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Lab Safety Advisor

A FREE e-mail newsletter that offers tips, advice, and Q & As from Terry Jo Gile, MT (ASCP), MA, Ed.

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Lab Safety Advisor

Issue 52, December 26, 2006

• Planning for a year’s worth of safety training

  The New Year is right around the corner, and it is time to think about your safety training...

Issue 51, December 19, 2006

• Keeping your seat: Chairs and fall hazards

  One of the main culprits of falls is the chair you sit on, according to the National Safety Council.

Issue 50, December 12, 2006

• Shiftwork safety measures for laboratories

  The issue for employees who work nights or nontraditional hours is that their work schedules force...

Issue 49, December 5, 2006

• Checking for musculoskeletal injury risks

  Are your employees at risk for a musculoskeletal injury? Taking corrective action now can save time...

Issue 48, November 28, 2006

• Q: Can lens cleaners harm the coatings on safety eyewear?

  A: It is not whether the cleaner has silicone or not. It is the acidity of the cleaner that can...

Issue 47, November 22, 2006

• Q: What causes latex allergies?

  A: Allergenic proteins from rubber trees used to produce natural rubber latex are the source of...

Issue 46, November 14, 2006

• Eyewash station compliance

  When selecting an eyewash station for your laboratory, you need to know the American National...

Issue 45, November 7, 2006

• Monitoring computer-screen ergonomics

  A too-close computer monitor can contribute to nighttime blindness, a condition that makes focusing...

Issue 44, November 1, 2006

• Earplug safety

  As more and more equipment and mechanical devices enter the lab workplace, the noise factor becomes...

Issue 43, October 24, 2006

• Have a plan for training in labs

  At the very heart of any safety training program is the core culture of the facility in general and...

Issue 42, October 17, 2006

• Q: How would you train employees on using an MSDS?

  A: Within ten days of employment, or when a new hazardous chemical is introduced, each employee...

Issue 41, October 10, 2006

• Fire extinguisher training

  Fire extinguisher training is always a cause for concern since the laboratory may have a difficult...

Issue 40, October 3, 2006

• Q & A: Does an employee's age play a role in the success or failure of training?

  It may. People of different ages learn differently, or may exhibit varying preferences in receipt...

Issue 35, August 29, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Performing a chemical inventory more than just best practice

  When storing chemicals it is wise to do a thorough chemical inventory to determine just what you...

Issue 32, August 7, 2006

• Safety with sharps in the lab

  Sharps containers come in all colors, shapes, and sizes. Here is a guide to their safe use.

Issue 31, August 1, 2006

• How the CDC can help your OSHA compliance plan

  Did you know that bookmarking key CDC documents in your browser could win you points during an OSHA...

Issue 30, July 25, 2006

• Safety Lady FAQs

  While not considered "virtual", the Safety Lady is available to answer your safety related...

Issue 29, July 18, 2006

• Protect staff from bloodborne pathogens

  The OSHA bloodborne pathogen standard has been in effect since 1992 and covers all lab employees...

Issue 28, July 11, 2006

• Hygiene a summer safety issue in the lab

  Hygiene a summer safety issue in the lab

Issue 27, July 4, 2006

• Compressed gases a hazard in the lab

  The month of July is Fireworks Safety Month. The lab isn't known as a fireworks factory, but it...

• Compressed gases a hazard in the lab

  The month of July is Fireworks Safety Month. The lab isn't known as a fireworks factory, but it...

• Fire safety training for the lab

  Does your fire safety program incorporate live presentations? Fire safety is a broad topic, and one...

Issue 26, June 27, 2006

• Try these fire safety training ideas

  Does your fire safety program incorporate live presentations? Fire safety is a broad topic, and one...

Issue 25, June 20, 2006

• Q&A: How can I make training for lab staff more exciting?

  Make it interactive and make it relevant. Public health associations such as the American Red Cross...

Issue 24, June 13, 2006

• Common sense rules safety in the lab

  If you don't have an area dedicated to lab safety, how about holding a lab safety poster design...

Issue 23, June 6, 2006

• Ergonomics and the lab workstation:Part Three

  The College of American Pathologists requires that you have an ergonomics plan; however, it doesn't...

Issue 22, May 30, 2006

• Ergonomics and the Lab Workstation:Part Two

  Biosafety cabinets and laboratory workbenches present similar ergonomic hazards, mostly due to lack...

Issue 21, May 23, 2006

• Ergonomics and the Lab Workstation:Part One

  Although keyboard and mouse injuries are probably the most common repetitive motion injuries, such...

Issue 20, May 16, 2006

• How does OSHA define 'confined space' in the lab?

  Areas in the laboratory may fit OSHA's definition of confined space. However, the decision must be...

Issue 19, July 12, 2006

• Q: Are lab employees required to wear PPE?

  Yes. Under the chemical hygiene and bloodborne pathogen standards mandated by OSHA, PPE must be...

• Lab safety quick tip

  Remove laboratory coats immediately upon significant contamination. Do not resume work before...

Issue 18, May 2, 2006

• Maintaining safety in the lab’s AP suite

  Maintaining safety in the lab’s AP suite

Issue 17, April 24, 2006

• Create a waste disposal program for your lab

  Create a waste disposal program that specifies how waste is to be collected, segregated, stored...

Issue 11, March 14, 2006

• Are there conflicting regulations for shipping infectious substances?

  The College of American Pathologists (CAP) rules for mailing diagnostic speciments say only to...

Issue 8, February 21, 2006

• Don't underestimate the importance of ergonomics

  Many work and everyday situations are hazardous to our health. Musculoskeletal illnesses such as...

Issue 7, February 14, 2006

• Employee exposure to hazardous chemicals such as formalin and xylene must be mon

  Employee exposure to hazardous chemicals such as formalin and xylene must be monitored annually by...

• Employee exposure to hazardous chemicals must be monitored annually

  Employee exposure to hazardous chemicals such as formalin and xylene must be monitored annually by...

Issue 2, January 10, 2006

• Update: ANSI/AIHA standards on lab ventilation

  The ANSI/AIHA Z9.5-2003 standard on lab ventilation has been completely revised since it was last...