2012 Safety NEWS
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NMSU 2012 Annual Laboratory Inspections set for May through Aug. (posted May 15)
Checklist
The Annual Laboratory Inspection program has been conducted each summer for the last five years. For 2012, we will start on May 21 with an expected completion of all campus lab by early August. The inspection schedule is provided on EH&S's training & event calendar and we contact each department head in advance of the inspection.
The intent of these inspections is to improve safety in the laboratories. In addition to inspecting the physical facilities with the "inspection checklist", EH&S is hoping to review laboratory work practices and other activities. John Larson, EH&S Safety Manager, is available to help to review the lab research practices. He can meet with the Principal investigator, lab manager, primary researcher, and/or department head to review the processes at each lab location. Individuals can schedule a specific date and time with John Larson (jelarson@nmsu.edu).
The inspection checklist as well as instruction on use are posted on the laboratory safety section of safety programs page on the EH&S website (http://safety.nmsu.edu). As in the past, EH&S will be using this checklist, so it will be useful for review prior to the inspection. If you have questions or concerns on the inspection program or other safety issues, please E-mail or call EH&S at 575-646-3327.
Thanks, David Shearer, Assist. Director, EH&S
- OSHA: 2011 Top Ten Recurring Industrial Safety Violations (OSHA source)
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1. Scaffolding 2. Fall Protection 3. Hazard Communication 4. Respiratory Protection 5. Lockout/Tagout |
6. Electrical, Wiring Method 7. Powered Industrial Truck 8. Ladder 9. Electrical, General Requirements 10. Machine Guarding |
NMSU Safety Policy requires that all employees have the proper equipment and training prior to working in these activities. EH&S provides regular safety training (description) for NMSU employees on many of these topics. Please see EH&S Training Schedule to register.
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Project Heart Start at Pan American Center - June 23 (flyer)
Sudden cardiac arrest kills more than 400,000 people each year in the United States. Most people who arrest from a cardiac cause do not survive. Join in with the Las Cruces Region 2 EMS instructors on Saturday, June 23, 2012 for a free event to learn how you can save someone's life. The Las Cruces Region 2 EMS unit in conjunction with the NM Heart Institute and NMSU will provide 3 One hours sessions at 8, 9, & 10 am at the Pan American Center (MAP & directions) on the NMSU campus.
For more information:
1. Event Brochure,
2. Video on NM HeartStart Program from KOAT Albuquerque
3. Las Cruces event info is also available from Manny Medina, Region 2 EMS, at 575-524-2167 or by email at manuelm@region2ems.com
at Academic Research C, Rm110 (Safety Training Facility, 1620 Standley Drive, map).
Agenda:
1. Injury reports - 3rd & 4th quarter 2011
2. NMSU's 2011 OSHA 300 injury log - NMSU safety web link
3. Pedestrian & Bicycle Survey data - NMSU safety web link
4. EH&S activity report/changes/news
5. Webcast: Lab Accidents in the News: Institutional & Individual Risks, Roles & Responsibilities
This is the archived NACUBO & CSHEMA web presentation from April 2, 2012 - NMSU safety web link. (webcast slides)
I estimate 30 minutes for items 1-4 (above) and 90 minutes plus for item 5 webcast.
The University Safety Committee meeting and webcast is open to NMSU community and guests. If there are questions on this webcast or on safety concerns, please call NMSU EH&S at 646-3327.
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Suspension of Hazardous Waste & Chemical Collection (email 3/28/12)
To: All Lab Supervisors (affected departments please distribute)
From: Drew Kaczmarek, Environmental Manager, EH&S
Subject: Pick Up of Hazardous Waste & Chemicals for Disposal
1. Chemical pick ups for disposal will be suspended Thursday April 12, 2012 in preparation for our quarterly hazardous waste shipment.
2. The pick up service will resume after the scheduled shipment on Friday, Friday May 4, 2012.
3. In the interim, please follow the "NMSU Waste Accumulation Point Checklist” procedures. A copy of these procedures can be found at: http://www.nmsu.edu/~safety/programs/haz_wst/app_checklist_waste_accum_point.htm
4. Please call EH&S at 575-646-3327 to schedule free pickups before or after these dates.
Thank you for your assistance.
SUPERVISORS PLEASE POST
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April 10, Aerial Lift Training
Location: EH&S Training Facility, rm 110, Academic Research C, 1620 Standley Avenue (map).
