DEAS/Physics Safety Committee

Meeting Minutes

Wednesday, February 9, 2000
Noon-1:00PM

1. Video - "Assessing Risks of Toxic Chemicals" (11 minutes)

2. 1999/2000 Lab Inspection Schedules

Lenny updated the following dates of scheduled lab inspections:

• Team #2 - Cruft and Pierce Laboratories - Feb. 23, 2000 (Nan Shen)
• Team #3 - Jefferson and Lyman Laboratories - Feb. 11, 2000 (John Chervinsky)
• Team #4 - ESL and HEPL - Feb. 17, 2000 (Mark Topinka)

3. Lab Inspection Reports

Team # 1- McKay Laboratory: Aldo Apponi was not present at the meeting. Presentation of the report is delayed until the March meeting.

Team #5 - Anderson and Wofsy Labs: Chavva Reddy reported that he and his team completed their lab inspections on January 13, 2000. He said both labs were clean and in good condition. However, there were a few minor concerns:

1. Anderson Lab:
   • some food bottles/containers were found on the floor of the lab
   • the fume hood seemed to be too small
2. Wofsy Lab:
   • emergency light outside of door is not working.

Lenny said he would follow up on the report for the Anderson Group at the next meeting.

4. Lab Inspection Follow-up Reports

Team #6 - Maxwell/Dworkin: emergency signage will be posted in the near future. Rob Stanhope reported that the floor plans for MD have been scanned and prepared for the Safety web site. They will be posted within 24 hours. The Emergency Evacuation Plan web page on the Safety Committee web site provides a link to the floor plans.

5. Chemical Hygiene Plan - What is it?

To reacquaint everyone with the Chemical Hygiene Plan, Lenny handed out a brief outline of the CHP, as it appears on the Safety Committee web site (see http://www-safety.deas.harvard.edu/manuals.html). He said OSHA mandated in January 1990 the rule that institutions must have chemical hygiene plans and officers to enforce it. The plan must address issues such as properly handling chemicals, dealing with chemical accidents, and using proper protective equipment. The Safety Committee composed its plan in 1991 and later EH&S created an "umbrella" chemical hygiene plan. It is very important that all safety reps familiarize themselves with the CHP. The CHP establishes the following duties for its officer and safety committee reps:

• Chemical Hygiene Officer (Lenny Solomon) duties:
  • create and maintain budget
  • distribute regulations to everyone
  • enforce the CHP
  • record chemical accidents
  • audit policies in the Plan (such as, annual lab inspections)
  • arrange for the disposal of hazardous waste
  • keep up-to-date on pertinent legislation
• Safety Committee (each safety representative) duties:
  • enforce proper handling of chemicals in labs
  • attend training seminars and make sure lab personnel are properly trained

Standard Operating Procedures - S.O.P.s are listed in the Chemical Hygiene Plan and need to be kept current (see http://www-safety.deas.harvard.edu/sop/chart.html). Lenny asked the Committee to look at the current list of SOPs and to notify him if there is anything which needs to be updated. He would like to have new or updated SOPs by the March meeting.

6. EH&S Report - Henry Littleboy

• Henry added to Lenny's comments on the Chemical Hygiene Plan by saying the CHP is intended to minimize the long-term effects of chemicals. As part of the plan, EH&S periodically inspects all fume hoods.
• EH&S has a new Industrial Hygienist named Michael Labovski.
• Hazardous Waste training may be increased to 1 hour.
• The Chemistry Dept. is now moving into the new Naito Labs. People can tour the labs by contacting Henry.

7. Hazardous Waste Training Report

Rob Stanhope reported a few names of people who need to be reminded to refresh their training.

8. Old Business

• SCBA - training for the Paul Group begins tomorrow.
• Multimedia Project - Rob Stanhope reported that the Intel workstation has been received. We are now looking into the most appropriate video capture card and editing software.

9. New Business - none

Next Meeting: Wednesday, March 8, 2000, 12:00 noon, Maxwell/Dworkin 119