Wildfire smoke, Lab Safety 201, mercury spills, microtome safety, liquid nitrogen service changes and more...
Wildfire and Smoke Preparedness
With the peak wildfire season upon us in the Central Valley, it is timely to initiate your respective departmental wildfire smoke preparedness plans. The campus and surrounding areas may experience worsening air quality during wildfire smoke events. Please take this opportunity to ensure that quantities of N95s are sufficient for distribution to all outdoor workers in the event of a wildfire event impacting your work locations.
At the Scientific Store at 650 La Rue Rd (limited on-site supply)
Any employee who works outdoors or in non-filtered buildings and/or vehicles for more than one hour per shift must be trained in wildfire smoke protection.
For monitoring of local Air Quality, please use this link.
Additional wildfire smoke information and resources are available here.
Alerts will be sent through Safety Services during wildfire smoke conditions and should the need for N95 distribution present itself. If you wish to subscribe to these alerts, please email a request to Outdoor Safety.
Find out more about building ventilation and filtration at UC Davis, as well as more information about the specific ventilation and filtration levels of the HVAC systems serving campus buildings.
UCD Laboratory Safety
This month, the Laboratory Safety Review team worked with the College of Engineering to bring UCD Laboratory Safety 201 to Bainer Hall.
Participants had an opportunity to apply the information they received in the pre-requisite course, UCD Laboratory Safety 101. They learned to identify common findings noted during the laboratory safety review program and received guidance on completing self-inspections and preparing for internal and external laboratory safety audits.
The Lab Safety Review team will be working next with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. The goal is to collaborate with each of the schools and colleges to bring the course to their areas, making it more convenient for the lab members to participate.
Microtome Safety Item Coming to Lab Safety Review Checklist
Ensuring that your Lab Hazard Assessment Tool is accurate. Question P11 in the physical hazards section of the LHAT is “working with a microtome”, to which the lab answers “yes” or “no”. It is important that this question be accurate so that the lab safety professionals can use this to prepare for the annual lab safety review.
Safety Services receives several calls a year regarding mercury (Hg) spills in laboratories. Common laboratory items that contain mercury include glass thermometers (500-3000 mg Hg typically), compact fluorescent lights (approximately 4 mg Hg), as well as gauges and other scientific equipment (e.g., manometers).
Oftentimes, mercury spills are noticed after the fact, when lab members observe shiny, silver-white metallic beads in a drawer, fume hood, or along the floorboards of a wall or cupboard. Safety Net #16, “Guidelines for Mercury Spill Control” provides information on what to do when a mercury spill occurs.
Small spills of mercury, such as broken thermometers, must be cleaned up immediately by laboratory personnel. Short-term exposures to low level mercury vapors present little hazard and respirators are usually not required. Mercury spill kits are available from AggieBuy to help in the clean-up of small spills: search for product numbers 1233J97 (Thomas Scientific) or 634506 (Millipore Sigma) on AggieBuy
A large spill is generally any amount of mercury larger than a few milliliters (or what is contained in a few laboratory thermometers). The UC Davis Fire Department must be called for large mercury spills. The Fire Department will contact EH&S to assess the spill and help determine a proper course of action for cleaning. Outside contractors may be necessary for clean-up.
Replace equipment containing mercury with less hazardous counterparts. Spirit-filled thermometers are available in AggieBuy for only $2.85 (item 1139C80, partial immersion thermometer for temperature ranges -10 deg to 150 deg C).
Dispose of mercury-containing thermometers and equipment through WASTe.
If mercury containing equipment is required, purchase a mercury spill kit and complete training on handling mercury spills. Use SafetyNet #16 as a guide.
Know how to identify a mercury spill and call EH&S for help if needed.
Meet Kristina Zumstein
Kristina is the newest member of the Laboratory Safety Review program at Safety Services.
Kristina takes over the role of Laboratory Safety Professional (LSP) for the College of Biological Sciences and half of the School of Medicine. John Lomas previously held that position and retired at the end of June.
Airgas, UC’s main supplier for liquid nitrogen for cryogenic storage, has notified UC that Airgas delivery drivers can no longer perform certain high-risk functions that fall outside of contracted services.
Effective October 7, 2022, Airgas drivers can no longer perform these services for high-risk samples/research:
Connection/disconnection services for high-risk sample applications
Inventory management for high-risk sample applications
Filling of open-mouth dewar flasks, if they contain samples.
This class is designed to guide laboratory personnel managers and Principal Investigators on how to develop, implement and maintain laboratory safety programs. It will cover a range of topics related to the laboratory safety review program and how these topics relate to underlying regulation and improving laboratory safety culture. Taught by the Lab Safety Professional Team.
This interactive class will teach you how to use the UC Online Lab Safety Tools: Laboratory Hazard Assessment Tool (LHAT), Chemicals, Inspect, WASTe and Profile.
