EH&S

 

News and Highlights

• WAKE FOREST BIOTECH PLACE EMPLOYEES: Did you receive a new Think Chair?  View instructions on how to adjust your new chair to fit you.  Did you receive a new Knoll Keyboard tray?  View instructions on how to adjust and manipulate your new keyboard tray.
  
• ANNUAL CLINICAL LAB ASSESSMENTS
  The 2011/2012 Annual Clinical Lab Assessments conducted by EH&S will begin January 23, 2012.  The Principal Investigator and Clinic contact have been sent email notifications.  EH&S will be contacting the Principal Investigator and/or Clinic contact to firm up a specific date and time.  Clinic Lab Practice Assessment Checklist 
  
• ALCOHOL ORDERS CAN NOW BE PLACED ELECTRONICALLY.
  Effective 11/7/2011, alcohol can be ordered electronically through the Alcohol Site.  For more information please click here.   
  
• RESEARCH LABORATORY SAFETY ALERT
  Last week, Environmental Health & Safety received a call from a laboratory about a gas leak.  The natural gas line in the lab's biosafety cabinet was left on and gas was leaking into the room.  Enough gas had escaped into the room to create a strong rotten egg-like odor, which is caused by butyl mercaptan being added to the gas as an odorant.  The gas valve was shut off and the room was ventilated.  This event was a "near miss" since an open or leaking gas line is a serious explosion and fire risk.
  All laboratory staff are encouraged to review the warning properties (or lack thereof) of the gases used in teh laboratory.  Ensure all valves are closed when not in use and all gas lines are intact.
  If you believe you have a gas leak:  1. Shut off all gas lines in your lab. 2. Turn off any equipment that may contribute to an explosion (e.g. centrifuge, Bunsen burner). 3. Evacuate the lab. 4. Call EH&S (6-9375) during normal business hours. 5. Call Emergency Communications Center (6-9111) after hours.
  Posted 11/16/11.
  

• ANNUAL EH&S LAB ASSESSMENTS
  The 2011/2012 Annual Lab Assessments conducted by EH&S began September 12, 2011.  The Principal Investigator and Lab Contact will receive an email notification two weeks prior to when the assessment is to be scheduled.  After the email notification, the EH&S coordinator will contact the Principal Investigator or designated lab representative to firm up a specific date and time.  Lab Assessment Checklist

  • One change that will be included for assessments is the inclusion of a letter from Tim Peters, MD, Chair of the Institutional Biosafety Committee.  The intent of the letter is to prompt researchers to evaluate the direction of their research to determine if there are additional biosafety or Environmental Health and Safety needs.  If you have questions regarding when your lab is scheduled for assessment, please call the main EH&S number at 6-9375.  If you have biosafety questions, please contact Bernie Menuey at bmenuey@wakehealth.edu or call 6-6440.  IBC Resource Letter   

• ANNUAL PHYSICIAN PRACTICE ASSESSMENTS (PPAs)
  The 2011/2012 Annual Physician Practice Assessments conducted by EH&S began September 12, 2011.  The Clinic Contact will receive an email two weeks prior to when the assessment is to be scheduled.  After the email notification, EH&S will be contacting the Physician Practice Clinic Contact to firm up a specific date and time.  PPA Physician Practice Assessment Checklist

• QUARTERLY LAB SELF-ASSESSMENTS ARE ELECTRONIC:
  Email notifications are sent to Principal Investigators.  PI's can choose to complete or forward to their lab assistant for completion.  Quarterly lab self-assessments are scheduled to go out on the 1st of January, April, July, and October 2012.  Original EHS Announcement of Electronic Quarterly Self-Assessments
  

• KIMEL PARK EMPLOYEES: 
  Did you receive a new Zoom Seating chair? View instructions on how to adjust your new chair to fit you.        

EH&S Archives