in case you haven’t “herd” environmental health & safety · code standard. seating...

October 2011

Volume III, Issue 2

Many of the tasks performed by

Tufts Facilities Services are

critical to providing safe water

and prevention of sewage and

other waste problems. Student

Health provides medical services

and surveillance of diseases of

injuries among its student

patients. The staff involved with

sports, athletics, and recreation

have essential roles in providing

safe equipment and facilities.

Tufts is committed to partnering

with local, state and federal

public health agencies in

protecting the health of the

community and complying with

the many codes, and guidelines

that exist to achieve this goal.

Protecting the Public Health at Tufts

By Stephen R. Larson, TEHS Director

Appropriate Use for Laser Pointers

By Geoffrey C. Sirr

WHAT is public health?

Public Health is the science and

art of preventing disease and

injury through the organized

efforts of society, the community

and individuals. Unlike medicine,

public health studies patterns of

disease and injury in a population

of individuals to determine

effective preventive measures.

Tufts University, like any small

town, is a community. The

health of the community is

protected by following good

public health practices.

Food and drinking water can

transmit disease if not

protected from contamination

while stored, processed and

distributed to each member of

the community.

Sources of disease such as

sewage and solid waste must

be controlled at all times to

prevent contact with

hazardous agents.

Housing must be constructed

and maintained to ensure that

healthful conditions are

maintained at all times.

Communicable diseases can

be prevented by following

accepted sanitation practices

in sports and recreation

facilities.

The responsibility for protecting

the public health is shared by

many organizations at Tufts:

Tufts Dining Services and Tufts

Catering has an active food safe-

ty program to ensure that all

food served is of high quality.

have the potential to cause

serious eye injury particularly if

not used properly.

Currently laser pointers are very

inexpensive, ubiquitous and

more powerful than before.

When considering these factors

the ability to control laser

exposure becomes more com-

plex. Often the misuse of such

devices involves members of the

public that are not trained in

THE American National

Standards Institute (ANSI)

provides guidance for the safe

use of laser and laser systems as

published in ANSI Z136 series.

Growing concern about high

powered laser pointers and the

increased potential for injury

from such devices have caused

many laser safety professionals in

the workplace to reexamine the

associated risk of eye injury.

ANSI recommends that for

application involving demonstra-

tions, displays, exhibition and

lectures that only Class 1 or

Class 2 devices should be used in

unsupervised areas unless under

the control of experienced

well-trained operators. Class I

and Class 2 lasers pose little risk

of eye hazard unless deliberately

misused. Class 3 and 4 lasers

Inside this issue:

Tufts Furniture Fire

Code Standards

2

Developing a Positive

Safety Culture in the

Laboratories of Tufts

University: Aids and

Obstacles

3

Ergonomics of Safe

Lifting

4

Asbestos Management 4

Shipping materials from

research facilities can

be dangerous and

expensive

5

Upcoming Training 6

IN CASE YOU HAVEN’T

“HERD” Environmental Health & Safety

laser safety or knowledgeable of

the hazards associated with laser

pointers.

Eye problems most commonly

associated with traditional laser

pointers do not take the form of

permanent damage. However, if

the exposure is prolonged or

optical aids are introduced, it can

cause damage to the eye.

continued on next page

Tufts Furniture Fire Code Standards

By Wayne Springer

Boston Fire Department,

Decorations, Furnishings and

Interior Finishes.

If a student intends to furnish

his/her student room or

University suite with any of the

above mentioned articles, please

ensure that they are CAL TB

133 compliant. Any furniture

that is found by the fire

inspector to be non-compliant

will be posted with a Fire Safety

Notice of Non-Compliance. The

owner will have 48 hours to

remove the article. The owner

also will be informed by email of

the non-compliant furniture and

what assistance may be available

to comply with the standard.

