In   this   issue   of   the   Environmental   Health   and   Safety   (EHS)   Listserv,   October   13,   2010:
1.
Are   You   Coming   to   the   2010   CUSC   Safety   &   Wellness   Fair?
2.
Did   You   Know?
3.
Avoiding   Injury   –   Material   Handling
4.
Disposal   of   Certain   Dilute   Chemicals   Via   the   Sanitary   Sewer
5.
NEW   and   Revised   Safe   Operating   Procedures
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
1.
Are   You   Coming   to   the   2010   CUSC   Safety   &   Wellness   Fair?
Do   you   have   what   it   takes   to   survive   and   thrive   in   the   21st   Century?
Come   and   find   out!
Review   the   sessions   being   offered   and   select   those   you   are   interested   in   attending.
2010   Safety   and   Wellness   Fair  ‐  Tuesday,   October   19,   2010
Nebraska   City   Union   –   Centennial   Room
7   am  ‐  9   am   Wellness   Profile  ‐  Blood   draw   for   lipid   and   glucose   analysis.
Stop   by   early   (before   you   eat   or   drink)   for   your   Wellness   Profile.
This   is   a   blood   draw   for   total   cholesterol,   LDL   cholesterol,   HDL   cholesterol,   triglycerides,
hemoglobin,   and   glucose.
Free   for   UNL ‐ insureds,   $20   for   all   others.
Seminars   |   9   am  ‐  3   pm
9:00   –   9:50   a.m.
Stress   Reduction   in   the   Workplace
Burn   Prevention   and   First   Aid
Crane/Hoist   Operator   Safety
10:00   –   10:50   a.m.
Surviving   Nebraska’s   Winters:    Keeping   Warm   &   Safe
10:00   a.m.
to   noon
Suicide   Prevention   Training:    Question,   Persuade,   Refer
11:00   –   11:50   a.m.
Walking   Tour   of   Campus   Gardens
Cooking   Safely   with   Microwave   Ovens
12   –   12:50   p.m.
Financial   Health:   Making   the   Most   of   Your   Benefits
1   –   1:50   pm
Caregivers   and   Self   Care
Food   Safety
2:00   –   2:50   p.m.
Relationship   Violence   and   Sexual   Assault:    What   Everyone   Needs   to   Know
Situational   Awareness:   How   to   Respond   to   a   Threatening   Situation   on   Campus
Walking   Tour   of   Campus   Gardens
In   addition   to   the   Fair,   everyone   is   invited   to   the   CUSC   Campus   Safety   Open   Forum   meeting   from   3:00 ‐
4:30   p.m.
(room   to   be   posted   day   of   event).
Bill   Nunez,   Associate   to   the   Chancellor/Director   Institutional
Research   and   Planning   will   be   attending   to   express   the   Chancellor’s   position   on   Safety   &   Wellness.
Join   the   safety   committee   for   an   open   discussion   of   your   concerns,   suggestions,   and   questions.

Certificates   of   attendance   will   be   available   for   those   with   continuing   education   needs.
To   view/print   the   list   of   exhibitors,   visit   the   CUSC   area   of   the   EHS   web   site:    http://ehs.unl.edu/committees/#cusc
For   more   information   or   to   volunteer   the   day   of   the   Fair ,   contact   Coleen   Huls,   2010   Safety   and
Wellness   Fair   Coordinator,   chuls1@unl.edu
or   (402)   472 ‐ 2131.
2.
Did   You   Know?
EHS   and   the   Office   of   Research   &   Economic   Development   sponsor   a   Laboratory   Safety   Colloquium   twice   annually.
Colloquia   are   primarily   targeted   toward   researchers,   laboratory   managers   and   graduate   students   working   in   laboratories.
The   focus   of   these   colloquia   is   on   mitigation   of   potential   hazards,   and
thus   of   benefit   to   ANY   UNL   employee   who   would   be   affected.
Colloquia   have   been   offered   for   several   years.
Most   of   the   presentations   are   available   online   in   video   format,   although   for   some   only   a   PDF   of   the   presentation   is   available.
Any   handouts   provided   by   the   presenter   are   also   available   online   to   supplement   the   presentation.
These   resources   have   been   used   as   training   tools   for   new   graduate   students   and   by   faculty   within   a   classroom   setting   as   part   of   the   curriculum.
Previous   colloquia   have   covered   the   following   topics   and   may   be   accessed   through   the   colloquium   section   of   the   EHS   web   site:

Pyrophoricis   (Air ‐ Sensitive)   Chemical   Safety   (available   soon)

Cryogen   Safety

Steam   Sterilization   Using   Autoclaves

Laser   Safety:   Hazards,   Bioeffects,   and   Control   Measures

Centrifuges:   Research   or   Rocket?

Preventing   Laboratory   Fires

Chemical   Safety:   What   you   don't   know   can   hurt   you!

