All employees must be provided with effective information and training regarding hazardous chemicals in their work area prior to starting work, and whenever a new physical and/or health hazard is introduced in to the work area.
The following information must be covered:
Location and availability of a written Hazard Communication Plan Location of the departmental hazardous chemical inventory Location of Safety Data Sheet (SDS) documents Locations of physical and health hazards of chemicals in the work area and likely effects or symptoms of overexposure Requirements of the university’s Hazard Communication Plan...
What is your official job title at EHS and a general description of your job duties?
My official job title is OSHA Program Specialist, responsible for overseeing OSHA programs. This includes but is not limited to the Hearing Conservation and the Respiratory Protection Programs. I also have been tasked as the liaison for University Health Services to help ensure that employees covered under OSHA programs are in compliance with their required medical surveillance.
How long have you been with EHS?
I began working for Ohio State in early February 2020. It has been...
Ladders are used widely at The Ohio State University by all sorts of employees and vary in sizes, shapes and styles. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 43% of fatal falls involve the use of a ladder.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), falls from portable ladders (step, straight, combination, extension) are one of the leading causes of occupational fatalities and injuries. With these alarming statistics in mind, safety cannot be ignored while on a ladder.
OSHA has published the following safety tips for using and working with ladders:
If you plan to close a room that is posted for the use of radioactive materials, there are a few steps that need to take place to ensure safety.
Notify Radiation Safety - C ontact your EHS representative at least 30 days in advance of the intended close-out. RAM Inventory and Waste - Arrange to have all RAM waste picked up and inventory removed from that space before completing any of the lab’s final surveys. Schedule waste pick-ups through EHS Assist. Survey Meters - Advise which survey instruments will be removed from the university inventory and...
Hot humid weather can cause additional stress to employees while working, and using personal protective equipment in these conditions can exasperate that stress. It is important that you learn to recognize the signs of heat stress and recognize when you are overheated and in need of medical attention.
While working in hot weather conditions, the body may not be able to maintain a normal temperature simply by sweating. If this happens, heat-related illnesses may occur. The most common health problems caused by hot work environments include:
Heat stroke – This is the most serious heat-related effect. Heat...
The University Laboratory Safety Committee (ULSC) at The Ohio State University recognizes recipients of the fourth annual “Excellence in Safety” Award. The award recognizes three categories of those who have made a considerable contribution to improving laboratory safety on the Ohio State campus: a university faculty or staff member (Staff Award), an undergraduate or graduate student (Student Award) and a laboratory research group (Group Award). Such contributions can be defined as but are not limited to actions taken to prevent injury or illness, outstanding response and cooperation given to resolve unsafe conditions, consistent improvement during laboratory inspections, or any other...
During the COVID-19 quarantine, EHS will be conducting limited-scope remote research safety inspections. The process involves an audit of the lab’s compliance paperwork consistent with the current laboratory safety checklist . EHS personnel will be reviewing the following compliance-related documents:
Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) Chemical Inventory Online Training Records and Protocol review (if BSL2 work is conducted)
EHS also may reach out to customers via email for additional information or clarification before finalizing the audit. Audit deficiencies requiring corrective action must be made in the EHSA system .
Ergonomics is the science of fitting the job to the worker. Environmental Health and Safety has implemented an ergonomics program to focus on the prevention and management of musculoskeletal disorders associated with repetitive job duties. In this edition of the Environmental Health and Safety brief, learn tips to make your workstation more ergonomic-friendly.
Ergonomics at a Distance
Are you working full time at home these days? The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has challenged employers to equip workers with the tools they need to do their jobs safely at home, which includes making your workspace ergonomic friendly....
The health and safety of our campus community is our top priority. Facilities crews responsible for academic and administrative space are cleaning high touchpoints daily such as door handles, faucets, elevator controls, handrails and more. We encourage all staff to follow proper hygiene and regularly wipe down surfaces to disinfect their desk and workspace. If you believe your individual office requires professional cleaning, please contact Service2Facilities by calling 614-292-4357.
Our facilities teams have a protocol in place to evaluate all requests and determine appropriate action in accordance with guidance from the CDC and public health officials.