IN 2006 a collaborative effort

was established to create a

university Furniture Fire Code

Standard that would comply with

the Massachusetts Fire Prevention

Regulations, 527 CMR 29:00,

Upholstered Furniture, Molded

Seating and Re-upholstered

Furniture. Tufts Finance and

Purchasing and the Tufts Chief

Fire Marshal along with several

other key university contributors

developed the Furniture Fire

Code Standard. Seating products

subject to the standards include

upholstered chairs, benches,

couches, futons, banquettes,

mattresses and solid plastic

chairs.

The standards are the

California Bureau of Home

Furnishings, Technical Bulletin

133 (1991); Flammability Test

Procedures for New Seating

Furniture for Use in Public

Occupancies, CAL 133 and

California Bureau of Home

Furnishings Flammability Test

for Mattresses, CAL 129

(1992). Any furniture used

inside any University building

must comply with the California

Technical Bulletin 133 and the

CAL TB 133 tag must be affixed

to the item. In addition to new

furniture, any used or donated

furnishings that are intended to

be used inside any University

building must comply with the

CAL TB 133.

Massachusetts Board of Fire

Prevention Regulations, 527

CMR, Section 21:00, Decora-

tions, Curtains, Draperies and

Blinds and Other Window

Treatments;

Massachusetts Board of Fire

Prevention Regulations, 527

CMR, Section 29:00, Uphol-

stered Furniture, Molded

Seating and Re-upholstered

Furniture;

NFPA Standard 101, Life Safe-

ty Code, Chapter 10, Interior

Finish, Contents and Furnish-

ings;

NFPA Standard 701, Fire tests

for Flame Propagation of tex-

tiles and Films;


Regulation of Upholstered

Furniture;


Application for Installation of

Upholstered Seating;

Appropriate Use for Laser Pointers continued from page 1

Eye related damage can result in

temporary flash blindness, glare,

and afterimages, or permanent

disability.

When used responsibly, Class 1 or

2 laser pointers are safe and

exposures to personnel or the

general public is generally negligible.

Unfortunately this is not always the

case. Reports indicate that laser

pointers have been aimed into

airspace and typically directed at

airplanes or at ground transporta-

tion vehicles which create unsafe

driving conditions for occupants of

the vehicle as well as members of

the general public. Class 3 or 4

laser pointers are dangerous and are

not intended for instructional use by

untrained personnel or in

uncontrolled environments. Responsi-

ble users ensure that safe conditions

and practices are maintained and

inadvertent exposures to laser radia-

tion are avoided.

All Class 3B or 4 lasers are required

to be registered with EHS and

subsequently with the Department of

Public Health Radiation Control

Program. Please contact TEHS at

x6-3450 for further instruction or

assistance regarding laser safety

related concerns or questions.

IN CASE YOU HAVEN’T “HERD”

furniture sold

at most major

furniture

retailers is not

CAL 133

The university P-Card may not

be used to purchase furniture.

All furniture is restricted for

purchase, unless ordered

through the university’s Strategic

Furniture Partners (link below).

The main reason for this is that

our partners are aware of the

university’s Furniture Fire Code

Standard. To our knowledge,

furniture sold at most major

furniture retailers is not CAL

133 compliant.

The Furniture Fire Code

Standard is intended to maintain

a safe environment for our facul-

ty, staff and students to work,

study and socialize. Please help

us in this endeavor by complying

with the Fire Code policy in the

interests of life safety.

http://finhost.finance.tufts.edu/purchasing_th/furniture.htm

http://finhost.finance.tufts.edu/purchasing_th/furniture.htm

Volume III, Issue 2

Developing a Positive Safety Culture in the Laboratories of Tufts

University: Aids and Obstacles

By Stephen R. Larson, TEHS Director Nor is there mention of injuries

or poisonings that occurred in

the process of conducting the

experiment.

In 2009, a scientific paper was

published entitled “Gamma ray

micro calorimeter array for

nuclear materials analysis.” In

the process of collecting data

for this experiment in 2008,

scientists had accidentally

released 530 mg of plutonium

sulfate into the laboratory

resulting in the contamination of

several laboratory staff, facilities

and equipment. The content of

this technical paper is silent on

the significant hazards, costs, and

the disruption of many lives

caused by this accident.

In addition to scientific papers,

many textbooks and standard

laboratory methods handbooks

do not address the health

hazards of the laboratory

equipment or materials or agents

FOR the first time, the US

Chemical Safety Board is

investigating the causes and

consequences of a serious

laboratory accident. As part of

this investigation, the Board is

reviewing 120 university

chemistry laboratory accidents

that occurred between 2001 and

2010. The Board Chairperson,

Dr. Moure-Eraso, concluded that

“safety practices at US

universities leave a lot to

be desired.”

Following the death of a

laboratory scientist at

UCLA, the Safety

Committee at that

University issued a report

that states, “UCLA needs

to do more to develop a

top down culture of safety

consciousness.”

Similar to UCLA, the facul-

ty, staff and students at

Tufts continue to work

collaboratively to

encourage and support a

positive laboratory safety

culture.

Safety culture is defined as

a system of shared

attitudes, beliefs,

perceptions, and values in

relation to safety. Safety

can be defined as both the

process of identifying,

assessing, and controlling

health hazards or risks,

and achieving the final goal of a

given process. A safe laboratory

exists when all individuals

conducting experiments,

involving equipment and

materials, understand all

potential health hazards, and

have taken actions to eliminate

or minimize those risks. Another

way to state this is that a safe

laboratory exists when all

individuals agree that all risks

have been reduced to an

acceptable level.

One of the obstacles to

achieving a positive safety culture

is the standard content of a

scientific paper.

A scientific paper includes a title,

list of authors, an introduction, a

description of materials and

methods, a presentation of

results or findings, and a

discussion of the findings. A list

of journal references is also

included. Some guides state that

the Materials and Methods

section should include

everything that someone needs

to know in order to recreate the

experiment. While others state

that this section should not

include information that is or

should be common knowledge.

Regardless, the result is that few,

if any, scientific papers include

warnings about the dangers of

equipment used in the

experiment, or the hazards of

the materials or agents used.

in the procedures reported.

As a result, the scientist must

therefore be expected to learn

about the potential hazards and

the means to control those

hazards from other sources.

These other sources or aids

include: experienced scientists,

instrument technicians,

instruction manuals, chemical

labels, material safety data

sheets, Fisher and VWR

catalogues, internet searches,

safety reference books, and

chemistry, toxicology or hazard-

ous material handbooks.

At Tufts, Tufts EHS and the

Laboratory Safety Committees

are an additional resource.

In a positive safety culture, all

individuals planning, designing

and conducting experiments

recognize and overcome the

obstacles and shall use available

aids that allow for each task to

be performed with minimal risk.

Following the death of a

laboratory scientist at

UCLA, the Safety

Committee at that

University issued a

report that states,

“UCLA needs to do

more to develop a top

down culture of safety

consciousness.”

Scitable by Nature Education http://www.nature.com/scitable/ebooks/english-communication-for-scientists-14053993/writing-scientific-papers-

IN CASE YOU HAVEN’T “HERD”

Ergonomics of Safe Lifting

By Peter J. Nowak

Asbestos Management

By Shaun W. Savage

THE simple act of bending over

to lift a 5 gallon water jug to

place on a bubbler in your office

can have far reaching issues that

most people do not even stop to

think about.

Picking up that jug in the wrong

way could lead to pain and

discomfort that might last a few

days or much longer.

Ergonomics incorporates what

we do on a daily basis and what

effects it might have on our

bodies. There are some very

obvious jobs where lifting is a

regular part of the routine.

Construction workers, shippers

and receivers, nurses, and

janitors all require some lifting.