Exposure   Control  ‐  Ventilated   Hoods,   Cabinets,   &   More

Electrical   Safety   in   the   Laboratory

Compressed   Gas   Cylinders
The   February   2011   colloquium   will   cover   safety   aspects   of   using   and   storing   toxic   and   flammable   gases.
Watch   the   web   sites   below   and   the   UNL   calendar   in   December   for   further   details.
Resources:
 EHS   Laboratory   Safety   Colloquium   Series       http://ehs.unl.edu/training/Colloquium/
 Office   of   Research   &   Economic   Development       http://research.unl.edu/lsi_9 ‐ 06.shtml
3.
Avoiding   Injury   –   Material   Handling
15% ‐ 25%   of   Injury   Incidents   at   UNL   involve   material   handling,   which   is   consistent   with   the   national   rate   of   occupational   injuries   for   this   category   of   injury   incident.
Material   handling   involves   moving   ,   loading   and/or   unloading   of   goods   and   materials.
Areas   of   the   body   impacted   most   often   are   the   back   and

shoulder   areas,   however   any   part   of   the   body   can   be   injured.
The   focus   of   this   article   is   considerations   to   help   the   worker   avoid   injury   with   manual   lifting/moving.
Use   of   motorized   pallet   jacks,   forklifts,   etc.
requires   specific   training   that   can   be   obtained   through   EHS.
Material   handling   involves   both   ergonomic   and   process   considerations.
Ergonomics   looks   at   the   human   components,   people   interacting   with   materials.
Ergonomic   considerations   for   material   handling/safe   lifting   are:

Handle   boxes   and   materials   within   the   maximum   comfort   zone,   which   is   roughly   the   area   just   below   the   shoulders   to   just   above   the   knees.

When   possible,   store   objects   at   a   level   between   the   knee   and   waist.
Starting   from   this   level   is   the   least   stressful   to   the   back.

Face   the   load   squarely,   keep   the   back   straight,   and   use   your   legs   to   lift.
Feet   should   be   about   shoulder   width   apart   to   provide   a   stable   stance.

Never   twist   or   bend   sideways   with   a   load.

The   load   should   be   lifted   and   carried   as   close   to   the   body   as   possible.

Once   the   object   reaches   its   final   destination,   be   sure   to   set   it   down   in   the   same   manner   as   lifting   it:   do   not   bend   at   the   waist,   keep   the   object   close   to   body,   and   maintain   a   wide   stance.

Do   not   repeat   the   same   activity   over   and   over,   rather   alternate   it   with   other   activities.

Personal   abilities   and   limitations   should   be   considered   before   attempting   to   move   items.

Always   warm   up   first.
Process   considerations   involve   both   engineering   and   administrative   controls.
Prior   to   beginning   the   task,   evaluate   whether   the   quantity,   item   configuration,   and/or   weight   of   the   material(s),   as   well   as   beginning   and   ending   location,   warrant(s)   use   of   equipment   such   as   hand   trucks   or   pallet ‐ jacks   rather
than   manual   lifting/carrying/moving.
Materials   that   weigh   more   than   50   pounds   or   are   awkward   due   to   shape   or   contents   (such   as   containers   of   liquid),   odd ‐ shaped   items,   or   items   with   parts   that   cannot   readily   be   secured,    would   indicate   the   task
should   not   be   done   without   assistance.
Never   hesitate   to   get   mechanical   help   or   help   from   another   person.
When   two   or   more   workers   carry   an   object,   the   load   should   be   adjusted   so   each   carries   an   equal   part   of   the   load,   using   ergonomic   considerations   as   noted   above.
Communication   is   crucial   to   preventing   injury.
For   example,   all   involved   must   agree   ahead   of   time   on   how   to   indicate   lifting   up,   walking   with,   and   setting   down   the   item.
Workers   must   plan   for   communicating   a   need   to   set   down   the   item   to
reposition   or   rest   before   the   final   location   is   reached.
If   hand   trucks   or   manually ‐ operated   pallet   jacks   are   to   be   used,   the   worker   should   be   familiar   with   the   proper   loading   and   use   of   the   equipment,   including   navigating   direction   changes.
Determine   if   the   mechanical   assistance   has   a   brake   and   how   it   is   activated.
Make   sure   all   parts   of   the   equipment   are
functioning   and   are   properly   lubricated,   for   example,   that   caster   roll   smoothly.
Evaluate   the   possibilities   under   which   an   injury   could   occur.
For   example,   determine   if   the   material   presents   a   hazard   because   of   its   nature,   e.g.
certain   chemicals,   sharp   edges,   etc.,   and   determine   ways   to   mitigate   such   hazards   during   movement   from   one   location   to   another.
Think   about   protective   clothing   or   other   personal   equipment   such   as   leather   gloves   for   a   more   stable   grip   to   help   prevent   injuries.
Prior   to   moving   an   item   that   has   moveable   parts,   secure   the   parts   if   possible   so   parts   are   stationary.

