Earth Day takes place on April 22nd this year and is the day to take responsibility for our collective and individual impacts on our ecosystems. This can take several forms, from sorting your trash you produce into compostable materials or even taking advantage of the school's battery recycling programs hosted by the Environmental Health and Safety department. Many people don’t realize that recycling is the final step in reducing environmental impact. The “three R’s” that shape our ecological footprint are Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, and their level of effectiveness intentionally orders them. 

  • The first, Reduce, has the greatest impact and involves limiting the amount of waste you create in the first place. This can include buying only what you truly need, choosing products with minimal packaging, and continuing to use items for their full lifespan rather than discarding them due to minor wear or cosmetic damage. 
  • The second, Reuse, focuses on finding new purposes for items instead of throwing them away. Examples include reusing containers for storage, repurposing leftover materials, or even purchasing used goods, such as a pre-owned car, rather than buying new. 
  • Finally, Recycling is the step most people will have a history with and involves properly sorting materials like paper, plastic, glass, and metal so they can be turned into new products. The largest issue is people not sorting plastics correctly based on the recycling number on the container.

Spring Cleaning: Ladder Safety and Power Washing

Springtime is the traditional time of year to start our yearly home cleanout. Many of us need ladders to access higher spaces that need cleaning, such as higher ceilings or power washing outdoors. Ladders have been one of the top five factors for OSHA-reported accidents for multiple years. They can be extremely helpful but also dangerous and mixing a slippery surface from power washing is both ingredients for a disaster omelet. 

Useful Safety Links

Virginia Health Sciences: Battery Recycling Program

If you have ever wandered around campus and noticed the yellow trash bins with the recycling symbol on top, you’ve found one of our numerous battery recycling bins! We offer the ability to recycle Alkaline and lithium batteries for free if placed in the buckets. 

Batteries include:

  • Regular Alkaline batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, etc.)
  • Lithium versions of AA, AAA, C, D, and 9 Volt batteries
  • Lithium batteries like 18650 Cells and Laptop Batteries
  • Portable Power Banks

Please do not place the larger AGM or sealed lead-acid batteries in the recycling bin.

If you have larger batteries, please give us a call at 757-446-5798 to schedule a pickup.

4 Respirator Myths and Facts

This article comes to us from our friends at Grainger. In it, they explain 4 extremely common myths that we hear quite often in our EH&S department. While these are not all the questions we hear, they are very common when it comes to N95 respirators and even higher-filtration devices. 

  • Myth #1: I know it is time to change the cartridge on my respirator when I begin to taste or smell the chemical.

Fact: According to OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134, a respirator change schedule needs to be established. You cannot rely on your olfactory senses because taste and smell are different for everyone. If you have been working with the same chemical for extended amounts of time, you could become desensitized to the chemical.

 

  • Myth #2: Employees using respirators voluntarily will not require the company to establish a respiratory protection program.

Fact: Certain parts of OSHA's respiratory protection program will need to be employed depending on the type of respirator being worn. If the employee is voluntarily using an N95 respirator, the employer must present the employee with a copy of OSHA's appendix D or the state equivalent. The employee, in this case, is responsible for selecting the appropriate respirator, keeping track of the respirator and keeping it clean. If the employee is voluntarily using a filtering facepiece respirator such as an N95, or a half-mask respirator with cartridges, in addition to the employee receiving a copy of appendix D or the state equivalent, the employer must also make sure the employee is medically able to wear the respirator.

 

  • Myth #3: Facial hair does not affect the fit or seal of a respirator.

Fact: Facial hair, such as a beard or mustache, can affect your respirator's ability to protect you. Anything that comes between your face and the respirator's seal or obstructs the exhalation valve can allow contaminated air to leak into the respirator; thus by-passing the filters and leaving you unprotected.

 

  • Myth #4: I can use a half mask respirator and indirect vent goggles when working with formaldehyde.

Fact: According to OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1048 employers must equip their employees with an air-purifying, full-face respirator with a canister or cartridge approved for protection against formaldehyde. Employers may substitute an air-purifying, half-mask respirator for an air-purifying, full-face piece respirator when they equip the half-mask respirator with a cartridge approved for protection against formaldehyde and provide the affected employee with effective gas-proof goggles.

 

The original article can be found here: Article Link

The original article's title is “4 Respirator Myths and Facts” by the Grainger Editorial Staff

HVAC CLOSURE FOR REPLACEMENT

 Roof Air Conditioner (RAC) Two replacements have begun and will continue through the End of June. This will affect the airflow on the second and third floors, mainly in the middle offices/laboratories to the left of the elevators, as well as the bathrooms.

Fume hoods will be impacted during HVAC shutdowns. This timeline does not account for possible errors or delays.

If you have questions, please contact Bob Fry, the project superintendent, at 757-323-3167. He will be in Lewis 315X for the duration of the project.

For assistance with fume hoods, don't hesitate to get in touch with EH&S at 757-446-5798 or visit us in Lewis Hall, room 2142.

Ask the S.O.B.

Q: Dear S.O.B.,
I don’t understand why I need a fit test every year. Is this a “Covid Policy”?

A:
Great Question!

No, this is not a COVID policy the institution made during the pandemic. OSHA, the federal government's regulatory agency of the US Department of Labor, has required this for decades now. It is a federal requirement that if you meet any of the criteria in OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134, the regulation covering respirator protection, you are required to get an annual fit test to make sure that the respirator you wear will best protect you. 

For us here at VHS, a great example is that if you have any patient contact, whether you are staff/faculty or a volunteer, you are federally required to get an annual fit test.