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Season’s Greetings from EHS & Year-End Laboratory Safety Tips
As the year draws to a close, the Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Office extends
its warmest season’s greetings to the UH community. We deeply appreciate your dedication to safety and excellence in teaching,
research, and operations throughout the year. To help ensure a smooth and safe transition
into the new year, EHS has compiled a set of Year-End Laboratory Safety Tips, which
are now available for reference. Thank you for making safety a priority and for fostering
a safer, more productive teaching and research environment. We wish you a restful
and joyful holiday season and look forward to a successful start to the new year!
EPA Establishes New Rules to Govern Methylene Chloride Use in Labs under TSCA
In April 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule regulating
methylene chloride (also called dichloromethane or DCM) under the Toxic Substances
Control Act (TSCA). The EPA methylene chloride rule bans manufacturing for all consumer
uses and bans most industrial and commercial uses. This rule potentially impacts the
University of Houston (UH) community, particularly those who use methylene chloride as a laboratory solvent/reagent,
and persons using certain products containing methylene chloride such as paint strippers,
adhesives, sealants, and degreasers/cleaners. EHS will soon collaborate with UH Research/Teaching PIs and Shop managers to determine where and how methylene chloride
is used on campus, which uses can continue and which must stop, and then develop the
initial exposure monitoring plan per EPA requirement.
Launch of Chemical Safety Moment Newsletter
Environmental Health and Safety is thrilled to announce the launch of our inaugural
edition of the Chemical Safety Moment newsletter! This newsletter serves as a vital
platform for disseminating essential chemical and laboratory safety knowledge, awareness,
training resources, and lessons learned within the UH research community. Our goal is to share valuable insights on chemical storage, segregation,
handling, and disposal to promote a safer work environment across the UH main campus.
Wrap up: Laboratory Safety Awareness Week 2023
Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) would like to thank everyone that visited our
pop-up booths to comment on and ask questions about laboratory safety. Look out for
announcements about next year's Laboratory Safety Awareness Week pop-up booths.
Lab Safety Awareness Week
EHS, in partnership with the Campus Safety, Health, and Environmental Management Association
(CSHEMA), is recognizing Lab Safety Awareness Week February 12, 2024, to February
16, 2024. Lab Safety Awareness Week is an event that fosters the opportunity to recognize
the efforts of laboratory health and safety programs. It is also an opportunity to
obtain feedback and ideas from the campus research community. EHS will be hosting
meet and greets across campus to answer questions and provide pertinent safety resources
to the university and research community.
Lab Safety Awareness Week
EHS, in collaboration with the Campus Safety, Health, and Environmental Management
Association (CSHEMA), is recognizing Lab Safety Awareness Week February 13, 2023 to
February 17, 2023. Lab Safety Awareness Week is an event that fosters the opportunity
to recognize the efforts of laboratory health and safety programs. It is also an opportunity
to obtain feedback and ideas from the campus research community. EHS will be hosting
meet and greets across campus to answer questions and provide pertinent safety resources
to the university and research community.
October is Biosafety Month
October is International Biosafety and Biosecurity Month. This is an opportunity for
biosafety professionals to consider the important roles that we serve in fostering
an understanding of biosafety and biosecurity. As a researcher, you are a role model,
a mentor, and a leader to a new generation of scientists and scientific support personnel.
EHS is also hosting meet and greet opportunities across campus.
Is your office workstation comfortable?
Many of us are spending more time than ever looking at our work station pc, tablet
or laptop. With the increase in remote working there is even more reliance on a device
to stay connected with our coworkers. While these devices have a been a lifesaver
for many, there is a risk of developing strains and pains with increased usage.
Is This Too Loud?
The human ear is a magnificent machine to detect sounds and make sense of sounds throughout
a lifetime. However, as we age hearing loss becomes the norm for most people. In addition,
over exposure to excessive noise levels can speed up the hearing loss progression.
Environmental Health and Safety re-launches Website
Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) launches a redesigned website at http://www.uh.edu/ehs/ with new functionalities to enhance user experience.
Chemical Compounds Containing Uranium and Thorium
Uranium and Thorium salts are occasionally used for their properties as reagents,
but do they have any rules and regulations under radioactive materials policies?
Straight talk about mold and mold spores
You have probably heard about mold and mold exposure in the news. Sometimes this information
can cause concern such as reports of “toxic” mold.
A Safety Champion
Hazardous conditions are found everywhere in the office, home, sidewalk, etc. Colleges
and universities with high level of scientific research have elevated hazardous conditions
because of the materials and sources of energy stored and used in research, teaching
and university operations. Workplace incidents are better addressed through collaborative
efforts of colleges, departments, administrative office leadership, with by employee
involvement. How can we achieve this?