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Frequently Asked
Questions
Occupational Safety Topics
What do I do if I
am injured on the job?
Immediately report
the accident/incident to your supervisor and immediately report
to Occupational Health Services if the accident/incident occurs
between the hours of 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday to
complete an Employee Accident/Incident Report. If the
accident/incident occurs after hours immediately report to the
Emergency Room or Urgent Care.
I was injured at work and received a call from EHS after the
incident. Why is EHS contacting me?
EHS reviews all occupational
injury reports and conducts investigations for cases that fall
under the following categories:
- Cases where there may be
preventative measures that can be implemented to prevent
future injuries to WMC staff.
- Cases that raise questions
or require additional information.
- Cases where corrective
action needs to be taken to remove a hazard.
- Cases that require further
study or job hazard analysis such as ergonomics issues.
- Cases where engineering
controls may be implemented to prevent injuries.
- Cases where further staff
education or training may be necessary.
All information collected
during the investigation is kept confidential and used strictly
to help reduce and prevent occupational injuries at WMC.
When working with chemical in a laboratory, how do I know that my
exposure to the chemicals is not unsafe?
Refer to the
Chemical Hygiene Plan
for general information about minimizing exposure to chemicals.
EHS can monitor you personally with a film badge or monitoring
pump to determine your exposure level.
Contact EHS to discuss further.
What is Personal
Protective Equipment?
Personal Protective Equipment, or
PPE, is designed to protect employees from serious workplace
injuries or illnesses resulting from contact with chemical,
radiological, physical, electrical, mechanical, or other workplace
hazards. Besides face shields, safety glasses, hard hats, and
safety shoes, PPE includes a variety of devices and garments such
as goggles, coveralls, gloves, vests, earplugs, and respirators.
Can I substitute a face shield for
goggles or safety glasses?
No. Face shields do not protect
from splashes or impact hazards as well as goggles or safety
glasses. However, face shields may be used in combination with
goggles or safety spectacles for additional protection.
Is Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) considered the first line of
defense against hazards?
No. Using PPE is often essential,
but it is generally the last line of defense after
engineering controls, work practices, and administrative controls.
Engineering controls involve physically changing a machine or work
environment (e.g. use of a chemical hood or biosafety cabinet).
Administrative controls involve changing how or when employees do
their jobs, such as scheduling work and rotating employees to
reduce exposures. Work practices involve training workers how to
perform tasks in ways that reduce their exposure to workplace
hazards.
What is a Material
Safety Data Sheet?
A Material Safety Data Sheet
(MSDS) is a compilation of information required under the OSHA
Hazard Communication standard on the identity of hazardous
chemicals, physical and health hazards, exposure limits,
precautions, personal protective equipment required when
handling the material, and procedures that should be followed in
the case of an emergency. The MSDS for a given material is
provided by its manufacturer. EHS maintains a
MSDS search page to assist in
obtaining MSDS's.
What
are the guidelines for Waste Anesthetic Gases?
The National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has established a
recommended exposure limit (REL) for nitrous oxide of 25 parts
per million (ppm) and 45 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m(3)) as
a time-weighted average (TWA) for the duration of the exposure.
In addition, the American Conference of Governmental Industrial
Hygienists (ACGIH) has assigned nitrous oxide a threshold limit
value (TLV) of 50 ppm and (90 mg/m(3)) as a TWA for a normal
8-hour workday and a 40-hour workweek. EHS is available to
monitor work areas to determine exposure levels.
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