection panels� Full face shields� Protective clothing� Hearing protection� Sun-, heat- and cold-resistant clothing

Click here for more on Personal Protective Equipment.

PersonalProtective Equipment

Chemical HygienePlans include:

� Guidance on safe receiving,

usage, storage,labeling and dis-pensing of hazardous substances

� Well-defined procedures for preparing and labelingmaterials for disposal

� Emergency responseinstructions

� Training, certification andmonitoring procedures

Click here to learn more aboutChemical Hygiene Plans.

Whether you workin an office, class-room, laboratory,shop or any otherarea on campus,following yourdepartment’s safework procedures is the best way to stay healthy and safe.

Your safe work pro-cedures should betailored to your work environmentand your job posi-tion. As technolo-gies and other factors change overtime, so should yoursafety procedures.

SafeWork

Procedures

ChemicalHygiene

Plans

When the unexpected happens, protecting people, theenvironment and vital UC resources hinges on proper,consistent response by department members. All UC units

and departments should havean updated emergency/missioncontinuity plan.

If your unit or department teamneeds to develop a plan orupdate an existing one, UC’sproprietary UC Ready template

streamlines the process, saving money and staff time andmaking it easier for emergency responders to handle thesituation safely.

UC Ready is a flexible, user-oriented tool that helps youtailor a plan that fits your department’s specific needs. Besure your emergency plan is based on industry best prac-tices and conforms to all UC and government complianceregulations by using the UC Ready resource.

After reviewing the MSDS, you may need more safetyinformation about the product or process you intend touse. That’s where the UC-sponsored RightAnswerDatabase becomes your most valuable resource.RightAnswer is an online resource containing comprehen-

sive information on toxicology,occupational medicine, environ-mental impacts and more.

Medical centers, laboratories, ani-mal facilities and other campusdepartments can access vitalinformation that helps prevent

exposure to harmful substances. The site also providesguidelines for emergency response management of specif-ic hazardous materials, as well as compliance recommen-dations and requirements.

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

Consistent

ValidatedAuthorized

Practical

Sustainable

Your UC Resources?

RightAnswer Database

Emergency/Continuity Planning

Are you looking for required safety information about a certain chemical? Does your department need planning,documentation, prevention or compliance plans? The easiest, most reliable information and plan templates areavailable to you at no charge through University of California sources. Secure, online access makes your infor-mation search fast and efficient, and in-person assistance is available to help you customize pre-approved tem-plates based on your department’s specific needs. Using UC based data and plan formats helps our campusesand facilities safeguard health and safety, comply with regulations and avoid unnecessary expense.

Taking Advantage ofAre You

California law requires that you have access to a MaterialSafety Data Sheet (MSDS) for any hazardous material inyour workplace. MSDSs provide vitalinformation on how the substancecould cause harm and how to contactthe manufacturer for more information.Before you purchase or use a poten-tially hazardous substance or process,you must obtain its MSDS.

But be sure to look it up in the rightplace! Though the internet is filled with MSDS information,the UC system subscribes to a consistent, accurate andupdated MSDS database. Save money, avoid confusionand prevent possible hazardous situations by using theUC-sponsored MSDS information.

Check out www.ucmsds.com and bookmark it for yourfuture MSDS searches.

Common House-hold Hazards:Protect Yourselfand Your Family

Your homecan be asource ofairborne ordirect con-tact hazards.Common airborne pollutants include:

� Dust, dirt, animal dander� Mold or mildew spores� Vapors or gases from

cosmetics, cleaners andpolishes, adhesives andcrafts materials

� Off-gassing of VolatileOrganic Compounds(VOCs) from paint, carpet,furniture, building materi-als and some plastics

In your garage and yard, youcould be exposed to airborneas well as contact hazardsfrom products such as:� Automotive and shop

sprays and fluids� Pool and spa chemicals� Paint, paint stripper, glue,

solvents and other homemaintenance materials

Protect yourself and yourfamily with these basic pre-vention steps:� Read and follow product

safety information� Keep hazards out of the

reach of children � Wear protective clothing� Purchase safer or

biodegradable alternatives � Keep your home clean

and dry to discouragemold and mildew

� Maintain good ventilation� Clean spills immediately� Store materials properly� Buy only as much of a

chemical as you need � Dispose of hazards prop-

erly. Check your local haz-ardous waste program

Click for safety tips from:California Department of

Public HealthEnvironmental Protection

AgencyFederal Emergency

Management Agency

From your UC computer, you have unlimited access to theRightAnswer safety and prevention information. It is yourmost economical and effective option for ensuring healthand safety in your work area. Using RightAnswer ratherthan other sources supports system-wide consistency ofinformation in these important areas:

� Emergency response� Regulatory compliance� Illness and Injury Prevention Planning� Storage and disposal safety� Tracking and inventory� Elimination of information gaps, inconsistencies

and overlaps� Development of training and certification programs

Go to csi.micromedex.coom to access RightAnswer.

