Campus plans to contest Cal/OSHA fines in November 2007 lab fire
By Phil Hampton March 17, 2010 Category: Campus News, Research
UCLA plans to contest citations and $23,900 in fines proposed by the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) in connection with a November 2007 accident in a campus chemistry and biochemistry laboratory.
The incident was reported to the UCLA Office of Environment, Health and Safety and to UCLA Compensation and Employment Services, according to Kevin Reed, vice chancellor for legal affairs. The university is examining the circumstances that led to the failure to report the accident to Cal/OSHA.
"UCLA long ago corrected the conditions and circumstances that allowed it to go unreported," Reed said. "We're frustrated that state workplace safety regulators do not appear to recognize the comprehensive enhancements made to campus lab safety programs and are instead focused on something that took place more than two years ago. Our intent is to develop a dialogue with Cal/OSHA that will allow us to work cooperatively to ensure our labs are operated in as safe a manner as possible."
Information about the November 2007 accident released to journalists by Cal/OSHA was based on UCLA documentation provided to the agency in the course of its review of campus safety programs. Cal/OSHA is not alleging any attempt to withhold information.
A graduate student employee working in a chemistry and biochemistry lab was burned during a routine experiment when he spilled ethanol and it was ignited by a flame from a Bunsen burner. The fire burned his hands and clothing. He was not wearing a lab coat provided to him, a standard safety requirement at the time of the accident that is now an explicit campus-wide policy. He walked to the emergency room of UCLA Medical Center. The next day, he sought treatment at the Grossman Burn Center in Sherman Oaks, Calif., and was admitted for treatment for burns to his hands and chest. He did not sustain serious, long-lasting injuries and remains an employee of the university.
Reed cautioned against drawing a relationship between the November 2007 incident and a December 2008 lab fire that led to the tragic death of a staff research associate.
"Any attempt to link the two accidents is unrelated to the facts and UCLA's commitment to lab safety," Reed said.Among the many enhancements to lab safety programs since 2007, UCLA has nearly tripled the number of annual lab inspections, from 365 to 1,095. The inspection protocols are more rigorous, listing a greater number of criteria and requiring corrective action and reinspection within 48 hours when critical problems are identified.Materials developed by the UCLA Office of Environment, Health and Safety, including the laboratory hazard assessment tool, have since been used as a template by other universities. The assessment tool, which must be updated annually, requires each laboratory to quantify chemical, biological and other hazards, specify applicable protective equipment, train all personnel in the use of protective equipment specific to lab activities, and provide written documentation to EH&S. Over the past year, more than 3,300 lab workers have received training in the use of personal protective equipment, such as lab coats.
UCLA Previously announced that it is appealing separate fines and citations proposed by Cal/OSHA in February 2010.
Trade Release July 22, 2009 Contact: Office of Communications Phone: 202-693-1999
OSHA publishes new guidance document explaining exposure monitoring requirements for ethylene oxide
WASHINGTON - Ethylene oxide exposure levels and monitoring requirements are addressed in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) recently published Small Business Guide for Ethylene Oxide. The guidance document helps employers understand the ethylene oxide (EtO) standard and explains how to monitor the air quality in workplaces where EtO is processed, used or handled.
The document includes clarification of the various types of EtO exposure monitoring, lists and explains the exposure levels used by OSHA and provides an outline of what employers should do when monitoring shows EtO exposure levels exceed the allowable limits.
"Because ethylene oxide cannot be detected by sight or smell, workers can be exposed to dangerous levels and not realize it," said acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Jordan Barab. "Understanding OSHA's EtO standard is vital to ensuring that employers know how to measure exposure levels so that workers are not exposed to potentially serious illnesses."
The odorless, colorless EtO gas is widely used in hospitals to sterilize surgical equipment. Among other common products, EtO also is found in antifreeze, detergents, adhesives and spices. Short-term exposure to EtO can cause difficulty breathing and nausea, among other symptoms. Long-term exposure can cause more severe conditions such as damage to the nervous system and cancer.
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, OSHA's role is to assure safe and healthful working conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, outreach and education.
OSHA's Role in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) was signed into <law by President Obama on February 17th, 2009. The Act is an extraordinary response to a crisis unlike any since the Great Depression, and incl-udes measures to modernize our nation's infrastructure, enhance energy independence, expand educational opportunities, preserve and improve affordable health care, provide tax relief, and protect those in great-est need. OSHA's role is to ensure that worker protection laws are enforced as recovery infrastructure investments are carried out. OSHA carries out this responsibility through enforcement of its standards, providing free consultation services to small employers, and outreach to emplo-yees and employers regarding hazard awareness and worker protection in affected industries and job classifications.
