Laboratory & Research Safety Russell Vernon, Ph.D. Laboratory / Research Safety & Integrated Waste Manager University of California, Riverside 951-827-5119, russell.vernon@ucr.edu Agenda Research & Teaching Synergy (Whole greater than sum of parts) Involves chemicals, infectious agents, animals, plants, people, radioactive hazards, machines, lasers, etc… and People Labs are different… Hazard Communication & Laboratory Standard Employees vs. volunteers & students Field Work & Safety Teaching Research ISEM – core functions Five Steps Synergy RESEARCH & TEACHING Synergy – Research & Teaching 90 % communication Why do students go to college? What motivates graduate students? Why are Faculty here? What motivates faculty & staff? 10 % information Ah the hazards: Health & physicals hazards Chemical, Physical, Biological, Radioactive… University Mission Teaching Research, Research Grants & Publications Public Service Teaching Public Service Lab/Research Community Safety Involves & relies on Teaching Laboratories Chemical Hygiene Officer 3/15/2016 Laboratory Research Fire Prevention, Building Design & Maintenance, Industrial Hygienists etc. Field Research Radiation & Bio Safety Officers 7 Departments Involved (UCR Example) Air Pollution Research Center R Anthropology TRF Biochemistry TR Bioengineering TR Biology TRF Biomedical Sciences TR Botany & Plant Sciences TRF Cell Biology T Chemical Engineering T Chemistry TR CE-CERT RF Center for Conservation Biology RF Cell Biology & Neurosciences TR Earth & Planetary Sciences TRF Electrical Engineering TR Entomology TRF 3/15/2016 T = Teaching Labs R = Research Labs F = Field Work Environmental Engineering T Chemical & Environmental Engineering TRF Environmental Science TRF Environmental Toxicology T Inst Geophysics Planetary Physics R MS&E TR Mechanical Engineering TR Nematology TRF Neuroscience T Plant Pathology & Microbiology TRF Physics and Astronomy TRF Psychology RF Soil and Water Science TRF Education Abroad F Sociology F 8 Community Metrics Fieldwork The normally the most hazardous activity Throughout US and several foreign countries Thousands of trips UC-wide Unknown number field trips annually (at least > 200 at UCR alone) 3/15/2016 9 Grants $/Assignable Square Foot Statistics $1.58 Agricultural Operations College of Natural and Agricultural Science Mathematics Cell Biology and Neuroscience Institute of Genomics Plant Pathology & Microbiology Botany and Plant Sciences Environmental Sciences Chemistry Nematology Earth Sciences Entomology Air Pollution Research Center Physics Biology Biochemistry $601.07 $4.16 $8.88 $22.34 $27.96 $38.44 $39.84 $40.83 $42.16 $52.72 $54.87 $62.33 $64.65 $71.75 $78.11 $82.43 $95.34 Water Resources Board $0.00 3/15/2016 10 Specialization Programs Chemical & Laboratory Safety Brenda Wong Laboratory Safety Inspections Craig Maxwell Radiation Safety Laboratory & Research Safety Laboratory Design Safety Biological Safety Agricultural, Field, Marine Safety Specialized area Chemical & Laboratory Safety Chemical Hygiene Plan Exposure Assessment Standard Operating Procedures Nanomaterial safety High hazard materials safety Laboratory ergonomics Departmental Contacts Campus Policymakers Chemical safety & fire code segregation 3/15/2016 12 Synergy – hazards are just tools Researchers select to use chemicals based upon project needs, familiarization & level of effort required Chemical Hazard Types Health & physical hazards (OSHA) Laboratory Standard only applies to health hazards Chemicals, biohazards, radioactives Obvious overlap exists Health Hazards - Chemicals “statistically significant evidence” that acute or chronic health effects may occur in exposed employees carcinogens toxic or highly toxic agents reproductive toxins irritants corrosives sensitizers hepatotoxins nephrotoxins neurotoxins hematopoietic damaging agents anything that damages lungs, skin, eyes or mucous membranes Physical Hazards - Chemicals “scientifically valid evidence” it is combustible liquid compressed gas explosive flammable organic peroxide oxidizer pyrophoric unstable (reactive) water-reactive Chemical Hazard Classes Corrosives Flammables Oxidizers Toxins Reactive Chemicals LABS ARE DIFFERENT… Labs are Different Cal/OSHA Lab Standard OSHA & Cal/OSHA Lab Standard are essentially identical www.dir.ca.gov/Title8/5191.html EPA Academic Lab Rule Not yet adopted by California Flexibility afforded academic laboratories: delay in making waste determinations, longer accumulation times, labeling simplified, encourages lab cleanouts – useful for small quantity generators www.epa.gov/epawaste/hazard/generation/labwaste Cal/OSHA Laboratory Standard Occupational regulations for labs that uses chemicals is the “Laboratory Standard” Requires: Employer limit exposure www.dir.ca.gov/Title8/5155table_ac1.html Initial and periodic exposure monitoring Written Chemical Hygiene Plan Capable of protecting employees from health hazards Capable of keeping exposures below the limits Readily available to employees 3/15/2016 19 Lab Standard Requires Standard operating procedures Criteria determine & implement controls Fume hoods shall function properly Employees shall be trained Circumstances requiring prior approval Medical consultation and examinations Chemical Hygiene officer & Committee 3/15/2016 20 Particularly Hazardous Materials Special provisions required for: Select carcinogens Reproductive toxins Highly acute toxic substances 1. 