Every laboratory researcher must continuously address a key question: What makes the laboratory safe and how can safety outcomes be improved?
Welcome to the Office of Environmental Health and Safety
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Talk: Enhancing Laboratory Safety and the Principles of Safe Research
Every laboratory researcher must continuously address a key question: What makes the laboratory safe and how can safety outcomes be improved?
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Safe + Sound 2019 Highlights Workplace Safety at Princeton
Safe + Sound Week, a nationwide event held each summer to recognize the successes of workplace health and safety programs, returns Aug. 12-18.
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Safety Doesn’t Take a Vacation
It may be Chacos weather outdoors, but proper attire is still essential in the laboratory. Standards of proper dress and PPE do not change when the weather heats up.
Proper Laboratory Attire
Remember the following rules of dress when working in the lab:
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Heat Safety: Know the ‘Real Feel’
When planning outdoor work during the summer, keep a close eye on the weather—and not just the raw temperature.
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Improper Disposal of Helium Tank Near-Miss
Recently, a University sanitation worker was operating a trash compactor on campus. Unbeknownst to the operator, someone had disposed of a closed helium balloon tank.
Upon compaction, the cylinder over-pressurized and burst, spraying sharp metal pieces across the area. Luckily, the worker was not injured.
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Fireworks Are Not Toys! Celebrate Safely
In 2018, New Jersey enacted legislation that made “non-aerial fireworks” such as hand-held sparklers, ground-based sparklers, poppers, and snappers legal in the state.
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Lightning Safety: When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!
Recent severe weather in the Northeast is a good reminder of the danger of thunderstorms.
About 25 million cloud-to-ground lightning flashes occur in the U.S. annually, according to the National Weather Service. In an average year, 300 people are struck and 30 killed, with many more suffering lifelong disabilities...
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Elements of Safety Poster a Big Hit at ACS Conference
At the American Chemical Society National Meeting and Expo in Orlando, Princeton EHS unveiled a Periodic Table of the Elements of Safety.
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Indoor or Outdoor, Allergy Complaints Spike With the Season
Shaundree Davis, Senior Program Manager for Industrial Hygiene at Princeton EHS, has seen the phenomenon before.
In the first half of April, pollen production begins to go up rapidly in Central New Jersey, and calls to her office increase.
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March is National Ladder Safety Month
To mark Ladder Safety Month, Princeton EHS is highlighting the essential principles of ladder safety.
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Got Batteries to Recycle? EHS Has the Charge
EHS has been charged (see what we did there) with the collection and disposal of recyclable batteries around campus.
Before you shoot us an email or give us a ring, however, make note of the following requirements and procedures for recycling.
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Chemical Management: New Year, New Look
As a new year begins in the laboratory, take a fresh look at your chemical inventory and waste disposal practices.
Here are some key things to look for:
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It’s Official: Tigers Love TigerSafe!
With over 2400 downloads, the TigerSafe app has become an integral part of the campus culture at Princeton.
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New Laboratory Safety Training Curriculum Launched
The Office of Environmental Health and Safety has launched an important update to the laboratory safety training curriculum.
The new course has two parts:
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Fisher Announces Recall of Aluminum Liquid Nitrogen Dewars
Thermo Fisher Scientific is conducting a recall of certain aluminum liquid nitrogen dewars.
These dewars are intended for storage of liquid nitrogen and scientific samples in liquid nitrogen.
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Online Training for sUAS Operators at Princeton
Princeton faculty, staff and students interested in flying sUAS, including drones and model airplanes, can now access training on the Employee Learning Center.
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Princeton EHS Honored at CSHEMA Annual Conference
Princeton EHS is very pleased to report that we have been awarded the Complete Safety Award of Honor at the CSHEMA 2018 Annual Conference in Baltimore.
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UV Awareness: Beginning to See the Light
While most of us think of summer sun and surf when we think of Ultraviolet (UV) dangers, there are other sources of UV light that are less obvious.
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Need to Surplus Old Lab Equipment? Trust the Process! (And EHS)
A few years ago, an old centrifuge came into a repair shop with no information about its history.
The only clue the machinist had was some sticker residue that indicated it might have been from a lab that used radioactive materials.
