DCHAS-L Archives Jul 09 2010 - Re: Emergency Action Plan for science labs

Just a side FYI from my own experience - as we were establishing our business continuity / emergency response plans, many of our researchers gave out office phone numbers as their contacts. I can understand that they don't want their home or cell phone numbers posted on the lab door signs in what are essentially public hallways. However, at midnight on a Thursday, this leaves Security or any other "event responder" faced with equipment in alarm mode without a way to contact them and see if this is normal behavior or if we need to start evacuating or what! It's vital that someone somewhere has a way to reach a person in charge 24 hours a day. As others have stated, it may be a matter of ruining research that's been ongoing for weeks / months / years (a very good way to sell them on giving out their 24 hour number), or a matter of facility / personal safety (another good way to sell it - if their lab (or even an expensive piece of equipment) blows up, how far will that set their research back?). Personally, I would be very uncomfortable with having folks from maintenance, security or anyone else (including myself) not connected to the lab shutting off equipment or processes. "Goofs" can happen when those who work in the lab do it, and they're trained. As to OSHA, a lot depends on whether or not your school is subject to FedOSHA or a state plan, or some other system. If it's federal, along with the General Duty Clause (Section 5(a)(1)), I would think that 29 CFR 1910.132 (General personal protective equipment), 1910.134 (Respiratory protection), 1910.1200 (Hazard communication), and 1910.1450 (Occupational exposure to hazardous chemicals in laboratories) might apply. A lot depends on what is happening in each lab and with each process, as I'm guessing you are aware. This OSHA site has more specific information and some links that might be applicable: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/laboratories/standards.html Best of luck, Wendy On Thu, Jul 8, 2010 at 6:34 PM, Schmidt-Nebril, Kathleen < kschmidtnebril**At_Symbol_Here**dom.edu> wrote: > My university recently was hit with a four day power outage due to severe > storms. Our science building is recently new and has a back up generator > however none of the main lab instruments or equipment were backed up to it. > Hoods, lights and ventilation were. In the end we are looking at a huge > insurance claim and are now trying to prepare an action plan for each of > our labs in the event we go through something like this again. I am the CHO > for the department and was asked to put this together. Does anyone know > what OSHA standard, if any, I should be looking at for this? They want to > incorporate a "what to do" list for example if none of the scientists were > around someone from maintenance could follow it to turn off sensitive > equipment in our absence. My thought on that is would we need to train and > document anyone who might have to respond and use our action list? > > > > Kathleen > -- Wendy Campbell, ASP Occupational Health and Safety Officer Environmental Health and Safety Boise State University 1910 University Drive Boise, Idaho 83725-1826 Office: (208) 426-3303 Fax: (208) 426-3343

As to OSHA, a lot depends on whether or not your school is subject to F edOSHA or a state plan, or some other system.=A0 If it's federal, along with the General Duty Clause (Section 5(a)(1)), I would think that 29 CFR 1910.132 (General personal protective equipment), 1910.134 (Respiratory pro tection), 1910.1200 (Hazard communication), and 1910.1450 (Occupational exp osure to hazardous chemicals in laboratories) might apply.=A0 A lot depends on what is happening in each lab and with each process, as I'm guessin g you are aware.=A0 This OSHA site has more specific information and some l inks that might be applicable:=A0 http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/laboratories/standards.htm l

On Thu, Jul 8, 2010 at 6:34 PM, Schmidt-Nebril, Kathleen <kschmidtnebril**At_Symbol_Here**dom.edu> wrote :

My university rec ently was hit with a four day power outage due to severe storms. =A0Our sci ence building is recently new and has a back up generator however none of t he main lab instruments or equipment were backed up to it. Hoods, lights an d ventilation were. =A0In the end we are looking at a huge insurance claim and are now trying to prepare =A0an action plan for each of our labs in the event we go through something like this again. =A0I am the CHO for the dep artment and was asked to put this together. =A0Does anyone know what OSHA s tandard, if any, I should be looking at for this? =A0They want to incorpora te a "what to do" list for example if none of the scientists were around someone from maintenance could follow it to turn off sensitive equi pment in our absence. =A0My thought on that is would we need to train and d ocument =A0anyone who might have to respond and use our action list?

Kathleen

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