Regardless   of   moving   method   determined   to   be   safest   and   most   efficient,   the   next   step   is   developing   a   plan/procedure.
Plan   components   include:

An   optimum   safe   path   should   be   determined   prior   to   beginning   the   process.
A   straight   line   is   best   if   possible.

Avoid   inclines,   stairs   and   other   obstacles   if   possible.
If   obstacles   cannot   be   avoided,   then   a   communication   plan   for   navigating   the   obstacle   should   be   pre ‐ determined   so   all   workers   have   notice   when   repositioning   of   the   obstacle   is   necessary,   for   example,   verbally   noting   “Stair
One…Stair   Two…etc.”

Make   sure   sufficient   space   is   cleared   at   the   destination   to   safety   set   down   the   material(s)   being   moved.

The   last   item   of   any   material   handling   plan   is   THINK   SAFETY   before   you   start   and   as   you   work.
Resources:
 General   Material   Handling/Safe   Lifting       http://ehs.unl.edu/sop/s ‐ gen_safe_lifting.pdf
 “Material   Handling   and   Material   Storage.”    Accident   Prevention   Manual   for   Business   &   Industry:
Engineering   &   Technology.
Ed.
Patricia   M.
Laing,   U.S.A.
National   Safety   Council,   1992.
211 ‐ 218.
 Employee   Training   Needs   Assessment   (Forklift   Training    )    http://ehs.unl.edu/pamphlets/EmployeeTrainingNeedsAssessment.pdf
4.
Disposal   of   Certain   Dilute   Chemicals   via   the   Sanitary   Sewer
There   are   specific   situations   where   some   dilute   chemicals   may   be   disposed   to   the   sanitary   sewer.
Disposal   may   only   be   made   to   a   sanitary   sewer,   not   to   a   septic   system   or   storm   sewer,   and   are   limited   to
Lincoln   campuses.
Below   are   important   considerations   in   determining   if   your   material   can   be   sewer   disposed.

Only   aqueous   solutions   solely   containing   the   chemicals   listed   in   the   EHS   Safe   Operating
Procedure   (SOP),   Sewer   Disposal   List   may   be   disposed   to   a   sanitary   sewer.
Solutions   containing   chemicals   not   included   on   this   list,   regardless   of   concentration,   may   not   be   disposed   to   the   sanitary   sewer.
Such   items   should   be   tagged   for   collection   by   EHS.

A   maximum   of   1   liter   (before   dilution   or   neutralization)   of   any   specific   chemical   may   be   placed   down   an   individual   drain   each   day   (unless   otherwise   specified).

For   certain   chemicals,   further   instructions   regarding   dilution   and/or   neutralization   that   must   be   followed   prior   to   disposal.
These   instructions   are   detailed   in   the   EHS   SOP,   Sewer   Disposal   List   and   summarized   below.
o For   neutralization,   follow   any   acceptable   lab   procedures   regarding   neutralizing   the   chemical.
o The   pH   of   all   chemicals   must   be   in   the   range   of   5.5
to   9.5
before   disposal.
o Dilution   is   based   on   volume   and   must   be   made   with   water.
o The   entire   amount   of   the   solution   following   treatment   may   be   disposed   at   one   time,   even   if   the   resulting   total   volume   is   greater   than   1   liter.

Water   must   be   run   down   the   drain   for   a   minimum   of   5   minutes   after   each   disposal   incident.

NOTE:    Do   not   neutralize   any   solution   with   an   initial   pH   of  ≤  2   or  ≥  12.5
without   first   contacting
EHS,   as   such   activity   is   subject   to   certain   hazardous   waste   regulations.

Instructions   for   sanitary   sewer   disposal   can   be   found   in   the   EHS   Safe   Operating   Procedure   (SOP),   Sewer
Disposal   List .
For   technical   assistance,   please   call   EHS   at   472 ‐ 4925   prior   to   disposal.
EHS   can   also   provide   assistance   in   getting   a   chemical   added   to   the   sewer   disposal   list.
Resources:
 Sewer   Disposal   List   SOP      http://ehs.unl.edu/sop/s ‐ sewerdisp.pdf
5.
New   and   Revised   Safe   Operating   Procedures
EHS   has   revised/reviewed   the   following   existing   SOPs   which   are   available   on   the   EHS   website:

NEW!
Aerial   Lift   Safety       http://ehs.unl.edu/sop/s ‐ aerial_lift_safety.pdf

Aboveground   Petroleum   Storage   Tanks        http://ehs.unl.edu/sop/s ‐ AST.pdf

General   Electrical   Safety       http://ehs.unl.edu/sop/s ‐ electricalsafety.pdf

Laboratory   Hood/Cabinet   Identification   and   Use       http://ehs.unl.edu/sop/s ‐ lab_hood_use.pdf

Safety   Protocol:    I ‐ 125       http://ehs.unl.edu/sop/SP_SOP_I ‐ 125.pdf

Sewer   Disposal   List       http://ehs.unl.edu/sop/s ‐ sewerdisp.pdf
Remember...SAFETY
IS   AN   ATTITUDE!