WERC 2008

PAN AM Safety


Program Information:
Safety preparation and practices are of the utmost importance during the contest. WERC safety staff will assist in all aspects of safety and will provide a program briefing. WERC safety officers will work directly with each team to insure that OSHA and NMSU safety regulations are followed at all times. The WERC Design Contest safety staff is here to assist you 24/7 during bench-scale operations. Your 2008 WERC Safety Team members are:
· Bryan Swain, Day Shift
· Luz Elena Mimbela, Day Shift
· Chris Campbell, Evening Shift
· David Johnson, Night Shift

All bench-scale booth areas, as well as the main floor of the Pan American Center, are to be treated as a laboratory. Open-toed shoes, shorts or skirts are NOT allowed on the main floor of the Pan American Center. Food and drinks, smoking, gum chewing or dipping tobacco are NOT allowed on the main floor of the Pan American Center.

One student from each team is required to attend the program safety meeting tentatively scheduled for Sunday evening after the program opening session. Although your group may not be using chemicals, the team next to your booth may be using chemicals. The NSF teams will not have to fill out bench-scale permit forms or maintain MSDS sheets; however, it is important that the following information is communicated to all participants:

· Ensure general safety practices for housekeeping for slip, trip, fall and spill hazards are practiced within your booth.
· Know the nature and location of safety equipment and features in the contest arena, i.e. first-aid stations, spill clean-up materials, emergency phones & numbers and emergency evacuation horns.
· Be familiar with location of exits, emergency evacuation procedures and group form-up locations.
Bench-Scale Operation:
It is important for all participants at the contest to know that there will be chemicals and processes that are taking place on the first floor of the Pan Am. Although your group may not be using chemicals, the team next to your booth may be using chemicals. There for:
· Open-toed shoes, shorts or skirts are NOT allowed on the main floor of the Pan American Center.
· Food and drinks, smoking, gum chewing or dipping tobacco are NOT allowed on the main floor of the Pan American Center.

Safety Carts/ Spill Kits:
There will be two safety carts on the competition floor, located at the north end and south ends. An additional first-aid kit will be located at the WERC contest support desk. There is also a first-aid and spill kit located at the lab trailers on the east side of the Pan Am Center.
Safety/Spill carts have the following equipment available:
● Portable eyewash station
● First-aid kit
● Emergency shower
● Broken glass container
● Broom and pan
● Fire extinguisher
● Flashlight
● Dolly
● Disposable gloves
● Laboratory aprons
● Safety goggles
● Spill containment pillows and vermiculite in 5 gallon buckets

Emergency Procedures:

Emergency phones (for “911” only) are located at the WERC Laboratory Trailer and the WERC contest support area located on the main floor of the Pan American Center.
A list of emergency numbers will be posted in these areas.

Emergency Exits are identified on contest facility maps. Familiarize your team with the emergency group form-up location on the east side of the Pan-Am building (toward “A”-Mountain).

Emergency Evacuation horns are located at the WERC contest support center on the Pan-Am floor.
· An intermittent sounding of the horn means immediate evacuation!
· One long horn tone is an all-clear signal. There will also be voice announcement when participants may return to the Pan American Center.
Spill response and the evacuation procedures are as follows:

Minor Spill Procedures:
1. Evacuate the booth area and inform neighboring teams.
2. Confine and contain the spill.
3. Report the spill to the WERC Safety Officer who will assess the spill.
Major Spill Procedures:
1. Determine the need for evacuation.
2. As appropriate, sound the emergency horn (INTERMITTENT BLASTS).
3. Evacuate all occupants from the facility and meet in teams at the east side of the building (toward “A”-Mountain).
4. WERC Safety & WERC Staff ensure all teams and members are accounted for and notify appropriate NMSU safety and emergency offices.