Virtually any job including office

takes asbestos management

seriously and intends to adhere

to the number of standards

applicable to asbestos. Areas

that pre-date 1980 are evaluated

for potentially asbestos contain-

ing material (PACM). This

material is

sampled

prior to

construc-

tion or

renovation

projects.

An area in

which

ACM is

identified

and that is

damaged

or may be

disturbed,

will be

abated by

a licensed abatement contractor.

This process requires

notification to the state,

notification to occupants (signs,

emails, and meetings), strict

controls to prevent exposure,

ASBESTOS is a mineral fiber that

was commonly used throughout

the 20th Century in building

construction materials.

Common asbestos containing

materials (ACM) include, but are

not limited to, insulation,

shingles, floor tiles, and mastics.

What was considered a valuable

product for most of last century

because of its fiber strength and

heat resistant properties became

a Public Health and Safety

problem by the later part of the

century due to health concerns.

According to the Agency for

Toxic Substances and

Disease Registry (ATSDR),

“significant exposure to any type

of asbestos will increase the risk

of lung cancer, mesothelioma

and nonmalignant lung and

pleural disorders, including

asbestosis, pleural plaques,

pleural thickening, and pleural

effusions.” As a result, many

regulatory agencies such as the

Environmental Protection Agen-

cy (EPA) and the

Occupational Safety and Health

Administration (OSHA) have

promulgated standards for ACM.

ACM is still located in many

buildings throughout our

communities that pre-date 1980.

It is also

located in

some of

the older

buildings

here at

Tufts.

However,

this does

mean that

its

presence

alone

presents

an imme-

diate risk.

ACM posses little-to-no risk if it

is intact and non-friable.

Common examples include an

old floor tile or the mastic

underneath the floor tile.

Regardless of the material, Tufts

work such as the example above

could require moving larger

objects.

Below are some basic steps when

performing a lift that will reduce

the risk of jury.

• Stand close to the load, facing

the way you intend to move.

• Use a wide stance to gain

balance.

• Test weight of load before lifting.

• Ask for help and/or get an assist

device if the item is too heavy.

• Get a good grip and lift

smoothly.

• Keep load close to the body.

• Bend knees to reach low

objects.

• Avoid bending back while lifting.

• Lift slowly

Dinning Services, Shipping and

Receiving, Facilities Services, and

Library staff. To request training,

please contact our main number

at x6-3615.

• Never twist your body when

lifting, always turn in the

direction of the lift.

TEHS can provide safe lifting

training for individuals or groups

upon request. These sessions

have been scheduled in the past

for groups such as

and the retention of disposal

records.

For questions or concerns feel

free to reference the

University’s Asbestos

Management Plan available on

the Tufts Environmental Health

and Safety website or contact

Tufts Environmental Health and

Safety at x6-3615.

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. (2008). Asbestos

Health Effects. Retrieved from

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/asbestos/

What was considered a

valuable product for most

of last century, (ACM)

became a Public Health

and Safety problem by the

later part of the century

due to health concerns

Volume III, Issue 2

Shipping materials from research facilities can be dangerous and

expensive

By Kathryn Craig counts of improper shipping. He lost

his license to practice medicine, lost

his position at the university, was

given a 36 month jail sentence, and a

significant monetary fine.

SHIPPING CHEMICALS

The rules for shipping chemicals are

also quite convoluted. However,

Tufts EHS offers the “IATA/DOT

Regulations for the Shipment of

Chemicals, Hazardous Materials

and Dangerous Goods Training.”

This training is

offered on a

scheduled basis for

individuals who need

to ship chemicals

routinely as part of

their job.

Even small research

samples are

regulated. There are

no exceptions! DOT

regulations prohibit

you from taking these

materials on the T,

or public transporta-

tion. There are requirements if you

would like to drive these materials in

your personal vehicle to another

campus or location. DOT

regulations even apply to bicyclists,

however, they do not regulate

“walkers.”

