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October is Fire Prevention Month
Hear the BEEP Where You SLEEP!
Newsletter Title
MANAGEMENT
TEAM:
Leah V. Hoy
Director,
Radiation & Laser
Safety Officer
Robert Smith
Associate Director
Fire & Life Safety
Ramon Ruiz
Environmental &
Laboratory
Program Manager
Page 1
Environmental Health & Safety FALL 2015
Environmental Health
& Safety Office
500 Summit Ave.
Box 19257
Arlington, TX 76019
Ph: 817-272-2185
Fax: 817-272-2144
Nondiscrimination
and Title IX
E H
& S Keep your family safe with a working smoke alarm
in every bedroom. Did you know that roughly half of home fire deaths result from fires reported between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.—when most people are asleep?
The key message from the National Fire Protec-tion Association (NFPA) for this year's Fire Preven-tion Month is to install smoke alarms in every bed-room, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of your home, including the basement. Larger homes may need more alarms.
Smoke alarms save lives. If there is a fire in your home, smoke spreads fast and you need smoke alarms to give you time to get out. In fact, having a working smoke alarm cuts the chances of dying in a reported
fire in half! Be sure to teach your children what your fire alarm sounds like and what to do when they hear one. Also, make sure everyone in your family is aware of at least two ways to escape from every room of your home.
There are many different brands of smoke alarms available, but they fall under two basic types: ioniza-tion and photoelectric. Because they are each better at detecting distinctly different fires, the U.S. Fire Administration recommends that every residence and place where people sleep be equipped with BOTH ionization AND photoelectric smoke alarms, OR dual sensor smoke alarms, which contain both types of smoke sensors.
Smoke alarms are powered by battery or they are hardwired into the home’s electrical system. If the smoke alarm is powered by battery, it runs on either a disposable 9-volt battery or a non-replaceable 10-year lithium (“long-life”) battery. A backup battery is usually present on hardwired alarms and may need to be replaced. Test smoke alarm batteries every month and change them at least once a year.
Smoke alarms are not expensive. Ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms cost between $6 and $20. Dual sensor smoke alarms cost between $24 and $40. Alarms should be replaced every 10 years.
Carbon monoxide detectors should also be in-stalled in central locations on every level of your home and outside sleeping areas. If the carbon monoxide alarm sounds, move quickly to a fresh air location outdoors or by an open window or door.
On October 6th EH&S participated in UT Ar-lington’s National Night Out by hosting a fire extin-guisher training booth. Visitors had the opportunity to handle a fire extinguisher after receiving some brief instruction. One of the goals of this fire extin-guisher demonstration was to teach the acronym PASS, which stands for:
P - Pull the pin A- Aim at the base of the fire S - Squeeze the trigger S - Sweep from side to side
Visitors of all ages, including
UTA students, faculty/staff
and their families, took time
out to come by the University
Center Mall for the National
Night Out Event sponsored by
the UTA Police Department.
The EH&S booth gave partici-
pants a chance to become
familiar with how to use a fire
extinguisher. Last year 134
people visited the booth,
while this year 160 received
training at the event.
All EH&S online safety training courses have been moved to one location and can now be accessed at this website: https://uta-ehs.org. The new training management system will make it easier to track train-ing. EH&S will be able to search a person’s name and see records for every EH&S safety training course they have completed.
Employees who have previously completed courses with EH&S may have records transferred into the new system. So even though you may be visiting the website for the first time, there will already be an account in your name. Please click the “Login” tab at the top of the screen and follow the instructions. If you have a pre-existing account, you will need to choose the “Click here to retrieve your log-in infor-mation” button to receive a temporary password for your UT Arlington email address. Please enter profile information about yourself in all data fields provided. You will then have the option to reset the password to one of your choosing.
A wide variety of required and optional training for employees and students is offered. Please see page 4 for a complete list of courses.
EH&S STAFF:
Joel Box
Fire Safety Specialist
Dave Doerr
Construction Project
Coordinator,
Fire Safety
Tracy Gardner
Workers’
Compensation
Claims Analyst
Rose Hall
Occupational Safety
Specialist
Merja Karwoski
Biological Safety
Specialist
Debbie Kirkley
Administrative
Assistant
Shea McDowell
Chemical Safety
Specialist
shea.mcdowell@uta.
edu
Caron Miller
Workers’
Compensation
Claims Analyst
Page 2
EH&S Transitions to New Training Management Site
The mandatory General Laboratory Safety Train-ing course required for students to gain access to UT Arlington labs is now available on Blackboard.
