All fires are the same. Different types of fuels cause different types (or classes) of fire. Fire extinguishers commonly are used to extinguish flames, but not all fire extinguishers work on all classes of fire. Depending on the class of fire, certain fire extinguishers may have no effect on the flames or can actually make the fire worse. Make sure you know what type of fire extinguisher is available in your workplace and ensure it is compatible by referencing the label on the extinguisher.
Safety Brief - Compressed gas cylinders can be very dangerous if they are not handled or stored properly. If one falls over, it could be propelled at very high speeds and cause serious property damage or personal injury.
Proper Storage of Compressed Gas Cylinders
Always store compressed gas cylinders in a secure and upright position with caps over the valves.
All cylinders should be stored in well-ventilated areas.
Avoid storing cylinders in rooms that may obtain high temperatures.
All cylinders should be secured appropriately with chains to walls or other structures....
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Environmental Health and Safety is committed to supporting a safe and healthy campus. Wearing face masks is one more way to show you we care. We understand that it takes all of us. Browse our slideshow to read a selection of staff testimonials on why we're proud to wear our masks. You can join the conversation on Twitter ( @OhioStateAP ) or Instagram ( @OhioStateAP ).
What is your official job title at EHS and a general description of your job duties?
My official title is Director of Biosecurity, and my working title is Institutional Biosafety Officer. I am responsible for directing the university's Biosafety Program that includes advising the university on policy and programs necessary to ensure the control of biological agents to protect faculty, staff, students, the university, and the environment. I consult with the university on hazards and compliance assurance associated with biological agents, potentially infectious materials, recombinant DNA, and other possible hazards in academic and research environments....
It seems that everywhere you go on the Ohio State Columbus campus you see and read signs that warn about a variety of hazards. Just as warning signs vary on topics, so do their colors. Students, faculty, and staff may find the color variations of these signs confusing at times. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has recommendations for the color and wording of signs contained in Standard #1910.145 . Here are OSHA’s recommendations for the color of signs:
Red = Danger. OSHA recommends danger signs or tags be red or predominantly red, with lettering or...
Overexertion and repetitive stress are the second leading cause of on-the-job injuries and accidents, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Whether you are returning to work after not being as active as usual or an essential worker who is working overtime, you can strain yourself from pushing your body too hard. This can happen by lifting, pushing, or pulling something too heavy for you. Overexertion can lead to a “musculoskeletal disorder,” with symptoms including swelling, numbness, stiffness, chronic pain, or the permanent loss of mobility in muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints. These injuries can lead to debilitating pain,...
Each year, EHS conducts a laboratory safety site visit of all campus research laboratories using hazardous chemicals and biological materials. The site visit focuses on appropriate facilities, protocols that minimize risks, and properly trained competent personnel. Achieving compliance is not a matter of chance but a matter of choice!
EHS would like to congratulate the following Principal Investigators and their laboratory staff for making the January - June 2020 Laboratory Safety Dean’s List, with no items of concern noted during the initial annual site visit. Thank you for your continued commitment to making Ohio State a safe...
Hot Work includes any operation producing flame, sparks, or heat, such as torch cutting, welding, brazing, grinding, sawing, and soldering. A Hot Work Permit is required whenever any hot work activity is conducted outside of an area designated for hot work. The permit acts as a checklist to ensure precautions are taken to prevent the ignition of inflammable or combustible materials in a 35-foot area surrounding the work.
Hot Work Permits must be posted in a visible location at the worksite. All Hot Work Permits and notifications must be submitted 24 hours before the start of hot work activities...
Poor housekeeping in the working environment contributes to incidents by creating hazards that can cause injuries.
A lack of proper housekeeping can cause accidents such as:
Tripping over loose objects on floors, stairs, and platforms Being struck by falling objects or slipping on wet, dirty, or greasy surfaces Contacting poorly stacked items or misplaced materials Cutting, puncturing, or tearing of skin on protruding nails, wire, or other sharp objects
Ways to Maintain Good Housekeeping
Housekeeping should be done regularly, not periodically. A couple of good tips to follow include:
As Ohio State researchers return to their labs following COVID-19 shutdowns, daily work should start to feel more normal.
That’s because, even though most researchers haven’t been in their labs in recent months, Facilities Operations and Development’s Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) team has worked closely with the Office of Research and university principal investigators (PIs) and their teams to make sure reopening would be smooth.
“We felt it was very important to keep research staff engaged in the safety process, even though they were not actively working in...