There have been a number of

accidents due to the improper

shipping and labeling of hazardous

materials. In 1996, a ValuJet plane

crashed in the Florida Everglades and

killed 110 people aboard. The cause

of the accident was a fire started by

improperly shipped oxygen canisters

TUFTS University does not

operate a centralized shipping

service on any of its campuses.

Hence, each employee is

responsible for packaging, shipping

and documenting biological and

hazardous materials shipments.

There are strict regulations for

shipping hazardous materials and

dangerous goods. Improper

shipment of these materials can

result in monetary fines, penalties,

and even jail time. A hazardous

material or dangerous good is

defined as, “articles or substances

capable of posing a risk to health,

safety, property or the

environment.” This definition

covers a wide scope of materials.

The Department of Transportation

(DOT) regulates the shipment of

hazardous materials by ground.

The International Air Transport

Association (IATA) regulates the

shipment of dangerous goods by

air. These are similar regulations,

as both regulations require the

shipper to be trained and be able

to correctly identify, pack, mark

and label these shipments. In

addition, the appropriate

paperwork must accompany these

shipments.

Individuals who improperly ship

hazardous materials may be subject

to criminal and civil penalties. Fines

to the University can range from

$250 to $500,000 per violation.

Per the IATA regulations, a shipper

must be trained and recertified

every 2 years.

SHIPPING BIOLOGICAL

MATERIALS

The rules for shipping biologicals

are complex. However Tufts

EHS offers the “IATA/DOT

Regulations for the

Shipment of Biologicals,

Infectious Substances and

Dry Ice Dangerous Goods

Training.” This two and a half

hour introductory training is

recommended for persons who

need to ship biological materials:

human blood,

human or

primate cell

lines, preserved

biologicals,

microbial agents

and genetically

modified

organisms

(GMOs). In

addition, these

shipments may

involve ethanol,

formaldehyde,

dry ice or liquid

nitrogen which

are all hazardous chemicals and

have to be shipped as hazardous

chemicals.

Dr. Butler, a professor at a

university in Texas, worked on

Yersinia pestis (plague). He

transported vials containing

plague to Tanzania on numerous

occasions. One trip he was

stopped and searched at

customs and had to explain the

vials. He said this was a

common way researchers

transport samples: V.I.P.– vials-in

-pocket. He was convicted of 12

in the cargo hold.

Lithium batteries found in cell

phones and laptops have been

recently classified as dangerous

goods, due to 2 recent shipping

accidents. In 2010, a UPS plane

crashed in Dubai, killing both

pilots because the plane had

large amounts of consumer

electronics on board. It is

believed the lithium batteries

stoked an intense fire. Prior to

the crash, the pilots radioed that

smoke was so dense in the

cockpit they were unable to read

their instruments or change

radio frequencies. In 2006, a

lithium battery fire broke out on

a UPS cargo plane. The plane

made an emergency landing in

Philadelphia and no one was

killed. However, it took

emergency responders more

than 4 hours to douse the fire.

So when you need to ship a

material that could pose a risk to

health, safety, property or the

environment, contact Tufts

Environmental Health and Safety

at x6-3615 for assistance, and

make sure that you are properly

trained and understand the

regulations.

Individuals who

improperly ship

hazardous

materials may be

subject to

criminal and civil

penalties.

What do you think of

In Case You Haven’t “HERD”?

Do you have ideas for future

topics? How to make it

better? We want to know!

Contact Natalie Tumbridge at

[email protected]

What’s Your Opinion?