National Biosafety Stewardship Month The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has designated October 2015 to be National Biosafety Stewardship
Month (NBSM). The purpose of NBSM is to reinforce attention toward current biosafety practices, policies, and procedures. During Biosafety Month institutions are encouraged to commit to continually reinforcing exist-ing biosafety practices; further optimize their systems of biosafety oversight; and strengthen partnerships to achieve biosafety goals.
NIH initiated NBSM last year and is encouraging all institutions to participate again this year. While October has been declared NBSM, this does not mean that activities to improve biosafety are limited only to this period of time. Many of the goals of NBSM are fundamental activities to be continued throughout the year. The safe conduct of research is of paramount importance. By refocusing efforts on the biosafety aspects of research programs, principal investigators can help ensure that vitally important research is conducted safely!
More information about the goals of NBSM can be found at this link FAQs on NBSM.
EH&S STAFF:
Bruce O’Keefe
Fire Safety
Coordinator
bruce.okeefe@uta.
edu
Jeanette Rea
Administrative
Assistant
Harvey Richey
Laser Safety
Specialist
Elisabeth Rowlett
Chemical Manage-
ment Specialist
Grace Sauce
Accountant
Richard Stell
Safety Specialist
Storm Water
Laura Warren
Radiation Safety
Specialist
Eric Woods
Fire Safety Specialist
Page 3 Find Us on Facebook: UT Arlington Environmental Health & Safety Office
Hazards exist in every workplace in many different forms. Controlling a hazard at its source is the best way to protect employees. Depending on the hazard or workplace conditions, OSHA recommends the use of engineering or work practice controls to manage or eliminate hazards to the greatest extent possible. For example, building a barrier between the hazard and the employees is an engineering control; chang-ing the way in which employees perform their work is a work practice control.
Personal protective equipment, commonly referred to as "PPE", is equipment worn to minimize expo-sure to a variety of hazards when the risk cannot be completely eliminated through other means. Injuries and illnesses may result from contact with chemical, radiological, physical, electrical, mechanical, or other workplace hazards.
The most important thing to remember about pro-tective clothing is that it only protects you if you wear it! Safety Data Sheets or other references should be consulted for information on the type of protective clothing that is required for the particular work you are performing. A walk through hazard assessment of the facility should also be conducted to develop a list of potential hazards.
Protective Eyewear
Goggles provide the best all-around protection against chemical splashes, vapors, dusts, and mists. Goggles that have indi-rect vents or are non-vented provide the most protection, but you may need to apply an anti-fog agent. Standard safety glasses also provide pro-tection against impact. These glasses are rated ANSI Z87.1.
If using a laser, wear safety glasses or goggles that provide protection against the specific wave-length of that laser and have been approved by the University’s Laser Safety Officer as part of the laser’s standard operating procedure.
Remember, ordinary prescription eyeglasses do not provide adequate protection in a laboratory setting. However, you can purchase prescription safety glasses meeting the ANSI Z87.1 standard from most opticians. Also, the University has arranged with a vendor to supply pre-scription safety glasses to personnel at a reduced cost. Check the EH&S website for more information about the prescription safety glasses program.
Contact lenses should not be worn in a laboratory because they can trap contaminants under them and reduce or eliminate the effectiveness of flushing with
water from an eyewash. Contact lenses may also increase the amount of chemical trapped on the sur-face of the eye and decrease removal of the chemical by flushing with tears. If it is absolutely necessary to wear contact lenses in a lab, wear protective goggles at all times.
Protective Gloves
Chemicals can permeate any glove. The rate at which this occurs depends on the composition of the glove, the chemicals present and their concentra-tion, and the exposure time to the glove. This is why it is important to replace your gloves frequently throughout the day. Never reuse gloves! Also, wash your hands regularly and remove gloves before an-swering the telephone or opening the door to pre-vent the spread of contamination.
If you are not certain which type of glove provides you with the protection you need, contact the manu-facturer and ask for specifics on that glove. EH&S can also provide guidance in the selection of PPE.
Check gloves for cracks, tears, and holes before use. Butyl, neoprene, and nitrile gloves are resistant to most chemicals, such as alcohols, aldehydes, ke-tones, most inorganic acids, and most caustics.
