Winter

2014

IN THIS EDITION

Chemical Waste Compliance Update

Ear buds in the Laboratory – Courtesy to Others or Occupational Hazard?

Don’t Get Bit, Avoid Piranha Solutions

A Day in the Lab

Welcome Andrew Houppert

IN THE NEWS

CDC installing cameras in labs in agency-wide safety push

Sodium's explosive secrets revealed

Advancing Safer Alternatives Through Functional Substitution

Detrick labs' safety rules evolve after potential exposures

Ebola lapses show lab safety protocols should factor in human error

Deadly virus research improperly conducted at UI

 

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Find an MSDS

 

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Daily Eyewash Inspection Checklist

 

EHS Homepage

 

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980 Indiana Avenue, 4th Floor

Indianapolis, IN 46202

 

(phone) 317.274.2005

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Chemical Waste Compliance Update

June 18, 2015 will mark two years since the campus last underwent a comprehensive inspection by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM).

The goal of IDEM is to ensure that facilities such as IUPUI which generate large volumes of regulated hazardous wastes are inspected once every two years. This spring will start the window of opportunity for when the campus should expect the next compliance inspection.

Please click here To see a photograph of properly managed hazardous waste in a laboratory and to learn more from Kevin Mouser about how to properly manage your hazardous waste.

Ear buds in the Laboratory – Courtesy to Others or Occupational Hazard?

All around us, thin white vines are seen emanating from human ears. We see them in line at the bank, in cafeterias, on the bus and even while driving cars (see situational awareness below). While they have become a very common sight, are there limits to their use and personnel safety in an occupational setting? Noteworthy is the research laboratory.

EHS has received several comments from lab managers asking “Are these okay to use? Should we not allow them in the lab?” To read Jim Klenner's response to these questions and to find out more about the potential hazards of ear buds in laboratorires please click here.

Don’t Get Bit, Avoid Piranha Solutions

Traditional Piranha solution is a 3:1 mixture1 of sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and 30% hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), used to clean organic residues off substrates. Because the mixture is a strong oxidizer, it will remove most organic matter, and it will also hydroxylate most surfaces (add OH groups), making them extremely hydrophilic (water compatible). Piranha solutions are extremely energetic and have been responsible for a number of serious laboratory accidents.

To prevent the scene in the photograph above from occuring in your laboratory, please click here to read tips on how to safely work with piranha solutions as well as to read the details of a real life piranha solution explosion and learn why we are concerned about piranha solutions.

A Day in the Lab- From a UCSD PI's Perspective

 

 

Welcome Andrew Houppert

 

Please join us in welcoming Andrew Houppert. Andrew is a new member of our laboratory biosafety team and has replaced Amanda Snyder as the Assistant Biosafety Officer for the IUPUI campus. I am confident you will be impressed with Andrew's experience and knowledge as well as his friendly personality. Please click here to find out more about our new biosafety team member.

 

 
 
 

 
 
 
Lab Notes is a quarterly publication by the IUPUI Office of Environmental Health and Safety. Lab Notes is designed, edited and published by K. Lee Stone.

"Don't Learn Laboratory Safety by Accident!"