2. 3. 4. 3/15/2016 Establishment of a designated area Use of containment devices such as fume hoods or glove boxes Procedures for safe removal of contaminated waste Decontamination procedures 21 Issues with Compliance Who is responsible? Who is the ‘Employer?’ Who is doing the work? Who is the supervisor? Is there a “supervisor”? Who’s going to pay? Fines Controls & protection (engineering through PPE) Exposure monitoring (initial & periodic) Written documents Signs Equipment Hazard Controls OSHA hierarchy of controls Engineering controls Work practices Administrative controls Personal protective equipment (PPE) Laboratory Safety Orientation, 2009 23 Engineering Controls Local Exhaust Ventilation Fume hoods Snorkels Down-draft tables Glove boxes Biosafety cabinets Laboratory Safety Orientation, 2009 26 Fume Hoods Sash …. …..Exhaust Bypass Grill…. Fresh Air….. …..Baffles Airfoil….. Laboratory Safety Orientation, 2009 27 Fume Hood Function & Failure Function Draw air contaminants away from operator Sweep breathing zone with clean air Impediments to proper operation Do not use front 6 inches Do not block air flow - slots Laboratory Safety Orientation, 2009 28 On-line Training from UCB http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4AHxLnByts Laboratory Safety Orientation, 2009 29 Biological Safety Cabinets BSCs are designed to provide both a clean work environment and protection for the user BSCs use airflow to create a barrier to airborne particles, such as microorganisms BSCs use High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters to clean air going into the work area and out to the environment Laboratory Safety Orientation, 2009 30 http://oregonstate.edu/ehs/LVSG-BSC-type BioSafety Cabinet (Class IIB2) Clean Benches (a.k.a. Tissue culture hoods) Laminar Flow toward Contamination Source (operator) NO operator protection Protects sample & work DO NOT USE for hazardous material Laboratory Safety Orientation, 2009 33 Work Practices Education Hazard recognition and control methods. Training Proper techniques; emergency response & drills Supervision - good safety performance Housekeeping Personal hygiene Laboratory Safety Orientation, 2009 34 Administrative Controls Worker exposure Initial placement, worker rotation for some hazards. Medical Surveillance and immunization. Hazard Identification Signs - notifications, etc. Laboratory Safety Orientation, 2009 35 Personal Protective Equipment The Strategy of Last Resort Respiratory Protection Eye, Face, Hand, Foot Protective Clothing Hearing Head Protection Barrier creams Laboratory Safety Orientation, 2009 36 The Failure of a Glove Karen Wetterhan at Dartmouth www.dartmouth.edu/~toxmetal/home/tribute/karen.html www.dartmouth.edu/~ehs/hazard_wetterhahn.html Laboratory Safety Orientation, 2009 37 Glove Selection Chemical Compatibility http://www.ehs.okstate.edu/hazmat/gloves.htm www.northsafety.com http://www.showabestglove.com/site/chemrest/ www.ansell-edmont.com/download/Ansell_7thEditionChemicalResistanceGuide.pdf Laboratory Safety Orientation, 2009 38 Example Safety Audits& Inspections Regulatory Scope Labs inspected for compliance with California Fire Code Cal/OSHA Lab Standard Chemical Hygiene Plan Hazardous, Medical and Radioactive Waste Labeling, Storage & Segregation Radioactive isotope use Biohazardous materials use Electrical Code Audit Process Options Contact department and/or lab representative Schedule audits for that dept/lab Occupants present Yes – can ask more – takes longer – better result No – limited to physical conditions only Paper or paperless process Time to inspect, time to create reports Consistency between auditors & inspections Automating report creations, summary reports $, FTE, expertise, priorities, accountability 3/15/2016 41 Specialized area Biological Safety Human pathogens BSC Certification Oversight Biosafety Risk Assessments Biosafety Audits Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control Plan IBC (BUAs, Select Agents, rDNA) Biosafety Level 3 Facilities Public Health Biological Spill Response Communicable diseases Plant & animal pathogens 3/15/2016 Medical Research Medical Waste Management Plan Medical Waste Treatment Permit Autoclave validation Containment & labeling Animal (vertebrates) IACUC Animal Use Authorizations