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Greening Up The Lab: Sustainable Research Practices
There are many opportunities, large and small, for researchers to practice an ethos of sustainability in the laboratory.
The most impactful of these center around the themes of conservation, waste reduction and resource management.
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Pedestrian and Bike Safety On and Off Campus
As a walk- and bike-friendly community, many of us at Princeton try to get out from behind the wheel as much as possible, especially when the weather is warm.
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Dear EHS: Waste Disposal, Ergonomics and X-Rays
Dear EHS is a new feature highlighting and answering questions related to health, safety and proper procedures for maintaining a safe environment on campus.
Got a question? Send it to ehs@princeton.edu
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Joan's' Pet Peeves: Inaccurate and Outdated Signs and Labels
Nearly every day I see a sign, label or some other type of posting that is not accurate or is outdated.
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Don’t Let an Inconvenience Become an Injury
Dropping a bottle, breaking a glass – we’ve all been there.
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EHS Safety Supply Marketplace Debuts
Need a quick and easy way to order lab safety supplies? EHS is proud to announce a new online ordering feature for Princeton University researchers and lab managers.
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Workplace Injury? Treat It. Report It.
No matter how small or seemingly minor the incident, the same rules apply: get it treated, and report it to EHS.
Wherever you work on campus—in a lab, providing services, keeping facilities and operations running smoothly, or mostly at a desk—there’s always a risk of injury.
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Stay Safe With New Tiger Safe App
There's safe... and there's tiger safe. Launched in September, Tiger Safe is Princeton’s official health and safety app for the campus community.
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Training and Laboratory Access Policies at Princeton
New to Princeton? If you work in a lab or with hazardous materials, there are some basic policies you must know.
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EHS Honored With Friend of Facilities Award
On May 4, representatives from Environmental Health & Safety were presented with the Friend of Facilities Award at Palmer House on the Princeton Campus.
The Friend of Facilities Award recognizes individuals and teams outside of Facilities who work as partners to support the department’s mission.
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Bat Protocol: What Should I Do If a Bat Gets Indoors?
Spring is the most likely time for unwanted house calls from bats, though bat entry into residential areas can happen any time of year.
If you discover a bat in your living space on campus, the University recommends the following actions.
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New Waste Removal Plan Streamlines Pick-Ups
Princeton University has instituted a new waste removal and collection process for the main campus.
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FDA Issues Ban on Powdered Examination Gloves
The Food and Drug Administration has banned powdered surgeon’s gloves, powdered patient examination gloves and absorbable powder for lubricating surgeon’s gloves.
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Chemical Exposure: How Much is Too Much?
When determining acceptable exposure limits for potentially hazardous substances, there are several measures to draw from.
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New OSHA Walking-Working Standards Released
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has updated its Walking-Working Surfaces standards specific to slip, trip, and fall hazards for general industry.
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What is an Autoclave?
Autoclaves use water, pressure, and heat to create superheated steam that kills microorganisms and spores.
Autoclaves at Princeton are used to decontaminate certain biological waste and sterilize media, instruments and lab ware.
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Steps to Preventing Foodborne Illness
September is food safety month, and as students return to campus for the new school year, there are plenty of reasons to remember the importance of safe food handling.
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Know Your Hazard Symbols (Pictograms)
Hazard symbols have come a long way from the rudimentary drawings used to designate poison in the early 1800s.
As a result of updated OSHA chemical labeling requirements, 2016 marks the first full year of adoption of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) in the U.S.
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Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is used in almost every work environment on campus.
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Respirator Use
Concerned about airborne exposures? Contact EHS to request an exposure assessment to determine if respiratory protection is necessary.
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Workplace Safety
The Workplace Safety program evaluates and controls hazardous conditions to reduce the frequency and severity of injuries to faculty, students, and staff.
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Biological Safety
The Biological Safety Program provides guidance to facilitate safe and responsible research with biological agents that can cause disease or be harmful to humans.
News & Announcements
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Safe + Sound Week, a nationwide event held each summer to recognize the successes of workplace health and safety programs, returns Aug. 12-18.
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It may be Chacos weather outdoors, but proper attire is still essential in the laboratory.
