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Department of Environmental Health & Safety
Washington University in St. LouisBruce Backus, Assistant Vice Chancellor, 362-6816
www.ehs.wustl.edu
Washington University in St. Louis Environmental Health & Safety Mission Statement
Washington University is committed to conducting research, teaching and patient care in a safe and healthy environment, and to environmental stewardship. The University will: serve as a role model and community leader in these areas;
continually review its impact on health, safety and the environment;
seek innovative ways to prevent environmental pollution; and
constantly examine its compliance with relevant legislation and regulations.
Approved by the University Council, 7-1-02
EH&S Offices
Biological and Chemical SafetyJoe Kanabrocki, Ph.D.
747-0309
Tracy Brodt 362-6866
– Protocol Review– Inspections– Grant Certifications– Select Agents permitting– Shipping Dangerous Goods– Training*
Environmental ComplianceLinda Vishino– 935-7864
Hilltop – Mike Clamors– 935-4650
WUSM - Mike Kershaw– 362-6735
– Chemical, infectious & pathological waste disposal
– Emergency Spill Response– Laboratory decommissioning– Pollution Prevention, Recycling– Underground Tanks, Air Permits, etc.
EH&S Offices
General Safety / Industrial Hygiene*Chris Short
362-6870
Paul Landgraf 935-5659
– Accident Investigation– Asbestos; Confined Space– Ergonomics; Fire Safety– Indoor Air Quality– Exposure Monitoring– Lock out/Tag out; Hearing
Protection; etc.
Radiation SafetySue Langhorst, Ph.D.
362-2988
– Radioactive materials– Accelerator & x-ray safety– Laser safety– Broad Scope NRC License– Delivery of Materials & Collection
of Radwaste– Surveys & Inspections– Personnel Dosimetry– Emergency Support– Training/Responsibilities
*Program coordinated with Risk Management/Insurance Office
Some of the Agencies Impacting Areas of EH&S Oversight
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Occupational Health and Safety Administration
(OSHA) Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) National Institutes of Health (NIH) recombinant
DNA (rDNA) Guidelines Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Department of Justice (DOJ)
– Select Agent (SA) Transfer– USA PATRIOT Act SA possession,
management and control U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT),
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), International Air Transportation Association (IATA) - Shipping & Transporting Dangerous Goods
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Building Officials Code Administrators (BOCA) St. Louis Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) College of American Pathologists (CAP)
Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF)
– Alcohol storage and use
Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) - disposal of certain regulated narcotics
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), & local departments of health
– Coordinate with Infectious Disease Div. - Infection Control for WU Clinics
– Sanitation
FBI, local law enforcement & fire departments– Bioterrorism
Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO)
– Environment of Care
Local fire, building and health codes Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) -
Disaster planning Granting Agencies: Department of Defense (DOD),
National Science Foundation (NSF), American Heart & Lung Assoc., etc.
Federal regulatory guidance documents for the environment alone. Does not include state and local environmental requirements
Impacts on WU Driving EH&S Organizational Change
U.S. EPA College and University Enforcement Initiative
New bioterrorism legislation mandating increased security, research reagent inventories, accountability, and management oversight
NIH requirements for institutions sponsoring recombinant DNA research and receiving NIH funding
Increased enforcement of building and fire codes by local agencies
Increased oversight by all federal, state and local regulatory agencies, e.g. CDC, DOT, EPA, FAA, MDNR, NRC, OSHA, USDA
Consolidation of regulatory oversight programs (Radiation Safety, Medical School EH&S and Hilltop Environmental/Safety Services)
Improved efficiencies through uniform EH&S policies, procedures and sharing of expertise
It’s the right thing to do - Washington University seeks to be a leader in health, safety and environmental stewardship
Hot Topics
EH&S
EPA will inspect WU
Proper labeling, storage and disposal of chemicals– Use hazardous waste labels on waste containers
Spell out chemical names, including inert material (e.g. water) Include percentages Date!
