The Return of RHEAPLY!
By Chantene Zichterman-Delgado, Administrator
The Rheaply Platform allows researchers to repurpose available resources before purchasing them anew, facilitating peer-to-peer surplus sharing and more sustainable procurement within the research community.
We invite our Research Community to join us in peer-to-peer surplus sharing within the research community. This technology is now available to staff across all departments, enabling users to request needed equipment and supplies from a growing community on Rheaply, giving unwanted items a new home.
Don't forget to check back regularly for new listings and requests. If you have items that you are ready to post, log onto the platform to get started here:app.rheaply.com (CNET required)
One more thing! To better assist UChicago eliminate waste from landfill and hit sustainability targets, please help us by completing the 2 minute survey below. This will go a long way towards helping us best utilize the platform on campus! Follow the link here: Rheaply at UChicago - Survey
By: Jay Schroeder, Biological Safety Officer
Are you Shipping Lab Material?
Last fall, the University launched eShipGlobal, an online tool for outbound shipments. The portal provides users with discounted rates through most major carriers (FedEx, UPS, DHL, and USPS), and is a powerful compliance tool for our institution. eShipGlobal provides for increased automation in billing, audit, and invoicing as well as assurances that outbound shipments comply with applicable Federal export control laws, hazardous material regulations, and U.S. sanctions.
The University strongly encourages you to use EShipGlobal for all outbound shipments, especially international and research material shipments, which have compliance requirements that EShipGlobal assists the University address.
The eShipGlobal portal may be accessed in BuySite. Information regarding the program, including training resources and platform benefits are provided at the eShipGlobal contract announcement page. Required training for shipping of dangerous goods can be registered at ehsa.uchicago.edu/trainingregistration. Just look for IATA Shipping Dangerous Goods (shp-12H).
Prescription Safety Eye Glasses
By: Ian Hoppie and Chantene Zichterman-Delgado
The Office of Research Safety is working on a Prescription Safety Eye Glasses program with Eyelation, but we need a head count of persons interested. Please complete a quick Google form to let us know if you are interested.
4. We would like to thank Lorna Dickson for her time spent in as an IBC/IACUC Regulatory Compliance Specialist. Lorna has decided to retire and return to Australia with her family. We will miss her very much, but are very happy for her!
5. Last but not least, please join us in congratulating, Joe Kanabrocki, Associate Vice President for Research Safety, Professor of Microbiology, in being awarded the ABSA International Arnold G. Wedum Distinguished Achievement Award in recognition of outstanding contributions to biological safety through teaching, research and leadership .
Research Safety Training
To satisfy COVID-related social distancing efforts, all training for the following ORS courses are accessible online either via live Zoom training or a webinar. Click here to sign up.
Radiation Safety
Chemical Hygiene Plan (Lab Safety)
Comprehensive Biosafety
IATA Shipping Dangerous Goods
Please note, a valid CNET ID is required to access the EHSA training sites. Please contact the EHSA administrator with any related questions or to request access.
Air Gas Training By Ian Hoppie, PSD Lab Safety Specialist
Have a GAS with the UChicago Research Safety and Airgas!!
Interactive Cylinder and Liquid Gas Safety Training
Thursday, December 1st
Location: GCIS
Room: W301/W303
Choose either time slot:
10:30 to 11:30 am
1:00 to 2:00 pm
REQUIRED ANNUAL FIRE SAFETY AND EVACUATION ANNUAL TRAINING
All UChicago employees are required to take “Fire Safety and Evacuation” training annually. During the pandemic, training reminders and notifications were temporarily paused with so many people working remotely. However, the Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) office will begin sending out reminders for the required annual training and is asking all employees to complete the training by November 1, 2022.
Please note that if you are a Researcher or work in a laboratory, and complete the Annual Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) training, you will also receive your annual credit for the Fire Safety training requirement.
However, for those who are not Researchers, do not work in a laboratory, and have not completed the annual ORS CHP training:
• In-Person and Hybrid Employees: All employees must complete this annual “Fire Safety and Evacuation” training even if they are working on campus in a hybrid work model (regardless of how many days). The “Fire Safety and Evacuation” training can be accessed within the EHSA Training Module.
