REHS News
Ru t g e r s E n v i r o n m e n t a l H e a l t h a n d S a f e t y
Issue 3, December 2004
Welcome to the 2004 win- safety information. If you
ter edition of the REHS have a suggestion for a fu-
Eagleton Institute on the
Newsletter. We appreciate ture Environmental, Health Douglass campus
everyone’s efforts in foster- or Safety article, please
ing a safe and environmen- feel free to contact us
tally conscious culture at
the University. This edition
through the Safety Sugges-
tion Link on our website at Have a wonderful
contains articles about new http://rehs.rutgers.edu or
initiatives, pre-existing pro-
grams and some seasonal
by contacting us at (732)
445-2550.
Holiday Season.
Holiday Safety Inside this issue:
The holiday season is a • Outdoor lights and exten- maintain your gas tank at Holiday Safety 1
time to decorate our sion cords should be ap- least half full.
homes, visit friends and proved for outdoor use • Do not drink and drive.
relatives, go on vacation, and plugged into a GFCI Designate a sober driver Free Chemicals! 2
or enjoy the time off. The outlet. before you go out.
following are simple sug- • Unplug holiday lights and • Buckle your seatbelts
gestions to ensure you other decorations when and avoid using cell Cold Stress 2
have an enjoyable and you are out of the room phones while driving.
safe holiday season: or sleeping. • During inclement
weather, drive slowly, Reproductive and De- 2
Tree Safety Home Safety add more time to your velopmental Health
• Fresh trees should not • Do not shut off your heat- commute and stay home Assessments
lose excessive needles ing system while on va- if you don’t have to drive. Laser Safety Program 3
when touched or shaken. cation to prevent the
Test the tree by gently pipes from freezing. Fire Safety
pulling on the branches • Be careful on snowy • Avoid leaving lit candles NJ PEOSH Adopts 3
or tamping the tree on walkways and steps es- and fireplaces unat- Federal HAZCOM
the ground. pecially at night when the tended. Standard
• Do not place the tree walkways may refreeze. • Use only flame-retardant/
near radiators, fireplaces • During inclement resistant decorations. Spill Prevention Con- 4
or other heat sources weather, dress appropri- trol & Countermeasure
• Ensure the tree stand is ately, drink plenty of flu- (SPCC) Plan
always filled with water. ids and take rest breaks PCB’s – Management 4
• Use only fire resistant during outdoor activities. and Compliance
artificial trees. • Pace yourself when
shoveling snow and use
Lights and Electrical proper lifting techniques.
Safety
• Holiday lights, extension Driving Safety
cords and other electric • Maintain your vehicle in
decorations should be in good mechanical condi-
good condition and not tion, ensure your tires
overloaded. are properly inflated and
Free Chemicals!
REHS has implemented a chemical be delivered to your lab amount of chemical waste generated
reuse program where chemicals that • Post a “Chemicals Wanted” request and can reduce the cost of research.
are no longer needed, or are being Chemical redistribution is also one
disposed of as waste are collected, Many laboratories have unused way to comply with federal regula-
stored and offered for reuse. The chemicals from a change in research tions, enforced by the Environmental
chemicals available are un-opened, or discontinuation of a specific re- Protection Agency, which requires
have a long shelf life, or are not past search protocol. REHS collects these Rutgers University to minimize the
their expiration date. There is no cost unwanted chemicals, posts them on amount of hazardous waste gener-
to the laboratory for participating in our website and delivers them to labo- ated.
this program, regardless if they are ratories that can utilize them for their
donating or requesting the chemicals. research. Researchers can also post Please visit our website at http://rehs.
Researchers can participate in this a “Chemicals Wanted” advertisement rutgers.edu/docs/lswaste_min.htm to
program in the following ways: through our website. learn more about waste minimization,
• Donate unwanted chemicals for re- view chemicals that are currently
distribution The redistribution and sharing of un- available, or post your own “chemical
• Request an available chemical to used chemicals will reduce the
wanted” request.
