laboratory safety: progress and challenges

Laboratory Safety:Laboratory Safety:Progress and ChallengesProgress and Challenges

Triumvirate Environmental ConferenceTriumvirate Environmental Conference

New York Botanical GardensNew York Botanical Gardens

March 17, 2011March 17, 2011

James H. Gibson, PhD, MPH, DirectorJames H. Gibson, PhD, MPH, Director

UCLA Office of Environment, Health & SafetyUCLA Office of Environment, Health & Safety

EH&S Immediate ResponseEH&S Immediate Response

1.1. Accelerated InspectionsAccelerated Inspections

2.2. Hazard Assessment Tool Hazard Assessment Tool

3.3. Revised Inspection ChecklistRevised Inspection Checklist

4.4. Revised Inspection ProceduresRevised Inspection Procedures

5.5. Standardized ReportsStandardized Reports

6.6. Performance MetricsPerformance Metrics

Accelerated Lab AuditsAccelerated Lab AuditsTop to Bottom InspectionsTop to Bottom Inspections

• Interdisciplinary teamInterdisciplinary team• Completed in 30 days Completed in 30 days

Chemical InventoryChemical Inventory • Flammable solids Flammable solids • Pyrophoric chemicalsPyrophoric chemicals• Other highly hazardous materialsOther highly hazardous materials

Fire Safety SurveyFire Safety Survey• Fire extinguishersFire extinguishers• Emergency showers/eyewash Emergency showers/eyewash

Hazard Assessment ToolHazard Assessment Tool

Hazard Assessment ToolHazard Assessment Tool• Initial version issued Initial version issued January 15, 2009January 15, 2009

• Comprehensive version Comprehensive version completed March 2009completed March 2009

• Online LHAT launched Online LHAT launched August 2010August 2010

• PurposePurpose• Assess potential hazardsAssess potential hazards• Quantify risk levelQuantify risk level• Specify PPE according to risk-Specify PPE according to risk-

based assessmentbased assessment• Verify PPE trainingVerify PPE training• Data collectionData collection

Tailors PPE by Assessing HazardsTailors PPE by Assessing Hazards

Expanded VersionExpanded Version

Quantify Risk LevelQuantify Risk Level

Level A – Very high hazard

Level B – High hazard

Level C - Moderate hazard

Level D - Low hazard

LHAT Response Metrics:LHAT Response Metrics:Hazard LevelsHazard Levels

2877 (88%) Hazards

LHAT Response MetricsLHAT Response Metrics

Response Metrics 2009 201009 /10

ChangeTotal known PI’s 827 858 31

PI’s completing LHAT 489 693 204

PI’s not completing LHAT 338 165 -173

Labs reported in LHAT 1360 2442 1082

Workers completing PPE training

4021 5941 1920

Revised Inspection ChecklistRevised Inspection Checklist• New sections New sections

include:include:• Documentation Documentation • TrainingTraining• PPEPPE• Housekeeping Housekeeping

• 60 items added60 items added• 23 critical items 23 critical items

identifiedidentified

Standardized ReportsStandardized Reports

• StandardStandard• New timelinesNew timelines

• 48 hours critical48 hours critical• 30 days non-30 days non-

compliantcompliant• Issued next Issued next

business daybusiness day• Summary TableSummary Table• PhotographsPhotographs

New Inspection ProceduresNew Inspection Procedures

Electronic Inspection ProcessElectronic Inspection Process

• Real time data Real time data acquisitionacquisition

• Automated report Automated report writing processwriting process• DecreaseDecrease Paper work Paper work

• Increase InspectionsIncrease Inspections

Report to the ChancellorReport to the Chancellor• Accountability & Accountability &

oversightoversight• Outreach & trainingOutreach & training• Laboratory designLaboratory design• Inventory & Inventory &

recordkeepingrecordkeeping• Strong safety Strong safety

cultureculture

Accountability & Accountability & OversightOversight

Laboratory InspectionsLaboratory Inspections

72%

74%

Performance Metrics: Performance Metrics: Inspection ReportsInspection Reports

Improve Outreach & Improve Outreach & TrainingTraining

Employee Safety HandbookEmployee Safety Handbook• NewNew Lab Safety Lab Safety

• Mandatory for all Mandatory for all employees employees

• Important Tips for Important Tips for Working SafelyWorking Safely

• Door PostingsDoor Postings• EH&S Resources EH&S Resources

• ExpandedExpanded Training Training• Safety VideosSafety Videos• Course OfferingsCourse Offerings• Requirement GuidanceRequirement Guidance