• Fully Remote Employees: Fully remote employees are exempt from completing this online annual “Fire Safety and Evacuation” training and need to request an exemption. To request an exemption, fully remote employees must fill out this online form. After receiving an exemption, these employees will no longer receive the upcoming and overdue/expired training reminders.
Please feel free to reach out to Environmental Health and Safety at safety@uchicago.eduor 773.702.9999 with any questions or concerns. Thank you for helping us promote a culture of safety at the University of Chicago.
HAZWOPER Certification
(Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response)
ORS offers a HAZWOPER Certification course specifically for work at UChicago. There are 2 courses available:
8-hour refresher for those who already have a certification (must show proof).
Mercury is a heavy metal that is hazardous to human and environmental health. Although it is a very useful element for laboratory application, but its use should be limited. Any older equipment that contains mercury should be replaced with newer equipment that does not contain mercury. A common example of this are mercury thermometers. The Office of Research Safety will exchange mercury thermometers for non-mercury liquid thermometers when contacted. Other mercury containing devices, such as fluorescent microscopes bulbs, are unavoidable. Mercury can also be found in compact fluorescent (CFL). On average, CFLs contain about four milligrams of mercury sealed within the glass tubing.
Common fluorescent microscopes bulbs
All mercury containing devices that are no longer needed need to be treated as hazardous waste. The devices should be collected and placed into a bag (recommend double bag) and then placed into Hazardous Waste Bucket that is labeled properly. Mercury can be requested for pickup through ESHAs Hazardous Waste pickup program. If you are unsure or uncomfortable about the mercury containing device, you can contact your division’s Laboratory Safety Specialist for help. More information about hazardous waste up pickups it can be found here.
Mercury Spill
Mercury is most dangerous when a device is broken exposing the mercury to the air. If there is a mercury spill, first clear out the lab space. Once the lab space is cleared out, contact the Office of Research Safety. Please do not attempt to clean up the mercury yourself. The staff in ORS have special mercury cleaning equipment and are trained to handle mercury spills.
What To Do In Case Of An Injury? by Chandra Man Karki, Chemical Safety Officer
In our previous four editions of the Newsletter, we briefly discussed the RAMP up method. In this edition we will discuss What to do in case of an Injury.
We always try our best to minimize the hazards but there is always the potential in laboratory work for unwanted events to happen. Human error is still possible in a laboratory even when hazards are recognized, assessed, minimized, and prepared for emergencies. Therefore, it is very important for researchers/workers to know what to do in the event of an Injury.
What is an Injury (OSHA)?
An injury or illness is an abnormal condition or disorder. Injuries include cases such as, but not limited to, a cut, fracture, sprain, or amputation. Illnesses include both acute and chronic illnesses, such as, but not limited to, a skin disease, respiratory disorder, or poisoning. [29 CFR 1904.46].
Common injuries in university laboratory setting are a cut, exposure to hazardous chemicals, skin absorption of chemicals or infection with microorganisms, poking while recapping the needles and sharps, animal bites, etc. There are two scenarios during the event of confirmed injuries:
Life threatening situation where an immediate medical attention is required
Normal Injuries/situation that can wait after basic first aid treatment
Common example of Life-threatening situation:
Difficulty in breathing due to inhalation of acutely toxic chemicals
Ingestion of particularly hazardous chemicals
Major injury (an obvious big-deep cut, fracture, or dislocation, spinal or neck injury with loss of motion and sensation)
Laceration or amputation of limb (OSHA reportable)
Direct exposure to animal blood or other potentially infectious materials (for example: Needlestick or splash to mucous membrane of blood or potentially infectious body fluid
Exposure to radioactive substances
Severe allergic conditions
Examples of normal injuries: Minor cuts, exposure to non-hazardous chemicals, animal bites, minor burns, sprains or strains, bruises or scrapes, an ache or pain, normal allergies without difficulty in breathing, etc.
In the event of these life-threatening conditions, seek immediate medical attention from UChicago Medicine Adult Emergency Department (ED). For minor Injuries, reach out to the University of Chicago Occupational Medicine (UCOM) and schedule an appointment to see the physician or go to ED.
Shut the Sash
By Ian Hoppie, PSD Lab Safety Specialist
Chemical Fume Hoods are an important engineering control here at University of Chicago and research labs around the world. When used properly, fume hoods offer a significant degree of protection for users in labs. They prevent the release of hazardous substances into the laboratory space by controlling and then exhausting hazardous and/or odorous chemicals.
