In June 2019, Washington State Department of Health (DOH) changed the regulations governing radiation machine facility fees. The changes impact the fees paid by the University for radiation producing devices on campus and may result in an increase in inspections.
The Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) updated the Washington Administrative Code (WAC 296-809) Safety Standards for Confined Space in 2018 and the UW Confined Space Program will change to reflect the code changes. Updated UW program materials are currently under stakeholder review and will be released early next year.
What changed?
The University is implementing the Provost’s Task Force on Laboratory Safety’s recommendations to develop a more robust laboratory safety oversight and management program, particularly regarding chemical and physical hazards in research and teaching.
EH&S hosts the 2019 Laboratory Safety Awards & Innovations Event on Monday, December 9, at the HUB.
Researchers will present new tools and best practices they have invented and put into effect this past year to improve the culture of safety in their laboratory spaces. Awards will be given to labs and departments in recognition of their achievements in safety culture.
Gravitec Systems Inc. issued a product safety alert for MSA WORKMAN® MINI & V-EDGE™ WEB 8ft/2.4m PFLs equipment. The alert requests users of this equipment to perform an enhanced pre-use inspection to determine fall clearance, as it was discovered that some WORKMAN MINI PFL units have greater fall clearance than specified in instruction manuals.
EH&S launched a new version of the Lab Safety Dashboard that offers a Self-Inspection Tool that allows PIs and CHOs to conduct and record an audit of their laboratory spaces using the lab survey checklist.
October is National Biosafety Month, a time to focus on your lab’s biosafety practices and policies. For 2019, EH&S is focusing on biosafety beyond the lab. We are encouraging you to reflect and seek opportunities to strengthen your practices related to biohazards outside of the lab.
1. Transport biohazards safely
Keep these two posters in an easily accessible location in your workspace.
EH&S has a new Spill Response Poster that instructs you what to do in the event of a radiological, chemical or biohazardous spill. For all spills, you should S.W.I.M.:
Effective September 16, the EH&S Employee Health Center will no longer provide annual tuberculosis (TB) screening for most client groups. The Employee Health Center will provide TB screening only at hire or upon placement in a position that requires TB screening. Based on specific occupational risks, some client groups will still receive annual TB screening. Those with a latent TB infection will continue to complete an annual TB symptom survey.
A slip, trip or fall can have a serious impact on a person’s health and well-being.