Cold Stress – How To Protect Yourself While Working Outdoors This Winter
With the onset of cold weather, REHS worker can recognize danger signs. “Take necessary precautions to
is reminding employees to take nec- • Drink warm, sweet beverages
essary precautions to prevent cold- (sugar water, sports-type drinks) prevent cold-related health
related health problems. Employees and avoid drinks with caffeine problems.”
who are required to spend prolonged (coffee, tea, sodas or hot chocolate)
time outdoors during their workday or alcohol. New Jersey Public Employees Occu-
should follow these cold weather tips: • Eat warm, high-calorie foods such pational Safety and Health Program
as hot pasta dishes. (PEOSH) has information on how to
• When possible, try to schedule out- identify symptoms of cold stress and
door work for the warmest part of Individuals taking certain medications, how to protect yourself. The following
the day (between the hours of 10am are in poor physical condition, or have is a link to the PEOSH outdoor work
to 2pm). a pre-existing medical condition (i.e. guidelines:
• Wear loose fitting, layered clothing. diabetes, hypertension or cardiovas- http://www.state.nj.us/health/eoh/
• Avoid exhaustion or fatigue be- cular disease) may be more suscepti- peoshweb/Outdoor.pdf
cause energy is needed to keep ble to cold related health issues. If you have questions about how to
muscles warm. These individuals should consult their work safely in cold temperatures,
• Use the buddy system - work in physician or Occupational Health for please talk to your supervisor or con-
pairs, when possible, so that one further guidance. tact REHS.
Reproductive and Developmental Health Assessments
REHS conducts workplace • Identifies the available resources informed decision, with their personal
assessments to identify and evaluate • Establishes an assessment obstetrician, about their continued
potential health and safety issues as process work or learning activities.
part of its occupational health and • Fosters communication
safety program. On occasion, REHS • Prioritizes recommendations Any student, faculty, or staff member
also receives workplace assessment who is pregnant, has a reproductive
requests from employees with Participation in this policy is strictly and developmental health concern, or
reproductive or developmental health voluntary, and is intended to provide works with known mutagenic, terato-
concerns. the student, faculty, or staff member genic, or carcinogenic agents may
with information about potential contact REHS at (732) 445-2550 to
The University is in the process of reproductive health issues associated request an assessment. A copy of the
finalizing a reproductive and with their University environment, as finalized policy will be available for
developmental health policy that well as recommended control review on the REHS website in Janu-
includes the following components: measures, so they can make an ary 2005.
Laser Safety Program
components. The hazards associated
The word “laser” is an acronym for with a laser are dependent upon the Z136.1-2000 Standard for the Safe
Light Amplification by the Stimulated beam’s output energy, operating Use of Lasers and the ANSI Z136.5-
Emission of Radiation. Lasers pro- 2000 Standard for the Safe Use of
duce either visible or invisible beams Lasers in Educational Institutions.
in the non-ionizing region of the elec- REHS audits open beam laser sys-
tromagnetic spectrum, and have tems, provides laser safety training,
many uses in consumer products and and is available to assist in the design
research applications. Examples of of laser laboratory spaces and help
laser use in consumer products in- identify acceptable laser safety prod-
clude CD players, laser printers, and ucts.
supermarket scanners; laser use in
research applications include particle If you have a laser system, anticipate
counters, flow cytometry, DNA se- purchasing a laser system to support
quencing machines, Raman spectros- wavelength, beam accessibility, con- your research, or just have questions
copy, and confocal microscopes. ditions of use, and the characteristics or concerns, please visit the Labora-
Improper use of lasers may result in of the laser. tory Personnel/Laser Safety section of
eye and/or skin injury from direct or our website at http://rehs.rutgers.edu/
diffuse beam exposure. Non-beam Rutgers University has a Laboratory lslab_ls.htm. You may also call or e-
hazards include injury from electrical Laser Safety Program that evaluates mail our Laser Safety Officer, Tom
shock, fire, and compressed gas or and controls beam and non-beam Block at (732) 445-2550 or
chemical exposures from other laser hazards based upon the ANSI tblock@rehs.rutgers.edu
NJ PEOSH Adopts Federal HAZCOM Standard
On May 3rd 2004, NJ Public Employ- The main changes to the NJ RTK re- •Maintain MSDS’s and make them
ees Occupational Safety and Health quirements are: readily available in their work areas
Program (PEOSH) adopted the Fed- •Employees must be trained prior to during each workshift.
eral Hazard Communication Stan- starting work. Previously, the NJ •Provide information and training for
dard. This resulted in the combining of RTK program allowed 30 days to laboratory employees.
certain elements of the NJ Right to train workers. •Ensure when shipping hazardous
Know Program with the Federal Haz- •Chemical inventories and MSDS’s chemicals that containers are labeled
ard Communication Standard creating must be updated as new chemicals in accordance with PEOSH HCS and
the PEOSH HCS. MSDS’s are provided.