Influenced by other Universities nationwide, the Physical Sciences Division put forth a Shut the Sash campaign in Searle which has rapidly reduced fume hood energy consumption by 35%. These savings, along with other building energy efficiency measures, have reduced total building energy consumption by 18%. The Office of Research Safety, Physical Sciences Division and Pritzker School for Molecular Engineering have partnered to encourage people to Shut the Sash. You may have already seen Shut the Sash reminders on the sides of hoods throughout the campus, but it is up to the users of the hood to Shut the Sash when not in use.
Why? To promote a healthier, greener campus. Shutting the Sash of a fume hood you can reduce energy consumption, create a safer lab environment, and make it more comfortable in a lab…
Conserve energy:
Although some labs have newer models of fume hoods that can be programed to shut themselves after a period of time, this is not true for older fume hoods which can unfortunately be a significant energy drain. An open fume hood can use as much daily energy as 4 average homes. They also use ten times more electricity than a hood with the sash closed. Shutting the sash is the best way to combat the energy waste.
Safety:
When the hood is not in use, a researcher is not physically working on an experiment under a hood, but items can remain inside. This not only reduces the energy needs of the hood but also isolates the hazards that can be found in the hoods. Simply just shut the sash.
Healthy climate:
There are also other advantages besides safety and energy savings when shutting the sash. A closed hood can make a lab more comfortable. It can help control humidity in a lab, reduce the overall noise in a lab, and reduce overload on a buildings HVAC system. This can be especially useful in a building such as Gordon Center for Integrative Science.
Hazardous Waste Policy
By Ian Hoppie, PSD Lab Safety Specialist
Creation and collection of hazardous waste is an unfortunate downside of the wonderful research done at University of Chicago. As researchers, safety professionals, and waste generators, we all strive to dispose of hazardous waste in safest way possible to prevent accidental releases into the environment or negative health effects. Proper hazardous waste disposal is a University-wide initiative.
The Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) office has developed procedures on how to handle the waste and the Office of Research Safety (ORS) has outlined this policy in the Chemical Hygiene Plan. Hazardous chemical waste must be collected in containers appropriate for the waste, properly labeled, and picked up by the University’s hazardous waste disposal contractor. Only the vendor currently under contract with the University is legally allowed to remove waste from this campus. The waste must remain in lab/point of generation until pick-up. Hazardous waste should not be placed in a corridor. ORS and EHS encourage the use of Satellite Hazardous Waste Locations in the generator’s lab.
Hazardous waste regulations come from two major legal acts. These include the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Cradle-to-the-grave system to keep track of waste, and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), commonly known as the Superfund program. These two programs, working in tandem, provide the framework for hazardous waste disposal. The legal framework allows Waste Generators, such as the University of Chicago, to develop proper waste handling and disposal policies. This in turn allows for a healthier and happier environment both inside and outside of the laboratory.
Advantages of proper disposal of hazardous waste
Reduces the overall volume of waste sent to landfills
Segregates hazards from the general public and the environment
Reduces the cost of onsite/in lab storage
Increases space in laboratories for other uses
Both EHS and ORS always welcome questions and concerns about hazardous waste. If you have questions always feel free to reach out to you division’s Laboratory Safety Specialist or you can contact EHS at safety@uchicago.edu and ORS at researchsafety@uchicago.edu.
Laboratory Safety Self-Inspection Checklist
By Chris Delgado, BSD Lab Safety Specialist
Safety Practices Highlight of the Month: The Laboratory Safety Self-Inspection Checklist includes verification that sharps are properly disposed in a puncture resistant container. During the ORS laboratory inspection process, we always check to make sure all sharps are properly disposed in a red plastic sharps container. Needles should not be recapped prior to disposal. Plastic and glass pipettes also can create a sharps hazard, especially if the disposal container becomes overfilled. Disposing of sharps properly reduces the likelihood of accidental need sticks and other sharps injuries for both the laboratory and other personnel who may encounter the sharps.
Please reach out to the Office of Research Safety at researchsafety@uchicago.edu if you have any questions about the Laboratory Safety Checklist, or need assistance obtaining a sharps container.
