In this issue of the Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Listserv, September 15, 2010: 1. Are You Coming? 2. Check OUR Calendar‐Mark YOURS! 3. Fire Safety 4. Power Strips w/Surge Protectors and Extension Cords 5. Revised/Reviewed Safe Operating Procedures/Program Document ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 1. Are You Coming? Do you have what it takes to survive and thrive in the 21st Century? Come to UNL's all‐new employee safety and wellness event and find out! SURVIVOR: 2010 Safety and Wellness Fair Tuesday, October 19, 2010 *Exhibits and Seminars: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Campus Safety Open Forum: 3 p.m. ‐ 4:30 p.m. Nebraska City Union – Centennial Room *NOTE: 7:00 a.m. Blood Draw for cholesterol, hemoglobin, & glucose screening (only water for 14 hours prior). UNL‐insured employees: No Charge. All others: $20 Fee. This event is designed to meet the needs and interests of personnel on both campuses. Something for everyone in a variety of interactive exhibits, presentations and seminars, along with a healthy snack‐‐all free of charge! Learning tracks include:  Working Safely and Ergonomics  Food Safety and Cooking  Environmental Wellness  Financial Health  Physical and Emotional Health  Fire Safety and Burn Prevention  Personal Safety and Crime Prevention  and more! 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. SURVIVOR: 2010 Safety and Wellness Fair is co‐sponsored by the Chancellor's University Safety Committee and the Chancellor's Wellness Committee. For more information, contact Coleen Huls, 2010 Safety and Wellness Fair Coordinator, chuls1@unl.edu or (402) 472‐2131. 2. Check OUR Calendar – Mark YOURS! EHS instructor‐led training through December is now posted on the EHS web site. Navigate to http://ehs.unl.edu/training/ . Upcoming Events on the right side of your screen lists the event, date and location. To see more events select “See all EHS Events” and then the “This Month” tab. If you do not see the courses you are looking for, contact EHS at (402) 472‐4925 or ehs@unl.edu. Have you taken the Core‐Injury and Illness Prevention Plan and Core‐Emergency Preparedness courses since you have been hired? If not, these courses are available web‐based at: http://ehs.unl.edu/onlinetraining/. Consider re‐taking these two courses if you have not taken them in the past year. They both have gone through significant upgrades. Have you reviewed your Virtual Manual since August 2009? If not, due to a significant upgrade and server change, plan to redo your area’s Virtual Manual. Access the latest Virtual Manual through the EHS web site at: https://scsapps.unl.edu/VirtualManual/ 3. Fire Safety October is Fire Safety Month and October 5‐11, 2010 is Fire Safety Week. Fire prevention and safety strategies will vary depending on your work environment and the hazards present. Some strategies are:  Keep hallways, corridors, and exits clear of items that may impede quick exit in case of emergency.  Do not accumulate excess combustibles like cardboard, paper, etc.  Do not overload electrical circuits. Use only UL (Underwriter’s Laboratory)‐listed/ FM‐approved devices (meet specifications established by Factory Mutual Research Corporation). Review the next section for safe use of power strips and extension cords.  Keep a minimum of 18” clearance around sprinkler heads when stacking/storing items.  Store flammables in a rated flammable liquids cabinet.  Do not leave open flames unattended.  Do not overheat grease/oil. Use splatter control guards when cooking and hot pads for handling.  Do not use extension cords I lieu of permanent wiring. When using for a temporary application, select appropriate gauge and do not string several together. Remember…practice fire safety strategies at home too! Here are a few tips to be safe if a fire occurs in your building:  Pull the nearest fire alarm to evacuate the building. Leave the building immediately. Do you know WHERE the nearest fire alarms are located?  If you hear the fire alarm, leave the building immediately. DO YOU LEAVE when you hear the fire alarm, or do you assume the fire alarm is only a drill?  If possible, shut down equipment or processes that could cause a secondary fire if unattended. Are you AWARE of the potential fire hazards of your daily processes?  Know emergency exit routes. Have you PRACTICED more than one way to exit your usual work area? 
