Welcome to all the new babies!
Since December, three of our academic faculty families have
had additions!
On December 4, 2007, Emma Charlotte Kröger was born
to Dr. Nils Kröger and Dr. Nicole Poulsen. Emma weighed
8 lb. 12.2 oz and was 21.25 inches tall.
On December 20, 2007, Evan Weihan Dickson was born to Dr.
Rob Dickson and his wife, Yih-Ling. Evan was 7 lbs. 11 lz
and was 20.25 inches tall.
Then on January 9, 2008, a new baby girl was born to Dr.
Christoph Fahrni and his wife, Mengmeng. Alicia Sophia Liyuan
Fahrni weighed 7 lbs. 2.3 oz and was 20.25 inches tall.
Congratulations to all the new families!
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IMPORTANT
Subject: Georgia Tech to Undergo US EPA Self-Audit
To: All Safety Captains in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Copy to: Chemistry Environmental, Health and Safety Committee;
and all members of the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Audit Program lab
inspections will take place March 3-7, 2008
A team of outside auditors will visit Georgia Tech to conduct
a comprehensive audit of all campus facilities and operations
for compliance with US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
regulations. Areas likely to be of interest to the auditors
will include academic buildings, research labs, teaching labs,
and chemical storage areas. Compliance issues may include
improper handling, storage and disposal of chemicals and hazardous
wastes, air quality issues, waste-water discharges, fuel storage
tank maintenance, and hazardous materials management - among
a number of others.
HOW CAN WE PREPARE?
1.) All Safety captains should complete 1Q2008 safety self-inspections
prior to the March 3 week audit. The inspections normally
due before March 31 will help assure a safe working environment,
with proper attention to chemical lab safety and waste operational
control. Please complete by Friday February 29, 2008
2.) Housekeeping is key. Labs and storage areas that are clean
and orderly present the strong impression that faculty members,
staff and students take pride in their work area, and that
violations of environmental regulations are not likely to
be present. Clean labs and work areas invite less scrutiny.
3.) Reduce chemical inventories to the fewest number of containers
necessary. One of the leading areas cited in EPA regulatory
inspections is for the storage of old and/or unused chemicals
in labs and shops which are obviously well beyond their shelf-life.
This may be considered “storage in lieu of disposal”
and is often cited as a violation.
4.) Make sure all waste containers are clearly labeled with
the actual names of the chemicals (no chemical formulas or
trade names), that they are closed - except when actually
adding waste, and that they are stored in a manner to prevent
rupturing or leaks.
5.) Ensure that no potential hazardous wastes are being disposed
of in sinks or other sanitary drains. Waste should be stored,
prior to pick-up, in proper accumulation areas.
6.) Make sure that any required personnel training records
(e.g. hazardous waste awareness training) are readily available
for review and verify that basic chemical spill emergency
procedures are prominently posted. If you have trained students
or workers in your lab, you must be able to prove it through
proper record keeping. If you need additional hazardous waste
training, a University System of Georgia “Hazardous Waste
Awareness Training” program is available at this site.
The training highlights the importance and benefits of properly
identifying, handling, and disposing of hazardous wastes.
http://www.usg.edu/ehs/training/hazwaste/
7.) Assure that any required permits (e.g. for equipment
or emissions) and compliance verification documentation are
readily available. This includes radiation equipment. You
may be asked to show the documentation.
8.) Complete the annual Right-To-Know training, if you did
not do so in the Fall 2007 semester.
The GT EH&S organization is available for lab “walk
through” prior to the audit and waste disposal training,
upon request. Contact Wolfe-Lopez Deborah [debbie.wolfe-lopez@ehs.gatech.edu].
See also the above line for waste disposal training on-line.
Prior to the audit, the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry
will also conduct random audits of our research and teaching
labs.
MORE BACKGROUND
This semester, during the week March 3-7, a team of outside
auditors will visit Georgia Tech to conduct a comprehensive
audit of all campus facilities and operations for compliance
with US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations.
Areas likely to be of interest to the auditors will include
academic buildings, research labs, teaching labs, chemical
storage areas, grounds departments, housing facilities, food
services, maintenance activities, steam / chiller plants,
and other areas where compliance issues may exist. Compliance
issues may include improper handling, storage and disposal
of chemicals and hazardous wastes, air quality issues, waste-water
discharges, fuel storage tank maintenance, and hazardous materials
management - among a number of others.
This audit is being conducted under an agreement between the
Board of Regents and the EPA to conduct voluntary self-audits
at all University System of Georgia (USG) institutions as
part of EPA’s “College and University Compliance
Initiative”. The goal of the self audit is to voluntarily
achieve and maintain compliance with environmental laws and
regulations, rather than face targeted EPA inspections and
enforcement actions. Under the agreement, Georgia Tech is
volunteering to audit its facilities and operations and self-disclose
to EPA any violations discovered. In return, EPA has agreed
to substantially reduce or waive the fines and penalties which
would normally be assessed. However, to avoid the fines and
penalties, Georgia Tech will be obligated to develop action
plans and implement corrective measures to address the violations
identified.
The audit team will be composed of six (6) individuals. Three
(3) of the auditors will be from the firm that the Board of
Regents selected do lead the audit – Woodard and Curran
out of Portland, Maine. Woodard and Curran has successfully
led a number of other EPA self-audit programs at research
institutions, primarily in the northeastern US, over the past
several years. The other three (3) auditors will be subject
matter experts from three (3) of our sister USG research institutions.
The auditors will be following the same protocols used by
EPA enforcement inspectors to evaluate Georgia Tech for compliance
in each of the EPA regulatory program areas.
CONTACT INFORMATION
If you have questions about the audit, either contact myself,
members of the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry Environmental,
Health and Safety Committee, or member of the GT EH&S
organizations.
Bill Baron
2007-2008 Committee
Bill Baron (Chair)
Suzy Beckham
Bob Braga
Dian Chung
Jerry Cloninger
Chip Humphries (student representative)
Art Janata
Jim Powers
Kathy Woody (student representative)
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During the past academic year (2006-2007) there were 5 safety related
incidents reported across teaching lab and research labs. The reported
incidents included an acid spill, fire, slipping on wet floor, finger
cut, and chemical inhalation. In all cases the extent of injury
was none to minor.
Already this academic year (2007-2008) there have been 3 incidents
(hot plate burn, cut finger and a fire) reported.
The importance of a safe work environment in both teaching and
research labs can not be over stressed. I would encourage all groups
to discuss safety at their next group meeting. In addition, each
individual should know where safety showers, eye washes and fire
extinguishers are located in their workspace.
Although zero accidents/incidents should be the goal, in the event
of an incident or "near miss accident" you must report
the incident such that follow-up investigations can take place,
as appropriate.
The accident/incident report form is located on the school's safety
website along with other safety information.
http://www.chemistry.gatech.edu/safety/index.php
If you would like to bring safety issues to our attention, you
may do so through your group's safety captain, members of the school's
safety committee, or myself.
2007-2008 School of Chemistry and Biochemistry Environmental, Health
and Safety Committee
Bill Baron (Chair)
Suzy Beckham
Bob Braga
Dian Chung
Jerry Cloninger
Chip Humphries (student representative)
Art Janata
Jim Powers
Kathy Woody (student representative)
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