Nurturing a Culture of SafetyThe Center is committed to helping Principal Investigators(PIs) and other leaders inform and engage their teams in taking personal responsibility for lab safety. The Center willshare communication tools that nurture a culture of safety byemphasizing the value of safe behavior to the individual andothers in the laboratory.Practical Tools Based on Real-World DataThe Center is developing safety programs based on system-atic documentation, incident follow-up and updated technicaland procedural information. Programs based on thoroughdata evaluation will support PIs in making improvementswhere they are most needed. Examples include enforcingPersonal Protective Equipment use, and compliance with regulatory and institutional regulations. The UC Center for Laboratory Safety is a unique and ener-getic advocate for the safety of laboratory staff. Through itsintensive research and systematic program development, theCenter serves the laboratory community as an authoritativesource for measures designed to protect life and health. The Center operates under the oversight of the UC Center forLaboratory Safety Advisory Board, which is drawn fromexperts from UCLA, UC Office of the President and represen-tatives from private industry. Technical support is provided bythe UCLA Office of Environment, Health and Safety and theUCLA School of Public Health – Department of EnvironmentalHealth Sciences.

Click here to visit the Center’s home page, or view the videothat summarizes the Center’s mission and vision.

The UC Center for Laboratory Safety (Center) is an inno-vative resource created to helping academic and other labo-ratory staff maintain safe, healthy work environments. Established in March 2011, the Center is dedicated to improv-ing laboratory safety by empowering laboratory staff membersat all levels with practical information andclearly defined, optimized best practices.The Center is guided by a self-sustaining,three-part mission to: � Support research in laboratory safety� Use the resulting research outcomes to

develop best practices� Use the outcomes from the best prac-

tices to the laboratory communityThe Center’s pioneering approach to laboratory safety takesa global perspective, and encourages laboratories to join in aproductive exchange of practical safety information.Improving the effectiveness of laboratory inspectionsOne of the Center’s key objectives is to promote an increasein the number, regularity and quality of inspections. More andbetter inspections will help to proactively identify issues andareas for improvement, and inspection findings will contributeto improvements in laboratory best practices.Sharing Experiences and Lessons LearnedAnother primary area of focus for the Center is the value ofsharing experiences throughout the laboratory community.Issues and their solutions that are identified in one laboratorycan materially help another avoid injury or illness, as well asdamage to valuable research that benefits health, environ-ment and other vital concerns.

ergonomics

chemical & labsafety

UC Safety Spotlight is published by UC Office of the President

© 2012, Regents of the University of California

April 2012Hazard Assess-ment and SafeWork Environ-ments

COMING SOON!

Careless Chris

Careless Chris UsesPPE - Not in aGood Way ...anImaginary Scenario

Know where to turn on your UC campus for the information you need to keep yourself, yourworkplace and your environment safe and secure. Click on the campus links below toconnect to local program, educational and informational resources.

connect

occupationalhealth

Step one: Under-stand the potentialhazards in yourworkplace. Steptwo: Develop andfollow safety proce-dures that offsetthose hazards. Readour April issue onsafe work environ-ments.

Careless Chriswas a new staffmember in theresearch labo-ratory. As shewent about herwork, shenoticed thatsome of her co-workersused respirators whileworking at the bench. “Ithink I deserve a respirator,too,” thought Chris. Shesoon learned the dangersof using safety equipmentwhen one lacks the propertraining.

Click here to read the story

UCOP

UC ANR

Learn About the UCCenter for Laboratory Safety

Feedback, Please

Send an email to safetyspotlight@ucdavis.eduto submit your commentson the March 2012 issue orto suggest content ideas forfuture issues. We look for-ward to hearing from you!

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