Vivarium (Consultation, Inspection, AAALAC) Insects, arthropod Invertebrate research Nematodes, Insects, arthropods 42 Specialized area Radiation Safety Radioactive Use Authorizations Inspection Delivery Radiation exposure monitoring Surveys Dosimetry Radiation Producing Machines Irradiator Security Equipment Clearance 3/15/2016 Non-ionizing Laser Safety Registration 3b & 4 Microwaves UV Strong Magnetic Fields Training Initial Refresher Radiation Safety Committee Broad scope license Enforcement 43 Laser use Class 3B & 4 Lasers are hazardous Pulsed beam concentrates greater amounts of energy than continuous wave of the same average wattage. “Nothing Leaves the Table” Curtain that burned Laser Synergy – hazards are just tools Check out the BioBrick Contest MIT & UCSF Using BioBrick™ standard biological parts, a synthetic biologist or biological engineer can, to some extent, program living organisms like a computer scientist can program a computer http://bbf.openwetware.org Registry of Standard Biological Parts Biosynthesis: Parts involved in the production or degradation of chemicals and metabolites are listed here Cell-cell signaling and quorum sensing: Parts involved in intercellular signaling and quorum sensing between bacteria Cell death: Parts involved in killing cells Coliroid: Parts involved in taking a bacterial photograph Conjugation: Parts involved in DNA conjugation between bacteria Motility and chemotaxis: Parts involved in motility or chemotaxis of cells Odor production and sensing: Parts the produce or sense odorants DNA recombination: Parts involved in DNA recombination FIELD WORK & SAFETY Travel Safety Plus… https://www.uctrips-insurance.org Field Safety Plans Transportation People; Samples, Materials, Supplies, Equipment; and Hazardous Materials Medical Considerations Security Communications Activities: Before, while there, when you get back Pierce's Disease Bacterial infection (Xylella fastidiosa) spread by bugs that feed on grapevines glassy winged sharpshooter Infected grapevines die http://www.ehs.ucr.edu/forms/laboratorysafetydesign.pdf SAFE LABORATORY DESIGN UC Laboratory Safety Design Guide 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. General Requirements for Laboratories Electrical Safety Laboratory Ventilation and Fume Hoods Emergency Eyewash and Safety Shower Equipment Pressure Vessel Components and Systems and Compressed Gas Cylinders Hazardous Materials Storage Cabinets Biosafety Laboratories Additional Requirements for Radioactive Material Laboratories Additional Requirements for Laboratories with Irradiators and/or Radiation-Producing Machines Additional Requirements for Laboratories Using Non-Ionizing Radiation Sources, Including Lasers Ergonomics Design and Laboratory Spaces Timely Issues U.S. Green Building Council www.usgbc.org Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System™ (LEED) Labs 21 www.labs21century.gov International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories www.i2sl.org Sustainable design… Heated and cooled air flowing takes energy Laboratories have ‘single pass’, non-recirculated air to minimize personnel exposure and concentration of flammable vapors Standard Practice a decade ago was 6 to 12 air changes per hour American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers changed guidelines International Building Codes are being adopted The Challenge Safe Labs What is ‘safe’? Who decides? How to inform occupants? How to manage change? Save Energy Important but not primary function Fair comparison of alternatives Who pays the energy bill? Integrated Safety & Environmental Management ISEM Management of Health, Safety and the Environment achieving excellence in providing a healthy and safe working environment supporting environmentally sound practices in the conduct of University activities comply with all applicable health, safety, and environmental protection laws, regulations and requirements www.ucop.edu/riskmgt/bsas/presidentialpol.pdf Guiding Principles 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Management Commitments and Involvement of Faculty, Staff, and Students Management Responsibility for Safety and the Environment Establishing Clear Roles and Responsibilities Ensuring Competence Commensurate with Responsibilities Balanced Priorities Guiding Principles (continued) 6. 7. 8. 9. Identification of Safety and Environmental Standards and Requirements Encouraging Stakeholder Participation Adapting Hazard and Operational Controls to Specific University Activities Obtaining Authorization Prior to Conducting an Activity 5 Steps of ISEM (Core Functions) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Define scope of activity Identify & analyze hazards Develop & implement controls Perform activity within controls Provide feedback & make improvements Laboratory Safety Orientation, 2009 63