EHS Update January 2018
I want to take some time at the start of the new year to send out an update and the blog is a great way to share recent progress from the EHS team. The format allows you to interact and comment directly, so please feel free to share your feedback.
Before I get started, I hope everyone had a good break and found some time to slow down and reflect. I am struck by the dedication, kindness and good humor throughout Safety and Risk Management. In my short time here I have been welcomed into your family and I really appreciate it. I have included some highlights of the work we do to support research, education and clinical care. SRM supports VCU in many different ways so here is a dive in the EHS pool.
Chemical Inventory
| 95% Response rate from researchers | Over 380 rooms with inventory | Over 10,000 chemicals in our library |
The Laboratory Safety team (Larry, Kabrina, Bill, Greg and Danny) have been leading the collection of chemical inventory information and uploading it to the BioRAFT database. This has been a team effort with staff across EHS, academic deans and chairs supporting the effort – including the Vice President of Research and Innovation chipping in. Thank you Dr. Macrina and all the EHS staff who pitched in! Congratulations are in order as we have reached over 95% response rate across campus. We are completing final data entry and are working with the Richmond Fire Department to give them access to the data. The database has information on chemicals in more than 380 rooms across campus and over 10,000 chemicals in the system at this time.
BioRAFT and Lab Safety Assessments
|
337 VCU Principle Investigators |
895 researchers and students to date |
43 Buildings |
BioRAFT is a EHS compliance software system with features that are customized to support research. VCU purchased the system in 2017 and implementation is ongoing with important milestones upcoming. We have 337 principle investigators/labs registered in the system and we are building the lab member database with 895 researchers total in the system (and counting!). Larry Mendoza has been spearheading BioRAFT implementation and is working with customers from VCU and VCU Health. Clinical Pathology will begin using BioRAFT for chemical inventory, equipment and safety assessments in the new year.
The biosafety and lab safety teams are using the software for laboratory safety assessments now. Data from the system will inform areas for improved training and focus. We have performed over 80 lab assessments in BioRAFT since September and the Radiation Safety team will begin using the software in January for their first quarter assessments. The average lab safety assessment results in 2.4 findings. A summary of the most frequent lab safety findings is below:
High Frequency Assessment Findings: BIoRAFT data through Dec. 2017
| Finding | Severity | Type | Occurrences | # of Labs |
| Chemical storage compatibility issues – Intermediate hazard | +2 | Chemical | 19 | 17 |
| Chemical storage compatibility issues – Minor hazard | +1 | Chemical | 12 | 12 |
| Emergency contact information needed | +1 | General | 12 | 10 |
| Chemical waste satellite accumulation areas maintained improperly | +2 | Chemical | 11 | 10 |
| No Food/Drink postings required | +1 | General | 11 | 10 |
| Chemical fume hood – Low Flow warning (below 80 fpm at sash face velocity) or High Flow warning (above 120 fpm at sash face velocity) | +3 | Chemical | 10 | 9 |
| Chemical Hygiene Plan missing, inaccessible or expired | +1 | Chemical | 10 | 10 |
| Chemical labeling inadequate or missing | +1 | Chemical | 10 | 8 |
| Eye wash/safety shower concerns identified – minor | +1 | General | 9 | 8 |
| Freezers have not been defrosted regularly (more than 1 inch of ice build up) | +1 | General | 8 | 8 |
Biosafety
The Biosafety team (Mike, Vickie and Virginia) continue their close interaction with the Office of Research and Innovation through the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and the Institutional Review Entity (for potential “dual use research of concern” or DURC technologies). We are also beginning to work more closely with the Institutional Review Board (IRB) that serves as VCU’s independent ethics review entity for all research, particularly research involving human participants. The IRB oversees all clinical trials (and much more). That’s a lot of acronyms! It’s also a lot of work for the biosafety team, supporting over $200 million dollars in funded research through review, approval and monitoring of research protocols.
Biosafety Program Snapshot: June – August 2017
| IACUC protocol reviews | IBC MUA approvals/revisions | Bio. Material Transfer Reviews |
| 192 | 43 | 51 |
In September, Mike Elliott and the biosafety team hosted the annual emergency response drill for the biosafety level 3 (BSL3) lab in conjunction with the research community, Fire Safety, Occupational Safety, VCU Police and Richmond Fire. A big thanks should go to everyone in SRM who participated and to Dr. Jason Carlyon the principle investigator of the lab. Below are a few action shots of the team:
Radiation Safety
The radiation safety team (Mary Beth, Holly, Beth, Jason, Jon and Sara) has been busy supporting the health system and VCU research. The group is responsible for all regulatory relations, dosimetry, area monitoring, radiological controls, training and sealed source/waste management. The team will begin using BioRAFT in January for first quarter safety assessments and we will be updating the laser safety program with a third party program audit in the new year. Here are a few highlights from the radiation safety team:
- Worked with Radiation Oncology to ensure that installation of the high dose-rate remote afterloader (HDR) at the Hanover Medical Park meets the intent of all regulations and license conditions.
- Met with new chair of Nuclear Medicine division and the chief technologist to discuss the current protocol for lymphoscintigraphy Tc-99m injections in the operating suite to detect sentinel nodes during surgical procedures for primary carcinomas (breast cancer, melanoma, etc.). The standard operating procedures will be updated by Nuclear Medicine to include training on making proper requests for the service, surgeon hands-on training, and waste disposal.
- Held the quarterly Radiation Safety Committee meeting on 12/14/17.
- Performed decommissioning survey of vacated labs in the Gateway Basement previously occupied by the Center for Molecular Imaging.
- Performed required leak testing of all VCU and VCU Health alpha, beta, and gamma sealed sources.
- Conducted laser safety analysis with Larry Mendoza in Dr. Golshahi’s lab in Biotech I. Recommendations were made regarding appropriate curtains for shielding and eye protection. Also reviewed laser safety analysis for Dr. Kinsey in School of Engineering West Hall with Larry. Currently reviewing the laser safety plan and updates will be included.
Industrial Hygiene Program
Valerie Pegues has been busy building the industrial hygiene program to support VCU Health and the academic campus. The respiratory protection program is a priority and we have new guidelines and procedures in place. The program includes risk assessments, training, equipment selection, medical clearance and fit testing. Many of you may have been involved with this program when we host our fit testing blitz events for students in the School of Allied Health. We are applying more science to the program with the use of quantitative fit testing equipment and a robust medical clearance program.
Exposure assessment focuses on the identification and measurement of workplace hazards. It is an essential “front end” to any health and safety program. Information and data on potential exposures can guide the efficient application of resources. VCU has robust anesthetic gas monitoring programs for both VCU Health and in support grant funded animal research. We have performed risk assessments in facilities, in research labs, animal research and at VCU Health. Valerie’s work was able to identify and control a potential anesthetic gas exposure in a research lab in Kontos. In addition, we have performed noise exposure analysis in facilities and the Division of Animal Research work locations and provided exposure control measures.