On April 10, EH&S provided an safety training class on the use of the Facilities Services' Genie Aerial Lift. "Class description" Photos & more information . . .
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April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month (DDAM).
Government and safety organizations continue to note the hazards of driving while texting or talking on cell phone, i.e. distracted driving. For more information please see highlighted links.
- In 2009, 5,474 people were killed in crashes involving driver distraction, and an estimated 448,000 were injured. (NHTSA)
- 16% of fatal crashes in 2009 involved reports of distracted driving. (NHTSA)
- 20% of injury crashes in 2009 involved reports of distracted driving. (NHTSA)
- In the month of June 2011, more than 196 billion text messages were sent or received in the US, up nearly 50% from June 2009. (CTIA)
- Teen drivers are more likely than other age groups to be involved in a fatal crash where distraction is reported. In 2009, 16% of teen drivers involved in a fatal crash were reported to have been distracted. (NHTSA)
- 40% of all American teens say they have been in a car when the driver used a cell phone in a way that put people in danger. (Pew)
- Drivers who use hand-held devices are 4 times more likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves. (Monash University)
- Text messaging creates a crash risk 23 times worse than driving while not distracted. (VTTI)
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April 2, Webcast 11am: Lab Accidents in the News: (hosted by EH&S),
Location: EH&S Training Facility, rm 110, Academic Research C, 1620 Standley Avenue (map).
Webcast Topic "Lab Accidents in the News: Institutional and Individual Risks, Roles and Responsibilities." More information . . .
Thursday, 03/29/2012, Time:11:45am - 1pm,
Location: Chemistry Bldg, Auditorium CB153, NMSU, Las Cruces, NM
DOES YOUR LAB HAVE A GOOD SAFETY CULTURE?
This seminar reviews several recent lab accidents, resulting investigations, and consequences. It includes several steps and changes to be implemented to help improve the Lab Safety Culture at NMSU. The presentation will also help determine if your lab has a good safety culture.
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Departments/Divisions may incur significant costs as a result of laboratories and research materials that have not been properly decommissioned. Following the Laboratory Decommissioning Procedure prior to vacating any laboratory or other space where chemical, biological, or radioactive agents have been used or stored, will help prevent this.
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Been busy?
Did you miss us in the fall?
If so, you are invited to attend a spring lab safety refresher at our training facility over the lunch hour on February 21. More details .....
Flyer for posting at http://t.co/vOOMt08a
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Announcement: NMSU 2011 OSHA 300
(posting Feb 1 to April 30, 2012)
Log of Accidents, Injuries and Loss Time
Environmental Health & Safety is pleased to announce that the NMSU 2011 OSHA 300 log, a summary of 2011 NMSU accidents/injury, is posted on our safety.nmsu.edu website (click link or image to enlarge). The log provides summary information on cases and time (days) lost or restricted due to reportable injury (or illness) by NMSU employees in 2011. Links to this webpage are on the safety.nmsu homepage, NMSU_EHS Tweeter and NMSU.EHS Facebook sites.
More -- details on posting, Injury reductions, . . .
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Spr 2012 Training Schedule
Spring 2012 Safety Training (posted Feb, 2012)
Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) is pleased to provide our 2012 Spring Safety Training Schedule via monthly calenders at http://www.nmsu.edu/~safety/training/class_schedule_index.htm (also on monthly google calendar at safety.nmsu.edu). During the semester, we expect to provide over 100 safety-related classes & instruction to over 1000 persons in an effort to help prevent injury, provide risk management, and comply with OSHA & EPA requirements. More . . . .
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Subject: Suspension of Hazardous Waste & Chemical Collection (1/4/2012):
Date: January 3, 2012
To: All Lab Supervisors (affected departments please distribute)
From: Drew Kaczmarek, Environmental Manager, EH&S
Subject: Pick Up of Hazardous Waste & Chemicals for Disposal
1. Chemical pick ups for disposal will be suspended in preparation for our quarterly hazardous waste shipment, effective Thursday, January 12, 2012
2. The pick up service will resume after the scheduled shipment on Friday, February 3, 2012.
3. In the interim, please follow the "NMSU Waste Accumulation Point Checklist” procedures. A copy of these procedures can be found at:
http://www.nmsu.edu/~safety/programs/haz_wst/app_checklist_waste_accum_point.htm
4. Please call EH&S at 575-646-3327 to schedule free pickups before or after these dates.
Thank you for your assistance.
SUPERVISORS PLEASE POST