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Environmental Health and Safety: Keeping Campus Safe from the Ground Up
The Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Bureau of the
Department of Public Safety has been a contributing factor
toward the construction and design of the Health and Biomedical
Sciences and the Science and Teaching Laboratory Buildings:
Science and Teaching Laboratory Building (STL): STL
(Figure 1) building opened this spring and houses undergraduate
biology and chemistry laboratories. The building has one floor
that is a dedicated shell space for future research. EHS
participated in plan reviews for the STL building and since its
commissioning in fall 2011, has conducted over 130 chemical fume
hood verifications, 37 eye wash/safety shower inspections and
contributed to several fire and life safety meetings to ensure
the safety of the building occupants.
Health and Biomedical Sciences Building (HBS): HBS
(Figure 2) building, under construction, will place researchers
from different colleges and departments together under one roof
in an effort to foster unique opportunities for collaboration
and pave the way for creative health research. EHS is active in
plan reviews, air emission rate calculations and submission of
required documents to state agencies for the research activities
planned for HBS. In addition to the safety equipment located in
the STL building, HBS comes with unique attributes, such as a
pathological waste incinerator and specialized provisions for
the use of biological agents, hazardous chemicals and radiation
devices. EHS is currently working with Facilities Planning &
Construction and their construction team to arrange for air
emission testing of the boilers used to provide steam to the
building. EHS has also submitted a request to the Texas
Commission on Environmental Quality to operate the incinerator.
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