Secondary Containment Saves the Day By Jeff Melton, BSD Lab Safety Specialist
A not too uncommon scenario when a researcher sets down a glass container of a hazardous material (e.g. formamide), is that the container bottom can shatter. In some cases, this could result in a release of a toxic and/or carcinogenic chemical, creating a hazardous spill that can be very difficult to manage. Fortunately, in a recent event of this nature, the lab placed their chemical waste container in a leakproof plastic tray, which kept the spill contained. The spill could be subsequently cleaned inside the fume hood without much difficulty. Hats (or safety headgear) off to the lab!
Secondary containment has helped to prevent numerous spills from getting out of hand over the years. It’s always good to have a secondary container in the event a container were to break, no matter what the hazard is inside. Always use a container resistant to the chemical(s) you are containing. An aluminum tray is not the best choice for containing acids and bases. Styrofoam or glass is too fragile to be much use in containing spills, and you want to have walls high enough hold in a spill. A wide variety of containers will work, keep this in mind when selecting the appropriate container for each chemical.
Please reach out to the Office of Research Safety at researchsafety@uchicago.edu if you have any questions about the secondary containment.
Radiation Safety Presents: Laser Faire
(Laser Safety Blog)
Packages Containing Radioactive Material By Jim Marsicek, Director of Radiation Safety
Researchers approved for radioactive material use must ensure the shipping box and packaging materials are not discarded as normal waste unless all the following criteria have been met:
1) All radioactive material has been removed from the package,
2) Shipping box and packing materials are surveyed with GM meter to confirm no contamination is present; and,
3) The radioactive material shipping labels have been defaced (e.g., obliterated or crossed out with a marker).
Please remember to deface all radioactive material labels on the shipping boxes prior to disposal.
Please note: If anyone finds a package or other item with a radioactive material label that is not defaced outside a laboratory identified for radioactive material use (Lab door labeled with Caution Radioactive Material sign), please contact the Radiation Safety Office On-call Pager 773-753-1880, Pager 9130. If you have any questions, please contact us via email at radsafety@uchicago.edu
Please note: For Biological or Chemical package labels you should confirm no contamination is present on the box or container and labels are defaced prior to placing in the trash.
Around Campus
Which Safety Unit Do I Call?
Have a question or need help but are unsure who to contact? Visit the new "Who Does What?" page available on the Environmental Health and Safety's website (direct link also available on the ORS website) where you will find a comprehensive list of activities, definitions and who to contact.
There is a search function that will help make navigation easier. If you have any questions, please contact us at researchsafety@uchicago.edu.
For emergencies, always contact campus police at 123 (campus phone), or 773-702-8181.
Joint Research Safety Initiative (JRSI) UChicago's student-led safety team
Please visit our website for information about us, to volunteer, or to find more information on events or current programs. Contact us at jrsi@uchicago.edu with any questions.
JRSI is currently recruiting interested students to join their team! Check them out here: https://jrsi.uchicago.edu/
Training Lab
By: Christopher Delgado, BSD Lab Safety Specialist
We are excited to be expanding our program! Members from the ORS team have been very busy preparing our very own laboratory space to use in the near future. The following activities are just a few examples of what we plan to do:
Relevant location to conduct in-person or Zoom training;
Mock laboratory for training purposes;
One-on-one or small group demonstrations:
proper set up and use of a biological safety cabinet (BSC);
proper set up and use of a fume hood;
donning and doffing of personal protective equipment (PPE);
chemical segregation and storage;
transferring solvents
hazardous material spill clean-up;
hazardous waste handling;
chemical storage;
laser eyewear storage, laser alignment, Class 3b and Class 3 laser safety
decontamination of radioactive material;
radiation survey meters
and more!
Applied biosafety research for the purpose of streamlining biological safety practices;
Prepare training videos for lab-related activities described above.
Travel Toolkit Website
By: Chantene Zichterman-Delgado, Administrator
UChicago Global hosts a useful website for University faculty, students and staff who travel for business or recreational purposes. The website includes a checklist, links to country specific information, contacts, policies, other resources, and hazard assessment tool to help identify risks and help prepare you for a safe adventure. The Office of Research Safety will provide a consultation to determine what you will need if your travel includes laboratory research. All information is available here: https://www.traveltoolkit.uchicago.edu/ Contact the ORS Administratorwith any questions or to set up a consultation.
Medical Payments for UChicago Student Injuries (MedPay)
What is covered?
