1. Department of Environmental Health & Safety
Washington University in St. Louis
Bruce Backus, Assistant Vice Chancellor,

2. Washington University in St
Washington University in St. Louis Environmental Health & Safety Mission Statement
Washington University is committed to conducting research, teaching and patient care in a safe and healthy environment, and to environmental stewardship. The University will:
serve as a role model and community leader in these areas;
continually review its impact on health, safety and the environment;
seek innovative ways to prevent environmental pollution; and
constantly examine its compliance with relevant legislation and regulations.
Approved by the University Council,

3. EH&S Offices Biological and Chemical Safety Environmental Compliance
Joe Kanabrocki, Ph.D.
Tracy Brodt
Protocol Review
Inspections
Grant Certifications
Select Agents permitting
Shipping Dangerous Goods
Training*
Environmental Compliance
Linda Vishino
Hilltop – Mike Clamors
WUSM - Mike Kershaw
Chemical, infectious & pathological waste disposal
Emergency Spill Response
Laboratory decommissioning
Pollution Prevention, Recycling
Underground Tanks, Air Permits, etc.

4. EH&S Offices General Safety / Industrial Hygiene* Radiation Safety
Chris Short
Paul Landgraf
Accident Investigation
Asbestos; Confined Space
Ergonomics; Fire Safety
Indoor Air Quality
Exposure Monitoring
Lock out/Tag out; Hearing Protection; etc.
Radiation Safety
Sue Langhorst, Ph.D.
Radioactive materials
Accelerator & x-ray safety
Laser safety
Broad Scope NRC License
Delivery of Materials & Collection of Radwaste
Surveys & Inspections
Personnel Dosimetry
Emergency Support
Training/Responsibilities
*Program coordinated with Risk Management/Insurance Office

5. Some of the Agencies Impacting Areas of EH&S Oversight
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA)
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
National Institutes of Health (NIH) recombinant DNA (rDNA) Guidelines
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Department of Justice (DOJ)
Select Agent (SA) Transfer
USA PATRIOT Act SA possession, management and control
U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), International Air Transportation Association (IATA) - Shipping & Transporting Dangerous Goods
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
Building Officials Code Administrators (BOCA)
St. Louis Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD)
College of American Pathologists (CAP)
Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR)
Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF)
Alcohol storage and use
Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) - disposal of certain regulated narcotics
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), & local departments of health
Coordinate with Infectious Disease Div. - Infection Control for WU Clinics
Sanitation
FBI, local law enforcement & fire departments
Bioterrorism
Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO)
Environment of Care
Local fire, building and health codes
Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) - Disaster planning
Granting Agencies: Department of Defense (DOD), National Science Foundation (NSF), American Heart & Lung Assoc., etc.

6. Federal regulatory guidance documents for the environment alone
Federal regulatory guidance documents for the environment alone. Does not include state and local environmental requirements

7. Impacts on WU Driving EH&S Organizational Change
U.S. EPA College and University Enforcement Initiative
New bioterrorism legislation mandating increased security, research reagent inventories, accountability, and management oversight
NIH requirements for institutions sponsoring recombinant DNA research and receiving NIH funding
Increased enforcement of building and fire codes by local agencies
Increased oversight by all federal, state and local regulatory agencies, e.g. CDC, DOT, EPA, FAA, MDNR, NRC, OSHA, USDA
Consolidation of regulatory oversight programs (Radiation Safety, Medical School EH&S and Hilltop Environmental/Safety Services)
Improved efficiencies through uniform EH&S policies, procedures and sharing of expertise
It’s the right thing to do - Washington University seeks to be a leader in health, safety and environmental stewardship

8. Hot Topics
EH&S

9. EPA will inspect WU Proper labeling, storage and disposal of chemicals
Use hazardous waste labels on waste containers
Spell out chemical names, including inert material (e.g. water)
Include percentages
Date!
All containers/beakers labeled in laboratories, shops and maintenance areas
Will assume it is hazardous waste if it can not be identified
Segregate containers by hazard class
Use secondary containment
Keep waste containers closed
No full containers or multiple containers of same waste stream
Send in Request for Pickup as soon as waste container is full
Store for less than one year!
Expired or old shock sensitive compounds will be regarded as hazardous waste
Emergency phone numbers posted; spill supplies available

