Meeting Minutes

SEAS/Physics/EPS Safety Committee

Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Noon-1:00PM

ESL Floors 3 & 4 - Stefan Selner presented the report of his team's recent inspection of this ESL lab area.
The report can be read by downloading the PDF file here: ESL_3-4_LabInspection2007.pdf
The safety officers who represent ESL 3rd and 4th floor labs need to read this report and fix or address any safety issues that were noted. They will give a follow-up report on any issues they dealt with by the December meeting.

3. Lab inspection schedules still missing!

Lenny said most teams have not scheduled an inspection date yet. This needs to be done ASAP!
Lenny read a list of these teams and most of the team leaders were not present at the meeting. Lenny said he will contact them as a reminder.

Lenny said a special training lecture on Bio-Safety has been scheduled for Wednesday, December 5, 2007 at 1:00-3:00pm. The location was not given. Ron Morales will present the training.

5. Accident in Mazur Lab - Mike Labosky

No one was injured in a recent accident in the Mazur Lab. A 4-liter container of haz. waste labelled "inorganic" was being kept in a fume hood. It contained acids and ethanol. Nitric acid was added. The bottle exploded and sent glass shrapnel all over the place. Triumvirate was on-site and assisted in cleaning up the spill. Since no one was injured and the spill was easily cleaned up, the Fire Dept. was not called. WARNING: do not mix organic acid with nitric acid.
Lenny said everyone in a lab needs to fully understand the properties of all the chemicals that are used in the lab, especially when disposing of them. The Safety Committee has books you can borrow on this. EH&S has a link to a "compatibility" website by NOAA.

6. LISE Building fire doors

Lenny said people in McKay have complained that the fire doors between McKay and LISE have been continually left open by someone. Lenny purchased fire door signage and asked someone in McKay to post them on the doors. Someone commented that it was the contractors who were leaving the doors open.

Mike Labosky mentaioned again that dailing 911 or 9-911 puts an emergency call to the Cambridge civilian 911 switchboard. You should definietly do this during an emergency; however, it would be helpful, if it is possible, to call the Harvard police as well, so that internal police are dispatched immediately. Also, if you are in the area wher an emergency is occuring, pull the fire alarm switch even if the sprinklers are already activated. In this way, the Fire Dept. will be able to locate the problem.
Homeland Security has a list of 300 or so chemicals that everyone may need to account for. When they institute this provision, Harvard will have 60 days to assess its chemical inventory (perhaps an additional 60 days as well). Safety officers will need to help with this. Mike said they will probably be able to use the new ChemTraker software to manage the inventory. All of this could start as early as Monday, November 19th.

8. Cleaning crews -

Lenny said the cleaning staff should wear protective eye goggles in some situations. He will contact Al Leite abiut this. Someone said some of the cleaning staff is employeed by a contracted agency.

HF Spill Kits - Lenny located the HF spill kits. They are located in:
- Mooney Lab - ESL room 415
- Venky Lab - McKay room 303
- Anderson Lab - Link 125
- Lenny has one more available for Pierce if anyone wants to store it.
Safety Alarms - Lenny has not heard back from everyone.
- Edwards Lab 406 has a nitrogen generator and low oxygen alarm which is not wired into the Control Center. Should it be?
- Mazur Lab has a gas alarm. They are not sure if it is working. Lenny will look into this.
- Eric Brandon will check with Mike Labosky about wiring his gas alarm to the Control Center.

Send comments or suggestions to solomon@huarp.harvard.edu	Last Updated: Mon Dec 3 12:03:14 2007
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