– All containers/beakers labeled in laboratories, shops and maintenance areas
Will assume it is hazardous waste if it can not be identified– Segregate containers by hazard class
Use secondary containment– Keep waste containers closed– No full containers or multiple containers of same waste stream
Send in Request for Pickup as soon as waste container is full– Store for less than one year!– Expired or old shock sensitive compounds will be regarded as hazardous
waste– Emergency phone numbers posted; spill supplies available
Regulated Materials
Recycle through EH&S– Unwanted computers– Monitors / televisions– Electronic equipment– Batteries with hazardous
constituents– Used oil– Fluorescent lamps &
ballasts– Transformers– Mercury containing devices – Refrigerators– Air conditioners, etc.
Collect – Unreacted / unpolymerized:
Adhesives Resins Caulks Solvent-based paints
– Solvents– Aerosol spray cans with
residual propellant or contents
– Parts washer– Oils
Do not evaporate, dispose in sewer drain or trash
Preparing for the EPA Visit
Assign a person from every laboratory / pilot plant / shop to be a safety coordinator
– Supply safety coordinator names, contact numbers and email addresses to Linda Vishino, [email protected], 935-7864
– Have safety coordinators attend EH&S training– Use safety checklists to self-audit departments
Check all cabinets and drawers Send to EH&S unwanted materials for disposal/recycling
– EH&S can assist with on-site inspections, but EH&S staff are spread thin preparing for anticipated visit and dealing with waste disposal
Fines and Citations
Columbia University– EPA 11/02– $797,000
Long Island University– EPA 11/02– $220,000
NJ City University– EPA, $88,000
University of Hawaii– EPA 12/02– $1.7 Million
University of Missouri - Columbia
– $257,000– plus > $2 Million in
supplemental environmental programs (SEPs)
Emergency Preparedness
Spills, fires, explosions, exposures– Call University Police at 935-5555
Maintain spill response supplies– Chemical spill kits, fire extinguishers, safety
showers and eyewashes
Housekeeping– Universities cited for poor housekeeping
Lack of preparedness and prevention
Up-to-date Chemical Hygiene Plan
Chemical Exposure Monitoring
Exposure monitoring is available for all employees working with chemicals– Volatile solvents and metals
e.g.. Aldehydes, chlorinated solvents, etc.
– Anesthetic gases (e.g. animal studies)
Chemical Monitoring Devices– Miran Infrared Gas Analyzer– Vapor Monitoring Badges
Chemical Container Labeling
Chemical containers should be labeled with the following when not in their original container– Full chemical name– Hazard class– Concentration (if applicable)
Laboratory Apparel
Provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)– Lab coat, goggles, safety glasses, face shields,
protective gloves, steel-toed shoes if needed, etc.
Long pants or skirts No sandals or open-toed shoes
Laser Safety
Program being established Contact
– Dan Szatkowski, 362-3479
Roles and Responsibilities
http://roles.wustl.edu/
Department of Transportation (DOT) / Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Training required prior to shipping samples
– Returning chemicals to vendor– Dry ice– Preservatives, e.g. formalin,
alcohols– Any “Dangerous Good”
Contact EH&S for training– www.ehs.wustl.edu
New ‘Security Awareness’ training & exam required
Fire Marshall Concerns
Small fires and explosions Hazardous materials Equipment in egress
corridors Chemical inventories for
emergency response– Use HazTrak database– Also inventory biological
agents and radioactive materials
Issues We Face
Potential fines, management systems imposed by regulators, and negative public relations…
Rapid implementation of programs without the luxury of time to build support and buy-in with faculty and staff
– Hazardous waste compliance– Housekeeping/emergency preparedness, particularly in chemical,
biological and radioactive material areas– Training that meets EPA and OSHA requirements– Security, tracking/inventories and management of extremely
hazardous materials
What we need from you...
Support for institutional safety and compliance efforts
Share information with your peers and staff Encourage all working with hazardous
materials to attend EH&S training– Training schedules on web page, www.ehs.wustl.edu
Implement self-audit/correction-improvement programs within your departments
Contacting Environmental Health & Safety
Call EH&S at (314) 362-6816 Fax EH&S at (314) 362-1995 Web: www.ehs.wustl.edu Email EH&S at: [email protected]
Email Bruce Backus at: [email protected]