Disposable latex and vinyl gloves protect against some chemicals, most aqueous solutions, and microorganisms as well as reduce the risk of product contamination. Leather and some knit gloves will protect against cuts, abrasions, and scratches, but do not protect against chemicals. Temperature-resistant gloves protect against cryogenic liquids, flames, and high temperatures.
Other Protective Clothing
There are many types of lab coats available. The primary purpose of a lab coat is to protect you from splashes and spills. A lab coat should be nonflamma-ble and easily removed. Rubber-coated aprons can be worn to protect against chemical splashes and may be worn over a lab coat for additional protec-tion.
Face shields can protect against impact, dust, particulates, and chemical splashes for the face, eyes, and throat. However, always wear protective eyewear
See Personal Protective Equipment on page 4 . . .
PPE—it only protects you if you wear it!
Online safety training is located at our training management website: https://uta-ehs.org
Bloodborne Pathogens for Laboratory Research Personnel Department Safety Liaison
Bloodborne Pathogens (Non-Research) Back Injury Prevention
BiioSafety Level 2 Confined Space Entry Awareness
On-Site Biohazardous Waste Management Hand & Power Tool Safety
Vaccinia Virus Hearing Conservation
Laser Safety Lockout/Tagout
Radiation Awareness Respiratory Protection
Radiation Producing Machine Class C Underground Storage Tank
Hazard Communication & Waste Mgmt- Academic Fire Alarm Device Awareness
Hazard Communication & Waste Mgmt- Non-Academic Powered Industrial Truck (Forklift)
Defensive Driving Awareness 12 & 15 Passenger Van
Call us at 817-272-2185 to schedule specific trainings not available online:
Radioactive Materials Hot Work Safety Fire Extinguisher Respirator Fit Testing
DRIVING UTA VEHCILES
Defensive Driving Awareness - This online course must be completed every 3 years to remain an authorized
driver of UTA vehicles. Additionally, an individual driving record check (MVR) must be updated annually.
12 & 15-Passenger Van Training: Take the online course first. A behind-the-wheel driving test is also
required and will be conducted on the dates and times below. Drivers must have already passed the Defen-
sive Driving Course and have a current approved driving record check to attend. Class size is limited, so
please call 817-272-2185 to register ahead of time. Meet at the EH&S office, 500 Summit Ave.
Nov. 11—2:00pm Dec. 1—10:00am Jan. 13—2:00pm Feb. 10—2:00pm March 1—10:00am
Nov. 17—10:00am Dec. 9—2:00pm Jan. 28—10:00am Feb. 23—10:00am March 9—2:00pm Page 4
Environmental Health
& Safety Office
500 Summit Ave.
Box 19257
Arlington, TX 76019
Ph: 817-272-2185
Fax: 817-272-2144
EH&S TRAINING COURSES
Check out
EH&S on
to keep up
with all our
events &
training:
UT Arlington
Environmental
Health & Safety
Office Personal Protective Equipment
(continued from page 3)
such as goggles underneath a face shield because a face shield only offers additional protection to the eyes. Chemical vapors and splashes can still travel under and around a face shield. If scratches or cracks are noticed in the face shield, replace the win-dow.
Wear shoes which fully cover your feet; no san-dals or open-toed shoes are allowed in the lab. If you plan to perform work that includes moving large
and heavy objects such as 55-gallon drums, then you must wear steel-toed safety shoes for protection.
Faculty, staff and students may also wear respira-tors to protect against inhalation of hazardous atmos-pheres. If respirator use is indicated, a medical clear-ance and individual fit testing must be completed prior to being issued the respirator. Please contact EH&S at 817-272-2185 to request a respirator.
Hearing protection such as earplugs or muffs may also be necessary. Hard hats, vests, coveralls, and full body suits are other examples of PPE.
DSL
Shout Out
At the last Department Safety Liaison Meeting held on Sept. 29th, 91 DSLs were in attendance and 6 more earned their Training Achievement Award. Workers’ Compensation procedures were discussed by guest speaker Caron Miller, workers’ compensa-tion claims analyst from the EH&S Office.
The introductory Department Safety Liaison and Hazard Reporting course can now be found at: https://uta-ehs.org. DSLs can also self register to take the Bloodborne Pathogens Training for Non-Research Personnel (course #OCC700), on this web-site. Remember to check the DSL page on the EH&S website for currently scheduled trainings.
DSLs gathered in the Bluebonnet Ballroom at the University
Center on Sept. 29th to eat lunch and get information about the
Workers’ Compensation process.