A prominent industry consulting firm has floated a white paper calling for the incoming Obama administration to restructure the national occupational health and safety debate by fixing what it calls a broken OSHA standard-setting process. Read on
2009 - 06/12/2009 - Naval Health Clinic in Corpus Christi, Texas, achieves U.S. Labor Department's OSHA recognition for safety and health excellence
Region 6 News Release: OSHA-09-615-DAL Friday, June 12, 2009 Contact: Elizabeth Todd Phone: 972-850-4710
Naval Health Clinic in Corpus Christi, Texas, achieves U.S. Labor Department's OSHA recognition for safety and health excellence
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas -- Naval Health Clinic in Corpus Christi has earned membership in the Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) of the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) at the star, or highest, level for achieving three years of excellence in employee health and safety.
"Naval Health Clinic is the first Department of Defense military treatment facility to achieve VPP star status," said OSHA Regional Administrator Dean W. McDaniel in Dallas. "The team has demonstrated excellence in effective safety and health management by maintaining an injury and illness rate 96 percent below the national average for this industry."
Michael J. Rivera, OSHA's area director in Corpus Christi, attended today's recognition ceremony at the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi.
The clinic has approximately 170 Navy enlisted personnel working alongside 144 civilian employees who provide outpatient medical care for active duty and retired military personnel and their families. The clinic also provides general physician care, dental services, radiology, lab diagnostics, optometry, pharmacy services and physical therapy.
More than 2,160 worksites representing about 270 industries nationwide have earned entry into OSHA's VPP. Requirements include a high degree of management commitment and employee involvement; a high-quality worksite analysis, hazard prevention and control program; and comprehensive safety and health training for all employees. Each of these elements must be effective, in place and in operation for at least one year before a company can apply to join the VPP. Companies in the VPP achieve average injury and illness rates 50 percent below the Bureau of Labor Statistics average for other companies in their respective industries.
OSHA has improved workplace safety and health over the past 38 years. This success is reflected in the latest data (2007) showing the lowest national injury and illness incidence rate that the Bureau of Labor Statistics has ever recorded. OSHA will continue to work diligently to focus its resources where they will have the most impact in assuring that every working man and woman returns home safely every day.
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthy workplace for their employees. OSHA's role is to promote the safety and health of America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.
U.S. Department of Labor's OSHA issues 9 serious citations to University of Rochester laser lab following August 2008 accident that seriously injured worker
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited the University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics for nine alleged serious safety violations and proposed $56,700 in fines against the laboratory as a result of an Aug. 6, 2008, accident that seriously injured an employee.
The employee was servicing a pressurized diagnostic device for the OMEGA laser known as the Light Pipe when it exploded. OSHA's inspection found deficiencies regarding the design, installation and operator training for the Light Pipe and the compressed gas system of which it was a part. OSHA has cited the lab for failing to safeguard employees against recognized explosion hazards associated with assembly, disassembly, pressurizing, evacuating and monitoring activities for the Light Pipe.
"While this machinery is singular, the underlying safety concerns are basic and vital," said Arthur Dube, OSHA's area director in Buffalo. "Effective steps must be taken and maintained to eliminate any conditions that could contribute to a recurrence of this unfortunate and grave accident. One element of this could be an effective safety and health management system through which employees and management work together to evaluate, identify and eliminate workplace hazards."
Specifically, the laboratory has been cited for failing to keep the Light Pipe gas tight or provide it with a pressure relief device to prevent an instantaneous uncontrolled gas leak; failing to have the compressed gas system designed by a competent person; an improper gas pressure regulating device; housing the compressed gas cylinder in a place where it was exposed to damage; improper installation of the platform plate from which the Light Pipe was attached; having unqualified persons work on the compressed gas system; lack of eye, face and hand protection; and not evaluating the work area for hazards.
OSHA issues serious citations when death or serious physical harm is likely to result from hazards about which the employer knew or should have known. The laboratory has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and fines to meet with OSHA or to contest them before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. This inspection was conducted by OSHA's Buffalo Area Office; telephone 716-551-3053.
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthy workplace for their employees. OSHA's role is to promote the safety and health of America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and health.
