EH&S News
Environmental Health and Safety
University of Massachusetts at Amherst
Editor: Robert DiCarlo Spring 1998 Vol. 4 No. 1
Inside This Issue
Heat Stress
Supervisor's Role in Chemical Safety
Sharps at the University
Bicycle Safety
Pick-up Trucks and Passenger Safety
Heat Stress
Heat is a physical hazard that can pose a problem in almost any workplace, especially during the warm months. Working in hot environments, without being adequately acclimated or cooled increases a worker's heat load or thermal stress. When this happens, the build up of heat can impair worker performance, increase accident risk and cause illness or even death. Prolonged exposure to high temperature and humidity (without effective cooling) can cause health risks like heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. The body tries to maintain a normal core (rectal) temperature through the formation of sweat and evaporation. If unable to keep up with the heat being produced, the body will suffer. Environmental factors in the workplace will affect the body's ability to properly maintain itself. A humid environment, without air movement will slow heat loss from the body by reducing evaporation. Even a mild form of heat stress can cause irritability, decreased morale, increased anxiety and the inability to concentrate.
Drink enough water-
Drink plenty of water before, during, and after work heat stress conditions. Do not rely on thirst. A person can lose a dangerous amount of water before feeling thirsty, and the feeling of thirst may stop long before fluids are replaced.
Maintain weight-
Be sure to keep body weight fairly constant. All weight loss because of sweating should be regained every day. People working in heat stress conditions should weigh themselves before work every day and keep weight constant by drinking plenty of water.
Scheduling-
Work with your supervisor to determine the optimum work schedule to follow during heat stress conditions. The supervisor of each department is delegated with the responsibility to make the decision of when employees can be relieved or moved from duty because of heat related environments. If you need assistance or want more information about heat stress call EH&S at 545-2682.
SUPERVISOR'S ROLE IN CHEMICAL SAFETY
As part of the requirements of the Massachusetts Right to Know Law, Environmental Health and Safety has trained the various departments on campus this year about the safe handling, storage and use of hazardous substances in the workplace. The primary focus of this year's training is to remind supervisors and employees about The University of Massachusetts Policy on Environmental Health and Safety. The policy states that the ultimate responsibility for campus safety is delegated to each supervisor within an organizational unit.
The Massachusetts Right to Know Law requires employers to provide employees with information about hazardous substances in the workplace. There are some things that supervisors can do as part of their job responsibilities at the University:
1. Provide a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) to employees before they handle, use or store a hazardous substance. Many departments have MSDS information in three ring binders in each work area. Be sure that every employee knows the location of the MSDS book.
2. Label all hazardous substances with health and safety information.
3. Each supervisor should be aware of all the hazardous substances in their work area and train employees about the safe handling, use and storage. Supervisors should inform employees who work with hazardous substances to be aware of the potential to expose employees, students and/or visitors to toxic fumes, dusts, mists, vapors or particles that may be a byproduct of a work process.
4. Employees should inform people in the surrounding area about the hazards before application. Make the MSDS available to anyone who requests information about the substance.
EH&S receives complaints from University employees about work performed that involves the release of hazardous substances into their work environment.
Employees should become familiar with the MSDS information about hazardous substances. Be sure to request an MSDS information if you have any health and safety concerns. You can also call EH&S at 545-2682 for assistance.
SHARPS AT THE UNIVERSITY
What Are Sharps?--
Sharps are discarded articles that may cause puncture or cuts including, but not limited to, all used and discarded hypodermic needles and syringes, pasteur pipettes, scalpels, razor blades and suture needles.
How to Dispose of Sharps--All sharps must be disposed of in puncture-proof and leakproof containers which indicate sharp waste. The container must be labeled with an "International Biohazard Symbol." Sharps should be placed directly into the containers and not recapped, bent, broken or removed from disposable syringes. Once containers are filled, they must be disposed of by Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) and NOT PLACED WITH REGULAR TRASH. Care must be taken to follow these procedures to prevent serious injuries and comply with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health regulations, 105 CMR 480, STORAGE AND DISPOSAL OF INFECTIOUS OR PHYSICALLY DANGEROUS MEDICAL OR BIOLOGICAL WASTE.
When Hypodermic Needles are Found--When a hypodermic needle (improperly disposed of) is found on the campus, notify EH&S. EH&S will pick it up, dispose of it properly, and investigate the incident. If it is possible for you to pick it up without injuring yourself, you may place it in a puncture-proof container (e.g. coffee can, EH&S sharps container) before EH&S personnel arrives.
If You Are Injured With a Hypodermic Needle--1. Report the incident to your supervisor and the Biosafety Officer at EH&S
2. Immediately seek medical attention at University Health Services - Urgent Care Department
3. File a Notice of Injury Report
Personal Medical Care-- On campus resident students who regularly use hypodermic needles for medical care and must dispose of these needles can obtain sharps containers and proper procedures for handling sharps from the University Health Services Pharmacy. When these containers are full, they must be returned to the UHS pharmacy for proper disposal and new containers will be issued.
Laboratories--Employees and students who use sharps in their work can obtain proper procedures for handling sharps and sharps containers from EH&S. These containers must be disposed of through EH&S and NOT WITH REGULAR TRASH. (See Laboratory Health and Safety Manual). Sharps containers can be purchased through laboratory supply companies listed in the Massachusetts Higher Education Consortium contracts.
BICYCLE SAFETY
The National Safety Council estimates that greater than 50% of all bike and motor vehicle collisions at or around intersections are caused by both the driver of the motor vehicle and the cyclist. Mistakes most often made by a cyclist are:
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Cycling too fast for conditions
- Disregarding traffic signs and signals
- Cycling against the flow of traffic
- Making an improper turn
Cyclists are reminded about some bicycle equipment that may be of help:
Brakes-A braking system should allow the operator to bring the bike to a safe, smooth stop within 30' on a dry, clean, hard level surface from a speed of 15mph.
Headlights-Bicycles driven 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise must be equipped with a white light lamp visible from a distance of at least 500'.
Rear Lamps/Reflectors-Bicycles operated 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise must also have either rear facing red lamps or reflectors that are visible from 600' to oncoming headlights of a motor vehicle.
PICK-UP TRUCKS and PASSENGER SAFETY
Now the good weather is here and it is warm enough to ride in the back of a pick-up truck. We must all remember some basic safety concerns that involve pick-up trucks. Some departments have allowed employees to ride in the back of pick-up trucks. State law requires that all passengers use seat belts. Needless to say, pick up trucks do not have seat belts in the back.
In order to protect the safety of all passengers, no one should be riding in the back of a truck. EH&S wants to remind all departments and supervisors of this fact. Last year several tragedies in the mid-west occurred because of accidents involving pick up trucks filled with more than 12 passengers each. In both instances each crash resulted in multiple deaths of the unprotected passengers. We do not want to have a similar occurrence on this campus. Any driver who transports passengers exposes him/herself to unnecessary injuries to the passengers and potential litigation for the driver.
Environmental Health and Safety News
is a publication of Environmental Health and Safety at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst,Massachusetts 01003
Telephone: 1- 413-545-2682
fax: 1- 413-545-2600
e-mail: safety@admin.umass.edu
http://www-unix.oit.umass.edu/~safety
Director: Dr. Donald Robinson
Mary E. McEneany, Associate Director