10. Regulated Materials Recycle through EH&S Collect
Unwanted computers
Monitors / televisions
Electronic equipment
Batteries with hazardous constituents
Used oil
Fluorescent lamps & ballasts
Transformers
Mercury containing devices
Refrigerators
Air conditioners, etc.
Collect
Unreacted / unpolymerized:
Adhesives
Resins
Caulks
Solvent-based paints
Solvents
Aerosol spray cans with residual propellant or contents
Parts washer
Oils
Do not evaporate, dispose in sewer drain or trash

11. Preparing for the EPA Visit
Assign a person from every laboratory / pilot plant / shop to be a safety coordinator
Supply safety coordinator names, contact numbers and addresses to Linda Vishino,
Have safety coordinators attend EH&S training
Use safety checklists to self-audit departments
Check all cabinets and drawers
Send to EH&S unwanted materials for disposal/recycling
EH&S can assist with on-site inspections, but EH&S staff are spread thin preparing for anticipated visit and dealing with waste disposal

12. Fines and Citations Columbia University Long Island University
EPA 11/02
$797,000
Long Island University
$220,000
NJ City University
EPA, $88,000
University of Hawaii
EPA 12/02
$1.7 Million
University of Missouri - Columbia
$257,000
plus > $2 Million in supplemental environmental programs (SEPs)

13. Emergency Preparedness
Spills, fires, explosions, exposures
Call University Police at
Maintain spill response supplies
Chemical spill kits, fire extinguishers, safety showers and eyewashes
Housekeeping
Universities cited for poor housekeeping
Lack of preparedness and prevention
Up-to-date Chemical Hygiene Plan

14. Chemical Exposure Monitoring
Exposure monitoring is available for all employees working with chemicals
Volatile solvents and metals
e.g.. Aldehydes, chlorinated solvents, etc.
Anesthetic gases (e.g. animal studies)
Chemical Monitoring Devices
Miran Infrared Gas Analyzer
Vapor Monitoring Badges
(h)(3)(i)
Methods and observations that may be used to detect the presence or release of a hazardous chemical in the work area (such as monitoring conducted by the employer, continuous monitoring devices, visual appearance or odor of hazardous chemicals when being released, etc.);
EH&S can help with detect chemical by visual appearance, odor detection and chemical monitoring devices

15. Chemical Container Labeling
Chemical containers should be labeled with the following when not in their original container
Full chemical name
Hazard class
Concentration (if applicable)

16. Laboratory Apparel Provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Lab coat, goggles, safety glasses, face shields, protective gloves, steel-toed shoes if needed, etc.
Long pants or skirts
No sandals or open-toed shoes

17. Laser Safety Program being established Contact
Dan Szatkowski,

18. Roles and Responsibilities

19. Department of Transportation (DOT) / Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Training required prior to shipping samples
Returning chemicals to vendor
Dry ice
Preservatives, e.g. formalin, alcohols
Any “Dangerous Good”
Contact EH&S for training
New ‘Security Awareness’ training & exam required

20. Fire Marshall Concerns
Small fires and explosions
Hazardous materials
Equipment in egress corridors
Chemical inventories for emergency response
Use HazTrak database
Also inventory biological agents and radioactive materials

21. Issues We Face
Potential fines, management systems imposed by regulators, and negative public relations…
Rapid implementation of programs without the luxury of time to build support and buy-in with faculty and staff
Hazardous waste compliance
Housekeeping/emergency preparedness, particularly in chemical, biological and radioactive material areas
Training that meets EPA and OSHA requirements
Security, tracking/inventories and management of extremely hazardous materials

22. What we need from you...
Support for institutional safety and compliance efforts
Share information with your peers and staff
Encourage all working with hazardous materials to attend EH&S training
Training schedules on web page,
Implement self-audit/correction-improvement programs within your departments

23. Contacting Environmental Health & Safety
Call EH&S at (314)
Fax EH&S at (314)
Web:
EH&S at:
Bruce Backus at: