Published February 13, 2023
Lab Safety Awareness Week: February 13 – 17
The Campus Safety, Health and Environmental Management Association’s (CSHEMA) Lab Safety Awareness Week is an event held each February that recognizes the successes of laboratory health and safety programs and offers information and ideas on how to keep faculty, staff and students safe. WashU EH&S is proud to partner with you and enable you to perform your extraordinary work that is critical to the WashU mission!
In honor of Lab Safety Awareness Week, we ask that each of you take a few moments this week to review and discuss some safety policies and resources that help you maintain a safe work environment:
- Guidelines for Working Alone in Laboratories
- Personal Protective Equipment Requirements In Laboratories
- Now you can access a copy of the EH&S Lab Safety Training content online! Simply navigate to the Laboratory Safety Training dropdown and click on the instructor icon.
- Reminder: You can find an SOP Template, Guidance and helpful example SOPs on our website!
Here are a few other relevant reminders to kick off this year:
- New Biological Waste Disposal Costs – WUSM ONLY
Washington University recently renewed the biological waste vendor contract with Stericycle. Stericycle’s rates for service are based on expectations of cost of supplies, transportation and labor for each shipment, and have increased for the new contract period. Beginning February 1, 2023 rates increased to $15.18 per container of waste to be autoclaved and $37.33 per container of waste to be incinerated.
If you have any questions or need clarification concerning this pricing change, please email EHSECDMS@wustl.edu.
- Chemical Transportation Guidance
With many labs moving to the new Neuroscience Research Building, EH&S would like to remind everyone of the proper methods for transporting chemicals.- Chemicals may NOT be transported on public roads, in private vehicles, or on public transportation. Contact EH&S if chemicals must be transported off campus or between campuses.
- Absolutely no chemical or biological materials may be transported on the MetroLink!
- When transporting chemicals or biological materials outside of the lab, use a secondary container such as a bucket, and do not touch common surfaces with your gloved hand.
- Remember to update locations of moved chemicals in the chemical inventory.
- Chemicals may NOT be transported on public roads, in private vehicles, or on public transportation. Contact EH&S if chemicals must be transported off campus or between campuses.
- Lab Closure Guidance
When it’s time to move out of your lab space so it can be given to a new investigator, returned to the department, or even just renovated, your lab is responsible for leaving the space in a safe condition. In order to help with this process, EH&S has updated our Lab Closure Guidelines and Checklist. Both of these documents are available on our new Laboratory Closure, Relocation, and Renovation landing page. By following these processes, you are helping to protect the health and safety of WashU staff and contractors, and facilitate the process of renovating or returning the lab.
For more information, please visit the EH&S website. If you have questions about any of these topics, please contact EH&S at ehs@wustl.edu or (314) 362-6816.