Out-of-pocket costs incurred for emergency medical care for accidents or injuries sustained during assigned responsibilities while in laboratories or other research activity, regardless of fault.
Who is covered?
UChicago students injured during assigned responsibilities in laboratories or other research activity. Includes enrolled UChicago graduate and undergraduate degree students.
The program is set up for covering emergency care at UCMC and would not apply to non-degree visiting students or injuries that occur in field research. In these instances, students should utilize their health insurance. Additionally, students who are injured abroad can call International SOS for assistance.
Submitting a timely report of the injury via UCAIR will route resulting medical bills for payment by the Office of Risk Management. It is important that UChicago students identify themselves as UChicago students when submitting via UCAIR.
Hazardous Waste Pickup
By Chris Delgado, BSD Lab Safety Specialist
The Office of Research Safety is always happy to assist labs with waste pickup requests. Our process for assisting with hazardous waste follows the guidelines below:
Routine disposal of 10 items or less should be submitted by the lab staff using EHSA. If training is needed in submitting waste requests, please let ORS know so that we may assist you.
Assistance and/or guidance with bulk waste disposal between 10 – 50 items can be facilitated by the Office of Research Safety using EHSA waste requests. When managing hazardous items, the nature of the hazard (Corrosive, Flammable, Toxic, etc.) also needs to be assessed. The Office of Research Safety is happy to assist with this.
Bulk requests greater than 50 items necessitate a consultation by Office or Research Safety to determine if a bulk pick up request needs to be completed by a hazardous waste provider. Not every bulk waste pickup is the same and a consultation provides labs with various solutions to eliminate hazards.
Not all solutions to hazardous chemicals involve eliminating the hazard. We welcome the opportunity to find safe processes to mitigate all hazards in the lab.
***
Campus laboratory hazardous waste pickups regularly occur on Thursday's. Medical Center research laboratory hazardous waste pickups occur on Wednesday's.
For campus locations, enter waste pick-up requests through EHSA. If you need access to EHSA, contact the EHSA Administrator .
Thank you for your continued cooperation with ensuring safety at the University of Chicago. Please feel free to contact the Office of Research Safety at researchsafety@uchicago.edu or 773-834-2707, and/or Environmental Health and Safety at safety@uchicago.edu or 773.702.9999 with any questions.
Click here to learn more about Hazardous Waste handling.
Click here to view the Hazardous Waste Disposal Flow Chart
Upholding Public Health Requirements
Use the UCAIR online form to anonymously report concerns about compliance with COVID-19 health requirements. To report any potential COVID-19 exposures or confirmed cases, please email C19HealthReport@uchicago.edu.
University of Chicago Accident and Incident Reporting (UCAIR) UCAIRprovides a user-friendly mechanism for reporting work-related accidents and incidents to EHSand ORS, including an option for anonymous reporting. For more information about UCAIR, visit the FAQs page. We also encourage the reporting of unsafe conditions observed on campus.
Please remember to first call 123 (on-campus phone) or 773.702.8181 (off-campus phone) for accidents requiring emergency response to ensure the appropriate emergency response personnel are notified.
Involved individuals, supervisors, affected persons, or witnesses can submit UCAIR reports. Anonymous reporting is available for events that do not require medical treatment.
For more information about current COVID-19 public health guidelines, please visit the UChicago Forward website.
Just for Fun
Crossword Puzzle(click for pdf)
By Ian Hoppie, PSD Lab Safety Specialist
Does your department have any information to share in our newsletter?
Would you like to see something specific? Contact the ORS Administrator
Learn more about the Office of Research Safety or our partners by visiting our website.
CREDITS:
Newsletter Prepared and edited by Chantene Zichterman-Delgado.
Editor in Chief: Joe Kanabrocki
Contributors: Chantene Zichterman-Delgado, Jim Marsicek, Ian Hoppie, Christopher Delgado, Jeff Melton, Chandra Karki, Sa-Lin Bernstein, Jay Schroeder, JRSI Team, Environmental Health & Safety, Office of Risk Management
To unsubscribe, please click here to send an email or visit https://lists.uchicago.edu/web to remove yourself form the Lab Safety ListServ. You must include your UChicago CNET or the email you used at UChicago. If your emails are forwarded to a Google or another account, please update your settings.
Shut the Sash
