Meeting Minutes - DEAS/Physics Department Safety
Committee Meeting - February 11, 1998
1. Video - "OSHA Lab Standard" (16 minutes)
Lenny asked for feedback on the video. The general
consensus was that it was a good video, especially the re-enactment
of serious accidents that can occur in the lab and how to respond.
The only criticism was that it lacked detail.
Lenny encouraged safety officers to borrow the video
from him and show it to the students at the beginning of the term.
After the video, two topics were briefly discussed;
emergency showers and broken glass receptacles.
If after an emergency shower is activated and flooding
has occurred, immediately call Harvard Control Center at
5-5560. They will send over personnel and wet vacs
to clean up.
2. Lab Inspection Reports:
In general all the labs are practicing good safety procedures. What follows is a summary of a few of the problems that need correcting:
A. Jefferson and Lyman
Labs - Jessica Smith
Several of the labs that use HF did not have a clear sign indicating the location of the necessary antidote.
Power sources such as plug strips and power supplies should not be on the floor.
Hazardous waste needs to be labeled. Unmarked waste is very expensive to dispose of. Do not date any hazardous waste tags until you are ready to dispose of it, then call 6-3322 for pick up..
All hazardous waste containers should be put on trays.
Laser labs should have room darkening shades along
with the Venetian blinds.
In general, the physics labs are looking better and
better each year.
Contact sheets and safety bulletin board information is out of date.
Some vacuum pumps are exhausting into the lab room exhaust. This needs to be checked.
There are no inspection stickers or flow indicators on a hood on the second floor.
Some cylinders need to be capped and strapped down.
Labs with lasers should have a sign on the door stating
what class laser is in use, especially if the laser is 3B or higher.
If you have any questions ask Sid Paula, the EH& S laser
expert.
C. Link/Hoffman Lab (Anderson/Wofsy) - Steve Shepard
Goggles need to be available at the entrance to all labs.
Fire extinguisher signs need to be installed.
All cylinders should be capped and chained.
3. Disposal of Hazardous Waste Training: Update
- Lenny Solomon
People with no training in hazardous waste disposal
are sorted out at the bottom of Lenny's Hazardous Waste Training
List which was passed out in the meeting. Supervisors should remind
these people to take the initial training session with Henry.
In regards to the required, annual hazardous waste training re-certification,
Pete has been working with the Web site company to create automated
e-mail reminders. This enhancement should be installed by the
end of March.
4. Report from Environmental Health and Safety
Pete said that the EPA will be visiting Harvard within the next two months and inspection could occur as early as tomorrow. In the Boston area, the EPA is very concerned about hazardous waste leaking into the Charles River. Specific to Harvard, the satellite stations will be closely inspected and the list of people trained in hazardous waste disposal will be reviewed. Each violation from the EPA costs between $200 -
$300 dollars, multiplied by the number of labs at
Harvard, so get trained. Pete says that it is important to have
an atmosphere of compliance when the EPA walks through.
Lenny asked Henry to include e-mail addresses in
the information that is asked of all new trainees.
Today, there was a Compliance Officers' meeting.
Jim Ciotti and Mike Lichten are the FAS representatives. They
discussed OSHA standards such as asbestos, the Clean Air Act,
education plans, and safety training.
Lenny went over the Safety Seminar series which can
be found on the web page. All dates are now set in stone.
Lenny asked for volunteers to take responsibility for checking and maintaining the chemical spill kits.
The legal questions pertaining to the use of toxic
gases are still being researched - no conclusion yet.
Peter is reviewing the new, generic E& HS Chemical
Hygiene Plan.
7. New Business
Nancy Curtin and Sean Reagan are working on getting
RSI prevention training on-line.
Last week there was an accident in Pierce Hall.
An employee was carrying a monitor and fell down the stairs.
Luckily he was not injured seriously.
Next Meeting, Wednesday, March 11, 1998, 12:00 - 1:00PM, Pierce 100F