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If possible close doors and windows behind you and keep low if you see or smell smoke. Did you know it is better to CROUCH rather than crawl so you can move more swiftly yet safely out of the building (don’t run)? Do not attempt to evacuate others. Did you know you should REPORT who and what you saw to emergency responders after you have exited the building? Assemble a safe distance away from the building to account for personnel. Do you know the DESIGNATED gathering place for your lab/department/work area? Further information is available within Safe Operating Procedures (SOPs) on the EHS web site or through the UNL Emergency Planning & Preparedness web site. Please note: If you think you might ever choose to use a fire extinguisher, you must first take the EHS Fire Extinguisher Training. Resources: Fire Safety‐General Prevention and Extinguishers SOP http://ehs.unl.edu/sop/s‐fire_safety.pdf EHS Fire Extinguisher web‐based training http://ehs.unl.edu/sop/s‐fire_safety.pdf UNL Emergency Planning and Preparedness http://emergency.unl.edu/ 4. Power Strips w/ Surge Protectors and Extension Cords These electrical items are so common that we often overlook the inherent hazards associated with electricity, and specifically the use of extension cords and power strips/surge protectors. We will review safety tips related to each. Electrical extension cords are designed to provide TEMPORARY power to a tool or equipment when a conventional outlet is not nearby. Extension cords must not be used as substitutes for permanent wiring. When selecting extension cords:  Select UL‐rated extension cords constructed with #12 gauge or larger wire. Do not overload extension cords by plugging in equipment that draws more wattage than the rating of the cord.  Always use 3‐wire extension cords for tools with 3‐prong plugs. Never remove the ground prong. When using extension cords:  Inspect extension cords for damage prior to each use.  Remove damaged extension cords from service. Examples of damage include detachment of the plug from the sheath, cracked or worn insulation or plug, etc.  When using extension cords outdoors, use only extension cords labeled for outdoor use and in combination with protection provided by a Ground Fault Interrupter (GFI) (either built into the cord, the outlet, or the circuit).  Do not use multiple extension cords in series (plugged end‐to‐end). Use one cord of the proper cord length.  Do not run extension cords through open doorways or windows, holes in walls, underneath carpet, up on overhead piping or other structures, or suspended over counter tops. If absolutely necessary to run a cord temporarily along the floor, use a runner or tape the cord down so that it does not become a trip hazard.  NEVER use nails or staples to attach or hang an extension cord. 
After use, inspect the cord for damage. If there is no damage, neatly coil the cord and store in a designated area. Power strips and surge protectors are not the same. Simple power strips are devices used to convert a two receptacle wall outlet to a multiple receptacle outlet. Use of a simple power strip is not recommended because it is easy to exceed the capacity of the circuit when energizing multiple appliances or devices. A better alternative is use of a power strip equipped with a surge protector, which protects sensitive and expensive electrical equipment such as televisions, computers, stereos, etc. Following are some safety suggestions:  Do not use surge protectors in wet locations.  Do not use multiple surge protectors in series or in combination with an extension cord.  Use only surge protectors that are Underwriters Laboratories (UL) approved.  Ensure that plugs placed into the surge protector receptacles are firmly and fully seated to avoid exposure of the metal prongs.  Use only surge protectors that are equipped with internal fuses or circuit breakers.  Do not use damaged surge protectors.  Surge protectors equipped with indicator lights are recommended because they provide the only visual indication that the surge protector has reached its voltage absorbing capacity and is no longer functioning to protect the equipment that is plugged into it. Resources: General Electrical Safety SOP http://ehs.unl.edu/sop/s‐electricalsafety.pdf 5. Revised Safe Operating Procedures/Program Document EHS has revised/reviewed the following existing SOPs which are available on the EHS website:  Aboveground Petroleum Storage Tanks http://ehs.unl.edu/sop/s‐AST.pdf  Cleaning Up Spills of Bloodborne Pathogens http://ehs.unl.edu/sop/s‐cleanbbp.pdf  Refrigerants http://ehs.unl.edu/sop/s‐refrigerants.pdf  Spill Preventions and Control Countermeasures (SPCC) ‐ Inspections & Fuel Transfer Procedure (Revision and Name Change) http://ehs.unl.edu/sop/s‐
SPCC_inspections_&_fuel_transfer_proc.pdf  UST – Registrations, Permits, Notifications and Fees http://ehs.unl.edu/sop/s‐
UST_registrations_permits_fees.pdf  UST – Summary of Recordkeeping Requirements http://ehs.unl.edu/sop/s‐
UST_summary_recordkeeping_requirements.pdf Hearing Conservation Program http://ehs.unl.edu/programdocuments/Hearing_Conservation_Program.pdf Remember...SAFETY IS AN ATTITUDE!