Phone: (617)636-3615

Fax: (617)636-2419

200 Harrison Avenue

Boston, MA 02111

http://publicsafety.tufts.edu/ehs/

Environmental Health and Safety Director

Stephen R. Larson 617-636-2193

Chemical Safety Officer

Kathryn A. Craig 617-636-2919

Biosafety Officer (Boston)

Darin P. Goodwin 617-636-2426

Biosafety Officer (Boston)

Kathleen Joseph 617-636-0964

Pollution Control Technician

Peter T. Kelley-Joseph 617-627-3229

Environmental Health and Safety Specialist II

Thomas H. Kelley 617-636-0477

Biosafety Officer (Grafton)

Jeffrey P. LaBossiere 508-887-4483

Assistant Fire Marshal

Richard Mullane 617-627-3922

Industrial Hygiene & Occupational Safety/EHS Specialist II

Peter J. Nowak 617-627-3246

Health Physicist/EHS Specialist II

Christopher G. Rock 508-887-4556

Supervisor of Safety and Environmental Protection

Shaun W. Savage 617-636-0397

Radiation Safety Officer

Geoffrey C. Sirr Jr. 617-636-3450

Fire Marshal

Wayne G. Springer 617-627-3922

Administrative Coordinator

Natalie A. Tumbridge 617-636-3615

Tu

fts

Envir

on

men

tal H

ealt

h a

nd

Safe

ty D

irecto

ry

Upcoming Trainings

Boston Grafton Medford

10-18-11: Intro. Rad. Safety; 9:00-11:00am

10-18-11: NEO & BBP; 9:30-11:30am

10-25-11: Bio. Res. Labs; 10:00-12:00pm

11-01-11: NEO & BBP; 9:30-11:30am


11-15-11: NEO & BBP; 9:30-11:30am

11-16-11: BRL Training; 1:00-3:00pm

11-29-11: NEO & BBP; 9:30-11:30am

12-01-11: BRL Training; 10:00-12:00pm

12-13-11: NEO & BBP; 9:30-11:30am 12-20-11: BRL Training; 1:00-3:00pm

12-28-11: NEO & BBP; 9:30-11:30am

01-10-12: NEO/BBP; 9:30-11:30

01-12-12: BRL Training; 10:00-12:00

01-17-12: Intro Rad. Safety; 9:00-11:00

01-19-12: Intro Laser Safety; 9:30-11:00

01-24-12: NEO/BBP; 9:30-11:30

01-26-12: Biologicals Shipping; 9:30-12:00

02-01-12: BRL Training; 1:00-3:00

02-02-12: Chemical Shipping; 9:30-12:00

10-20-11: Intro. Laser Safety; 9:30-11:00am

10-24-11: NEO;10:50-11:25am


11-07-11: NEO;10:50-11:25am

11-21-11: NEO;10:50-11:25am

12-05-11: NEO;10:50-11:25am


12-19-11: NEO;10:50-11:25am

01-05-12: Intro Radiation Safety; 12:00-1:30

01-18-12: BBP; 12:00-1:00 02-15-12: BRL Training; 10:00-12:00


03-01-12: Intro Radiation Safety; 12:00-1:30

03-14-12: BBP; 12:00-1:00


04-18-12: BRL Training; 1:00-3:00


Please contact Tufts EHS

([email protected])

for more information

*Dates subject to change based on attendance*

10-27-11: BRL Training; 10:00-12:00pm

10-28-11: NEO & BBP; 10:00-12:00pm*



12-09-11: NEO & BBP; 10:00-12:00pm*

12-15-11: BRL Training; 1:00-3:00pm

12-23-11: NEO & BBP; 10:00-12:00pm*

01-06-12: NEO & BBP; 10:00-12:00pm*

01-11-12: BRL Training; 10:00-12:00

01-20-12: NEO & BBP; 10:00-12:00pm*

02-03-12: NEO & BBP; 10:00-12:00pm*

02-06-12: Intro. Rad. Safety; 9:00-11:00

02-09-12: BRL Training; 1:00-3:00

02-17-12: NEO & BBP; 10:00-12:00pm*

03-02-12: NEO & BBP; 10:00-12:00pm* 03-06-12: BRL Training; 10:00-12:00


03-16-12: NEO & BBP; 10:00-12:00pm*


mailto:[email protected]

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