The start of a new school year is upon us. Do you have everything in place to ensure the safety of students and faculty? What grade would you give your EH&S program as it stands now? View this presentation to find out what you need to do to make sure your program passes the test this fall.

1. Back to School
Is Your EH&S Program Ready
For the New School Year?

2. Meet Your Moderator
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James Ciccone

3. During this Webinar
All lines will be muted.
Communicate via the questions tab in your webinar
panel.
Unanswered questions will be responded to personally
after the webinar.
Webinar recording and slides will be emailed to you
tomorrow.
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4. Meet Your Presenter
Corinne MacDonnell
EHS Consultant
Triumvirate Environmental, Inc.
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5. Is Your EH&S
Program Prepared?
• Does your EH&S department
hold a strong presence on
campus?
• Does it foster a robust safety
culture?
• What grade would you give
your EH&S program as it
stands now?
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6. Marks of a Successful
EH&S Program
• Defined mission statement
• Collaboration and buy-in
• Clear roles and responsibilities
• Comprehensive safety audit
program
• Cohesive incident/near miss
reporting system
• Effective training programs
• Concise safety signage
• Efficient communication
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7. Agenda
Defined Mission Statement
Roles & Responsibilities
Laboratory Safety Audit & Training
Signage & Hazard Communication
Incident Reporting
Wrap Up/Q&A
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8. Poll Question
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Which aspect of your
EH&S program are you
struggling with the most?

9. Agenda
Defined Mission Statement
Roles & Responsibilities
Laboratory Safety Audit & Training
Signage & Hazard Communication
Incident Reporting
Wrap Up/Q&A
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10. The effectiveness of an Environmental Health & Safety
Program begins with a defined mission statement.
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Elements Include:
• Overarching goal to promote safety for all:
student body, faculty, staff and visitors
• Environmental stewardship
• Partnership with students, faculty and staff to
foster cooperation and collaboration
• Focus on accident prevention
• Concerted emphasis on training
• Effort to adhere to best practices wherever
practicable
Defined EH&S
Mission Statement

11. The University’s Department of Environmental
Health and Safety services the University
community by promoting health and safety,
environmental protection and regulatory
compliance. We are committed to developing a
culture where safety and health are core values,
adopted and practiced throughout all levels of
the University, and to providing high quality
consultation that facilitates the University’s
mission of research, teaching and service.
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Defined EH&S
Mission Statement

12. 12
Defined EH&S
Mission Statement
EH&S fosters partnerships with faculty, students
and staff to enable them to recognize risks and
empower them to learn, discover and work safely,
and to minimize injuries, illnesses, environmental
impact and regulatory risks. We accomplish this
by providing exceptional service and leadership
through program development, information and
training, consultation and periodic review of
environmental health and safety practices.

13. Agenda
Defined Mission Statement
Roles & Responsibilities
Laboratory Safety Audit & Training
Signage & Hazard Communication
Incident Reporting
Wrap Up/Q&A
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14. Collaboration and Buy-In
 Administration
 Laboratory Managers
 Faculty and Staff
 Students
 Facilities
 Public Safety
 Etc.
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15. Questions to Ask Yourself:
Who are the decision makers?
Who can allocate funds if necessary?
Who is able to enforce participation of employees/students?
Identify Key Players
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16. • Levels of Administration
 Dean
- Chiefly responsible for clusters of
academic fields or whole academic units
 Department Chair
- Supervises faculty and staff of their
individual departments
- Typically a tenured or at least tenure-
track faculty member, supported by
administrative staff
 Laboratory Managers
 Professors
 Adjuncts
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Identify Key Players

17. Techniques for Establishing
Successful Collaboration
• Prepare
• Reiterate safety goals
• Provide leadership
• Reinforce shared commitment to the
educational experience
• Offer flexibility and think out-of-the-
box
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18. Agenda
Defined Mission Statement
Roles & Responsibilities
Laboratory Safety Audit & Training
Signage & Hazard Communication
Incident Reporting
Wrap Up/Q&A
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19. Comprehensive Laboratory
Inspections
• Conduct comprehensive laboratory inspections
 Must be a collaborative, multidisciplinary effort composed of
individuals that hold stake in the success of the department
 Assemble an inspection team:
- Department Chair, Lab Manager, EH&S Representative
 Document findings in a concise format (i.e. checklist)
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20. Laboratory Audit
Checklist
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Personal Protective Equipment
 Is disposable personal protective equipment
(i.e. nitrile gloves, disposable lab coats)
available for employees/students and stored in
accordance with University policies?
 If employees/students are present within the
laboratory, are they wearing appropriate PPE
for the work that is being conducted? Closed-
toe shoes?

21. 21
Biological Hazards
 Are all biologically hazardous materials
handled and stored properly in closed
containers?
 Are sharps collected in an appropriate
and closed container?
 Is appropriate disinfectant easily
accessible for decontamination of
surfaces?
Laboratory Audit
Checklist

22. 22
Safety Equipment
 Are first aid kits present, fully stocked and free from
obstruction?
 Are eye washes, safety showers and fire extinguishers
present and free from obstruction?
 Are all safety equipment inspection records complete and
up-to-date per university policies? (i.e. eye washes,
safety showers, fire extinguishers, chemical fume hoods,
biological safety cabinets, etc.)
 Are “No Smoking” and “No Food or Beverage” signs
posted at laboratory entrances?
Laboratory Audit
Checklist

23. 23
Chemical Storage/Hygiene
 Are all hazardous materials appropriately labeled,
closed and maintained in designated storage areas
(i.e. flammable or acid cabinets)?
 Are incompatible materials adequately segregated?
 Are compressed gas cylinders properly labeled,
secured and capped when not in use?
 Are hazardous waste containers properly identified
with the words “Hazardous Waste?”
Laboratory Audit
Checklist

24. 24
Housekeeping and Egress
 Are floor surfaces clean, dry, level and
in good condition?
 Are laboratory areas free from excess
trash or combustibles?
 Are electrical outlets or cords free from
overloading?
 Is a minimum of 36” aisle space
maintained throughout the laboratory?
Laboratory Audit
Checklist

25. Follow-Up:
 Report findings to the EH&S team
 Identify areas requiring corrective action
and assign responsible parties and
deadlines
 If necessary, request resources to return
lab to compliance
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Laboratory Audit
Checklist

26. Laboratory Safety Training:
Identify Training Groups
 Faculty
- Department Heads, Full-Time
Faculty, Adjuncts, Research
Assistants, etc.
 Teacher’s Assistants
 Lab Assistants
 Graduate/Research Students
 Undergraduate Students
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27. • Chemical Hygiene
• Hazard Communication
• RCRA Hazardous Waste
Management and Disposal
(SAA/MAA requirements)
• Biological Safety
• Bloodborne Pathogens
• Near Miss/Incident Reporting
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Laboratory Safety Training:
Identify Training Components

28. • Annual RCRA for Hazardous Waste
Manifest Signers
• Triennial DOT for Hazardous Waste
Manifest Signers
• Biennial IATA Dangerous Goods Shippers
• Hazardous Waste Operations and
Emergency Response (HAZWOPER)
 Awareness Level
 First Responder—Operations Level
• Biennial CPR/First Aid
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Laboratory Safety Training:
Higher-Level Training

29. Faculty Laboratory
Safety Training
• Work in tandem with the Department
Head and Laboratory Manager to
schedule a time-block to conduct in-
person faculty/adjunct training
• Allow opportunity for dialog and
constructive discussion
• Emphasize that safety is everyone’s
responsibility
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30. • What is the most effective means of
training students at your university or
college:
 Presentation delivered by
professor during lecture?
 Online-based training required to
complete prior to first lab section?
- Blackboard or equivalent
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Student Laboratory
Safety Training

31. Agenda
Defined Mission Statement
Roles & Responsibilities
Laboratory Safety Audit & Training
Signage & Hazard Communication
Incident Reporting
Wrap Up/Q&A
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32. Signage
Concise
Streamlined
Visible
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33. Effective Hazard
Communication Signage
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• Hazard pictograms
• Biosafety level information
• Additional hazards:
• Strong magnetic field
• Electrical hazard
• Laser (class)
• Radioactive material
• Special procedures required for entry
• Laboratory Manager contact information
• Additional emergency contacts

34. Hazardous Waste Signage
Uniform
Directly adjacent to satellite accumulation areas
Clearly defined requirements to reinforce training
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35. Hazardous Waste Signage
• Container management
• Container labeling
• Container closure
• Storage
• Emergency contacts
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36. Agenda
Defined Mission Statement
Roles & Responsibilities
Laboratory Safety Audit & Training
Signage & Hazard Communication
Incident Reporting
Wrap Up/Q&A
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37. Near Miss/Incident
Reporting
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• Employee/student information
• Instructor/supervisor information
• Nature of incident/injury and affected body
part
• Location/work area where injury occurred
• Procedure being performed at time of incident
• Explanation of what happened

38. What Is a Near Miss?
A Near Miss is an unplanned event
that did not result in injury, illness, or
damage – but had the potential to do
so. Only a fortunate break in the
chain of events prevented an injury,
fatality or damage; in other words, a
miss that was nonetheless very
near.
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39. Why Is it Important to
Communicate Near Misses?
• Allows the EH&S Department to
be proactive in mitigating future
incidents and identifying gaps in
the program
• May decrease liability if proper
follow-up measures are taken
• Enhances the community’s
safety culture
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40. Review Previous Year’s
Incident/Near Miss Reports
Analyze trends
Review prior root cause
analysis
Is corrective action in place
and was it effective?
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41. Agenda
Defined Mission Statement
Roles & Responsibilities
Laboratory Safety Audit & Training
Signage & Hazard Communication
Incident Reporting
Wrap Up/Q&A
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42. Effectively Communicate
Expectations
Who is responsible for daily oversight of:
 Hazardous waste
 Laboratory compliance
 Training
 Faculty compliance
 Student compliance
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43. Assess Your
Own EH&S Program
Does your program fulfill the following?
• Defined mission statement
• Collaboration and buy-in
• Clear roles and responsibilities
• Safety audit program
• Cohesive incident/near miss reporting system
• Effective training programs
• Concise safety signage
• Efficient communication
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44. Thank You For
Attending!
• You will receive an email tomorrow with a
copy of this presentation and recording
• You will also receive a lab audit checklist
• Please complete our short survey
Contact:
Corinne MacDonnell
cmacdonnell@triumvirate.com
Call Us!
1-888-834-9697
www.triumvirate.com