New BenchSmart Format Introduced
“I put a dollar in one of those change machines. Nothing changed”. - George Carlin
We have changed the format of BenchSmart. The revised format has been developed in response to comments from our customers, especially the campus Laboratory Safety Committees. As individual responsibilities expand and time commitments increase, the available reading time declines. Consequently, our readers asked for a shorter, more focused and concise newsletter that captures the essence of a topic.
This new edition of BenchSmart is designed to meet that goal. However, whenever a subject must be covered in greater detail BenchSmart will incorporate links to additional materials for those readers who want to have a greater understanding.
New Online Tool - Check Health and Safety Training Status
Faculty members and designated administrative personnel can now use an online tool to check the health and safety training status of everyone in their group or department.
Log into the tool at https://bulwark.umdnj.edu/eohss/eohss_menu.cfm using your “My UMDNJ” credentials. You can then search by department, specific names or by supervisor. The tool is currently being beta-tested on the Piscataway/New Brunswick campus. EOHSS must authorize specific persons to use the tool. To request authorization or if you have problem being able to access it, please send an email to eohsshelp@umdnj.edu from your UMDNJ email address.
Dual Use: Confronting the “Law of Unintended Consequences” in Biology Research
Most scientists are focused on completing their research in pursuit of laudable scientific objectives. However, the issue of dual use research, which is defined as research with “the potential to generate work product or results that could be used for both constructive and nefarious purposes,”
must also be considered. Currently, in the US there are no regulations governing dual use research. The National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB) is one of several scientific organizations working on creating oversight guidelines for dual use. One of the most important strategies recommended by the NSABB is to promote a culture of awareness and responsibility among researchers by including the issue of “dual use” in health and safety training and institutional biosafety committee protocol review. When designing experiments, principal investigators should consider dual use potential in both the design and the publication of data resulting from their research. If you have questions about dual use or would like additional information, contact your campus EOHSS. Dual Use research can be categorized as follows:
Categories of Dual Use Research1 |
| Alteration of the bacterium/virus |
| |
Enhancing harmful consequences |
| |
Confer resistance to antibiotic/vaccine |
| |
Increase stability, transmissibility or ability to disseminate |
| |
Alter host range |
| Creation of a New Agent |
| Host Immunity |
| |
Disrupt immunity or the effectiveness of immunization |
| |
Enhance susceptibility of the host population |
| Misuse of chemical/biological agents and other technologies |
Dual Use Case Studies from the
Federation of American Scientists2
Binders Being Phased Out Except for Laboratory-Specific Information
Changes to the Laboratory Safety Plan can be found on the EOHSS website by following the Publications link or going directly to http://www.umdnj.edu/eohssweb/publications/lsp.htm.
Laboratory Safety Plan binders are being phased out unless researchers specifically agree to keep them updated. Laboratory Safety Plan binders should now contain only the fill-in-the blank section of the Plan (http://www.umdnj.edu/eohssweb/publications/lsp_sec1c.pdf) as well as a notice indicating that the binders are being phased out and the url address of the online Plan.
Refer to the online Laboratory Safety Plan at http://www.umdnj.edu/eohssweb/publications/lsp.htm
Pyrophoric Procedures: New UMDNJ Laboratory Safety Requirements in Response to the January 2009 Fatality in a UCLA Laboratory1
New Requirements for Pyrophoric, Water and Air Reactive Chemicals
Section 4.I of the Lab Safety Plan2 now requires the implementation of a written Standard Operating Procedure when chemicals that are pyrophoric, water reactive or spontaneously combustible on contact with air are used. Examples of pyrophoric chemicals include organolithium (lithium aluminum hydrides) , organozinc, organomagnesium (Grignard reagents), aluminum alkyls and boranes.
A new Standard Operating Procedure for Use of Pyrophoric and Reactive Chemicals3, developed by EOHSS, is consistent with the steps taken at other major universities to reduce the risks associated with handling these highly reactive reagents. The SOP draws on information provided in Sigma –Aldrich technical publications as well as a consensus of safety recommendations published at other major research institutions. One of the key changes is the use of fire resistant lab clothing and gloves to reduce the likelihood of injury due to fabric melting and adhering to the skin.
The SOP must be tailored by each laboratory using pyroprics/reactives. It requires the PI to provide hands-on training before allowing lab staff to perform experiments using these reagents. This training must also be documented. An excellent training video, developed at Yale, can be accessed below. By implementing these procedures, UMDNJ becomes part of a nationwide effort by research and teaching institutions to reduce the hazards that lead to the death a 22 year-old lab technician in 2009.
Yale Organolithium Safety Video4 an Excellent Training Tool
(12 minutes)
Laboratory Specific Training - Clarification of PI Training Responsibilities
"Principal Investigators must be held professionally responsible for the safety of those whom they mentor..." American Chemical Society
The American Chemical Society Chemical Health and Safety Division and others have held that PIs must be held professionally responsible for the safety of those whom they mentor.5 Cal/OHSA has indicated that Negligence by the university and department caused the incident and has referred the UCLA case to the District Attorney’s office to determine if the school or any specific individuals should be held criminally liable6 Responsible Investigators, defined as UMDNJ faculty members with assigned laboratory space are responsible for ensuring that all students, employees and others working in their space are up-to-date with required safety training. (See story above about new tool for checking training status). Now, Section 2A.5 of the Laboratory Safety Plan, “Laboratory Specific Training”7 has been expanded to present a clearer description of the expectation for laboratory-specific training of lab personnel. PI/RIs are required to be more directly involved in providing lab specific training to ensure the level of competency and safety awareness of their staff, particularly when working with dangerous equipment or undertaking hazardous protocols. PI/RIs are also required to document attendance and retain this information. Documentation of Laboratory Specific Training must be maintained.
Packing and Moving Chemicals - Contact EOHSS Early in the Process
“You got to be careful if you don’t know where you’re going, because you might not get there”. – Yogi Berra
Appendix F of the Laboratory Safety Plan1 has been expanded to provide more details on safety measures which must be taken whenever chemicals are to be moved or packed. It expands on the initial guidance and requirements to follow when preparing to relocate or permanently vacate a lab. The appendix also contains links to resources and lists which identify these regulated materials.
The most critical first step is for the individual planning or coordinating the move to contact EOHSS for assistance. EOHSS staff can help in identifying chemicals that must be packed and transported in conformance with Department of Transportation regulations. Unwanted chemicals that are unopened and unexpired can be donated to Chem-Mart, where they will be made available at no cost to other researchers. EOHSS also will pickup unwanted or abandoned chemicals to be disposed as hazardous waste.
EOHSS can evaluate the risks and hazards associated with the move and advise on selecting the appropriate support. This may be as simple as EOHSS moving a lab cart of materials within or between campus buildings. Alternatively, EOHSS can recommend a UMDNJ contracted mover to transfer large chemical inventories in compliance with all federal regulations.
1. http://www.umdnj.edu/eohssweb/publications/lsp_moving_chemicals.pdf
BenchSmart is published periodically by the Department of EOHSS for UMDNJ laboratory personnel. This newslettter will address current amd relevant laboratory health and safety information for the research community
Please email information, comments, and suggestions for BenchSmart to Lindsey Kayman at kayman@umdnj.edu.