Chemical Hygiene PlanChemical Hygiene Plan

Safety Training CoursesSafety Training Courses

0

4000

8000

12000

2007

2008

2009

2010

Lab Safety Courses

Classroom Online

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

2007 2008 2009 2010

443%

77%

32%

Training & Outreach ImprovementsTraining & Outreach Improvements

• Centralized databaseCentralized database

• Classroom & online Classroom & online training developmenttraining development

• PI/Lab Supervisor PI/Lab Supervisor training training

• Website developmentWebsite development

• News and NotesNews and Notes

• Video resources: Video resources: http://map.ais.ucla.edu/go/100http://map.ais.ucla.edu/go/10044764476

New Classroom Courses Lab Safety Fundamental Concepts

Lab Safety for PI’s & Lab Supervisors

Personal Protective Equipment

New Online Courses Personal Protective Equipment

Radiation Safety

Formaldehyde

Departments Completed

Lab Safety for PI’s

School of Engineering & Applied

Sciences

Dept. of Chemistry & Biochemistry

Dept. of Physics & Astronomy

School of Public Health

School of Medicine

Physical Sciences

614 PI’s Trained

Improve Laboratory DesignImprove Laboratory Design

Laboratory DesignLaboratory DesignWater-reactive cabinet & shower relocationWater-reactive cabinet & shower relocation

Improve Inventory & Improve Inventory & RecordkeepingRecordkeeping

Mapping Fume HoodsMapping Fume Hoods

Mapping Eyewash StationsMapping Eyewash Stations

Develop Strong Safety Develop Strong Safety CultureCulture

Center for Laboratory SafetyCenter for Laboratory Safety

• MissionMission• Support and sponsor Support and sponsor

research in lab safetyresearch in lab safety• Develop best Develop best

practices practices • Facilitate Facilitate

implementation of lab implementation of lab safety practicessafety practices

PPE PolicyPPE Policy• Full length pants Full length pants

and close-toed and close-toed shoesshoes

• Protective gloves, Protective gloves, laboratory coats, & laboratory coats, & eye protectioneye protection

• Flame resistant Flame resistant laboratory coatslaboratory coats • High hazard materialsHigh hazard materials

• PyrophoricsPyrophorics• Flammables Flammables

PPE Selection GuidePPE Selection Guide

Laboratory Safety PPELaboratory Safety PPE Inspection Checklist Inspection Checklist

Laboratory Safety Laboratory Inspection Checklist

501 Westwood Plaza, 4th Floor • Los Angeles, CA 90095

Phone: 310-825-5689 • Fax: 310-825-7076 • www.ehs.ucla.edu

Date

Lab Information

Department

Principal investigator (PI) Phone

PI email address

Lab Safety contact person Phone

Lab Safety contact email address

Building

Lab room numbers

Inspection Information

Inspector

Inspector email address

Common Laboratory Safety Issues

1 0 C N/A Inspected Comments

Closed-toe shoes and long pants worn by laboratory personnel as required by campus PPE policy

Lab coats worn as required by campus PPE policy

Gloves worn as required by campus PPE policy

Eye protection worn as required by campus PPE policy

No food or drink in lab areas

Particularly Hazardous Particularly Hazardous Substances (PHS) PolicySubstances (PHS) Policy

• Key ProvisionsKey Provisions• Safe storageSafe storage• UseUse• Handling, and Handling, and • Disposal of PHSDisposal of PHS

• Including spill and Including spill and accident accident procedures procedures

ChallengesChallenges

BSL-3 Laboratories BSL-3 Laboratories

410%

497%

Universal ChallengesUniversal Challenges

• Consistent safety standards – integral part Consistent safety standards – integral part of research of research

• Evaluating safety risks and hazard Evaluating safety risks and hazard assessments – constant and ongoing assessments – constant and ongoing

• Rules – explicit and reinforced through a Rules – explicit and reinforced through a culture that promotes safety culture that promotes safety

• Positive relationships – between Positive relationships – between researchers and EH&S researchers and EH&S

Questions?Questions?