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ESD’s Quarterly ES&H Emailing

Spring 2007

Please read the information relevant to your work, and review/discuss in your department/group meetings. Contact VAFissekidou@lbl.gov for questions/concerns.

Topics

For everyone

  • Safety is 24/7 – take First Aid and CPR training – FOR FREE
  • Update JHQ and complete Training before PRD time
  • Ergonomics – learn keyboard short-cuts to avoid injuries from mouse-overuse
  • Safety for summer students and guests
  • Ergo evals for campus staff
  • Turkeys – how to deal w/ aggressive behavior!

For Supervisors

  • Ergo evals for campus staff

If you work in a lab

  • Gas Carts – avoid injury from broken carts
  • Liquid Nitrogen use at Bldg 70 loading dock
  • Good job by ESD waste-generators

Details

SAFETY IS 24/7 - TAKE FIRST AID AND CPR TRAINING - FOR FREE
You are all highly encouraged to take the following classes, which can prepare you for emergencies both on and off the job:

EHS 116 First Aid Safety
EHS 123 Adult Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
EHS 135 Earthquake/Wildland Fire Safety
EHS 530 Fire Extinguisher Safety

To enroll, go to http://www.lbl.gov/ehs/training/courses_register.shtmltion.

UPDATE JHQ AND COMPLETE TRAINING BEFORE PRD TIME
JHQ’s (job hazard questionnaires) must be updated whenever your work activities change, and at least annually – at the time of MIDYEAR REVIEW. This gives you time to complete your training before your PRD. It only takes a minute – go to http://ehswprod.lbl.gov/EHSTraining/Jhq/Start.asp. A review of ESD’s records show that many did not update their JHQ before the midyear review – only 66% of ESD staff have updated their JHQ within the last year. Training completion is a performance criteria for PRD.

ERGONOMICS - LEARN KEYBOARD SHORT-CUTS TO AVOID INJURIES FROM MOUSE-OVERUSE
Many injuries/discomfort arise from over-use of the mouse. Try to learn some keyboard shortcuts to minimize mouse use. Download and print the lists from http://www-esd.lbl.gov/ESDEHS/ergo_info.html, share shortcuts w/ your co-workers.

SAFETY FOR SUMMER STUDENTS AND GUESTS
If you host students and other guests over the summer, please take extra time to explicitly discuss ES&H expectations and procedures. Before training, a person must work within line-of-site of a trained staff member. EH&S provides extra sessions of training classes this time of year. Please review http://isswprod.lbl.gov/lessonslearned/browse/viewlesson.aspx?id=63

ERGO EVALS FOR CAMPUS STAFF
 The MOU between LBNL and Campus states that all inspections (which includes ergo evaluations) are to be conducted by Campus EH&S. However, if there are situations where your would prefer to have one of our LBNL ergo advocates or one of the certified ergonomists perform the evaluation, contact Jil and she will email Barbara Pottgen to get her "ok" before arranging the evaluation.

TURKEYS - HOW TO DEAL WITH AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR!
Advice from Chris Byrne, an LBNL staff, who is also a wildlife biologist, responding to reports of unpleasant turkey confrontations:

“Having been attacked by domestic geese a couple of times, I'm well prepared to believe that being rushed by a turkey is scary.

“I myself have noticed a lot of mating activity among the turkeys the last few of weeks. I'm seeing birds every day or two, and hearing lots of male challenges --and I've seen the males actually seeking each other out for dominance displays. (Calling out until they can see the each other, then rushing across the street to attack/display.) So I'm pretty sure that the attacking birds were males, and probably younger guys with high hormone levels but insufficient plumage and stature to actually face down a breeding male. So they rushed a couple of people out of frustration ('displacement behavior"). If the people ran away or backed off, the birds may be encouraged to do it again; turkeys operate by pecking order, so you don't want to send signals to the bird that say you're submissive. Generally accepted advice is that the attacked human should stand up to the bird and take a swing at it with a briefcase or purse; see http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/dfwturk.htm.

“NO ONE SHOULD FEED THE TURKEYS (or any other wild or feral animal). As with most wild animals, turkeys that are used to people are more likely to engage in aggressive behavior.”

GAS CARTS - AVOID INJURY FROM BROKEN CARTS
If you use compressed gases, please make sure the cart you use is in good repair, with chains to restrain the cylinder (note that for “double” cylinder carts, EACH cylinder should be restrained with a chain. If you find a faulty cart, please see that it is taken out of service.

LIQUID NITROGEN USE AT BLDG. 70 STATION
Please use caution and PPE when dispensing LN from the loading dock dewars. Use the nozzle and shield at the side filling station for filling small bottles. Do not remove this nozzle and/or hose for any reason. It needs to stay in place for everyone to use. Required PPE are long-sleeved cryo-gloves (blue) and a face shield. Wrist-length leather gloves are not sufficient. Cryo-gloves are in a metal cabinet on the wall facing Stations 1 – 4. At least one pair of these gloves is to remain in the area at all times. Do not take these for personal use in a lab.

GOOD JOB BY ESD WASTE-GENERATORS
Did you know that Waste Management randomly samples waste that we requisition from our SAAs, to verify that the characterization information on the red Hazardous Waste label is correct? This information is reported quarterly. Violations result in a “Noncompliance Corrective Action Report”. Over the period 10/1/06-4/30/07, about 11% of ESD’s waste was tested, and 100% of that waste passed QA. Congratulations!

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