REHS provides training
Like the NJ RTK law, and assistance regard-
the new program ap- ing shipments of haz-
plies to all work opera- are brought into the workplace and ardous chemicals, please visit our
tions at the University where employ- made readily available during each website at http://rehs.rutgers.edu/
ees are exposed or may be exposed workshift. NJ RTK required an an- rehs_dot.htm for additional informa-
to hazardous chemicals. nual update of the inventory and ac- tion.
cess to MSDS’s within 5 working
The PEOSH HCS contains traditional days. REHS will be distributing a copy of the
requirements of NJ RTK such as: •Labels must meet the requirements written Hazard Communication Stan-
•Submittal of an annual RTK work- of both RTK and HCS standards. dard to all affected departments and it
place survey (chemical inventory) •A written Hazard Communication can be found on the REHS website at
•Chemical labeling requirements Program must be developed for the http://rehs.rutgers.edu/rehs_hcs.htm.
•Access to Material Safety Data workplace. If you have questions, please contact
Sheets (MSDS’s) and Hazardous David Fernandez by phone at (732)
Substances Fact Sheets (HSFS’s) Laboratories are required to: 445-2550 or email at dfernan-
•Training •Ensure that labels are not defaced or dez@rehs.rutgers.edu.
•Request for information removed from incoming containers
Spill Prevention Control & Countermeasure (SPCC) Plan
Rutgers has many locations where we “The USEPA requires Rutgers sion Center in Cream Ridge
store oil, i.e. tanks, drums, electrical
transformers, etc. These locations to have a comprehensive Spill
These plans affect Facilities Mainte-
must be properly maintained as part
of a spill prevention program. In fact,
Prevention Control & nance, Utilities, Housing, Athletics,
the United States Environmental Pro- Countermeasure (SPCC) Plan.” Research Farms, and the Golf
tection Agency (USEPA) requires Course. Each of these groups or fa-
Rutgers to have a comprehensive The following Rutgers Campuses/ cilities has a trained and qualified per-
Spill Prevention Control & Counter- Research Stations are required to son to conduct monthly inspections
measure (SPCC) Plan. maintain and implement SPCC plans: and initiate corrective actions for each
• Cook/Douglass oil storage location. The responsible
This plan contains the following: • Busch/Livingston individuals must have annual training
• Descriptions of facilities and oil stor- • College Ave and be prepared to respond to a spill.
age • Rutgers Plant Science Research Penalties for not complying with this
• Lists of tank and drum locations Center in Adelphia regulation can be as high as $25,000
• Descriptions of potential spills and • Rutgers Blueberry and Cranberry
drainage pathways a day, per violation. Rutgers has im-
Research Center in Chatsworth
• Descriptions of spill prevention plemented this program to comply
• Rutgers Agricultural Research &
measures Extension Center in Bridgeton with our regulatory obligations and
• Information pertaining to spill re- • Rutgers Fruit Research and Exten- protect the surrounding environment
sponse and notifications. and natural resources.
Check out all the links to each story by going to our website at
http://rehs.rutgers.edu.
PCB’s – Management and Compliance
PCB’s are a class of chemicals known At Rutgers, we have removed PCB’s
collectively as polychlorinated biphen- from large electrical equipment, al- “Proper management of these
yls. These compounds though these chemicals
were commonly used in are occasionally found in
materials is important.”
electrical transformers, older vacuum pumps and
compressors, hydraulic other small equipment http://rehs.rutgers.edu/
fluid, vacuum pumps and (light ballasts, transform- ms_waste_pcb.htm.
fluorescent light ballasts ers and capacitors). Ad-
because they were resis- ditionally, a few laborato- Light Ballasts information - http://rehs.
tant to high temperatures. ries are conducting re- rutgers.edu/pdf_files/FMS_Waste.pdf.
PCB’s are persistent in the search with PCB’s. Rut- Proper management of these materi-
environment and elevated gers E n v i r o n m e n t al als is important because it protects
levels in fish have resulted Health & Safety (REHS)
our health, the environment and en-
in consumption advisories. has implemented a pro-
In the mid-seventies, the gram to properly manage sures that we maintain compliance
United States Environmental Protec- PCB’s. These programs can be found with the applicable regulations. If you
tion Agency (USEPA) enacted the through the following links: have equipment, which you suspect
Toxic Substances Control Act contains PCB’s, please contact REHS
(TSCA). This act regulates the manu- Laboratory information - http://rehs. at (732) 445-2550. We will sample
facturing, processing, distribution, rutgers.edu/lsenv_pcb.htm. the oil and provide assistance with
use, clean-up, storage and disposal of disposal.
PCB’s. Facilities & Utilities information -