The
Environmental Health and Radiation Safety Department
(EHRS) is responsible for ensuring the safe use
of radioactive materials, radiation- producing
equipment, chemicals and biological substances
at the University, Hospital and affiliated institutions.
EHRS is responsible for identifying safety problems;
initiating, recommending, or providing corrective
actions; verifying implementation of corrective
actions; and ensuring compliance with regulations
and University policies for the use of hazardous
substances.
Joining the EHRS ListServ will allow you to be notified with EHRS news, updates, policy changes and much more, all conveniently e-mailed to your mailbox. All it takes is an e-mail address and you are subscribed. After clicking the above link, click on "Join or leave the list".On the next page, simply enter your e-mail address and name and click "Join SAFETYNET."That's all it takes.
EHRS Training Schedule for November and December 2009
Shipping of Dangerous Goods Training
Tuesday, November 24, 2009 -- Pharmacy/Allied Health Building B-49 (HSC) -- 10 am to noon
Please call Joan Moctar at 2-0106 to register for Shipping course.
Initial Safety Training (Classroom Training/Formerly known as New Employee Safety Orientation):
Tuesday, December 1, 2009 -- Tuttleman Learning Center 300AB (MC) -- 9 am to 11 am
Monday, December 14, 2009 -- Pharmacy/Allied Health Building B-49 (HSC) -- 9 am to 11 am (University Employees)
General Annual Refresher for Radioactive Material Users (Classroom session)
Thursday, December 10, 2009 -- Pharmacy/Allied Health Building B-49 (HSC) -- 1 pm to 2 pm
***Only one session needs to be taken on this date to be considered in compliance. Course can also be taken online.***
Please contact Kisha Grady at kgrady@temple.edu to register for courses. Please note that anyone arriving to a session fifteen or more minutes late will be required to reschedule.
As of July 1, 2009, all HSC EHRS training courses will be held in the EHRS Conference Room (Room B-49 of the Pharmacy/Allied Health Building). Classes will no longer be held in the Student Faculty Center.[10/26/09]
New Chemicals Available for Redistribution
One of the many methods that EHRS uses to reduce waste is Chemical Redistribution. This means that EHRS will take unused and unexpired chemicals from one lab and allocate them to another lab that requests them.
Here's how it works:
1.) Look over this LIST. (UPDATED 10/26/09)
2.) If there are any chemicals that your laboratory is interested in, send an e-mail to ehs@temple.edu. Please include the following info: Name and quantity of desired chemical(s), the name of the lab's P.I., location chemicals should be delivered to, and phone number.
3.) EHRS will be in touch with you regarding your request.
Chemicals are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please call EHRS at 2-2520 with any questions. [09/01/09]
New Employee Safety Orientation Now One Class on Blackboard
New Employee Safety Orientation modules are now under one Blackboard Course. Now, by enrolling in only one course on Blackboard, participants (staff, faculty, adjuncts, and students) can take all of the required initial safety training courses at one time, effective June 2009.
These six sections can now be found on Blackboard under the title New Employee Safety Orientation Course. Courses include: Airborne Pathogens, Basic Radiation, Biological Safety, Chemical Hygiene, Chemical Waste/DOT Security, and Hazard Communications. Once the participants enroll in the New Employee Safety Orientation Course, they will be able to see all six presentations and take all six required tests during one online session.
The only exception is the initial Bloodborne Pathogens course, which must be done in person. If the participants works with Bloodborne pathogen, they are asked to attend the classroom version of New Employee Safety Orientation. The classroom version will still take place once a month on Main Campus and once a month on the Health Science Campus. Exact training dates can be found on the EHRS website.
UCLA Fined $31,875 After Fatal Lab Accident
UCLA was issued a $31,875 fine after an investigation into a fatal laboratory fire that killed a chemistry department researcher. The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health report cited three “serious” violations, including training deficiencies and the lack of personal protective equipment.
Sheharbano "Sheri" Sangji was attempting to transfer t-butyl lithium when the plastic syringe she was using broke apart, exposing the chemical to air and causing it to ignite. Ms. Sangji’s synthetic sweater and the rubber gloves she was wearing caught on fire, causing her to receive second-and-third degree burns over 43% of her body. Ms. Sangji was not wearing a lab coat when the accident occurred on December 29, 2008. She died eighteen days later.
EHRS is requesting that any individual or department that is currently purchasing tax-free Ethyl Alcohol (190 and 200 proof) contact David McDonough via email at this address. [2/17/09]
Going on a Temple Business Trip? Think Twice About What You're Taking With You
What does a Temple business trip and Temple Environmental Health and Radiation Safety (EHRS) have in common? Read on, my friend. If you are taking supplies with you on your Temple business trip that may have some sort of transportation restrictions, then we need to talk. Seriously, we DO need to talk.
These days, a lot of government agencies like the Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the United States Postal Service (USPS) to name a few, are involved in creating rules on how certain materials can or cannot be shipped. This would include attempting to ship any item that is covered by specific transportation regulations by a courier such as FedEx, UPS, DHL, etc. This also includes attempting to transport such items in luggage or as checked packages on passenger aircraft.
Can this really be a problem? Well, I’m glad that you asked. Temple University has recently been cited and fined by the FAA when an employee on a university business trip checked luggage/packages onto a passenger airline that contained items that required specific transportation preparation and handling rules be followed.
So, if you plan on shipping anything that could be covered by the various transportation regulations, you need to attend training given by EHRS in order to ship your items legally and safely. Please contact Joan deVastey of EHRS, at 2-0106. Contact Ms. deVastey as soon as you know you want to ship something to allow sufficient time to determine your training status and how the package should be prepared and documented. In fact, even if you have attended the DOT course on shipping, you should still contact EHRS prior to making that shipment. Doing so will save you time and money, will ensure that your shipment arrives in good condition, and will help to prevent Temple University from receiving fines for improp
erly executed shipments.
New Chemical Inventory Tracking System Announced, Training Courses Scheduled
The United States Department of Homeland Security requires that universities have a current and accurate inventory of Chemicals of Interest. As part of this requirement, Temple University must immediately report when a threshold quantity has been reached. In addition, the City of Philadelphia Fire Code requires that Chemical Inventory and Material Safety Data Sheets be readily available to emergency responders. To comply with these regulations, Environmental Health & Radiation Safety is pleased to introduce the Chemical Environmental Management System (CEMS).
In the past, EHRS has required that Chemical Inventories be entered on a spreadsheet and submitted annually via e-mail. CEMS replaces this; you will now be able to manage your own inventory in real-time, without the need to compile and submit a separate inventory to EHRS. CEMS is the only software that would be used to track your chemical inventory.
For more information and a list of scheduled training dates, click here. [10/23/08]
Reporting Safety Concerns
The University expects that everyone who works with radioactive materials will raise concerns of unsafe practices, violations of regulatory requirements, or University policies associated with the use of radioactive materials. Such concerns may be reported to the Environmental Health and Radiation Safety Department, the Radiation Safety Committee, Temple University Management, the NRC, or the PADEP. There will be no discrimination or retaliation against any employee who reports such concerns.
Anyone who attempts to discriminate or retaliate against an employee for reporting
such concerns will be referred to appropriate administrative officials for
disciplinary action, up to and including termination.
During normal business hours you may reach the Environmental Health and Radiation
Safety Department at (215) 707-2520. After hours you can reach a member of
the Radiation Safety Department through the Temple Hospital Page Operator at
(215) 707-4545.
EHRS Training Schedule for November and December 2009 
