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Contact:
Environmental Health
  and Safety
714 W. Lombard Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
410-706-7055
Fax 410-706-8212

December 17, 2007

Responsible Official:
James J. Jaeger, Ph.D.
Director, Environmental Health and Safety
714 W. Lombard St.
Baltimore, MD 21201
Voice: 410-706-7055
Fax: 410-706-1520
jjaeger@af.umaryland.edu

Safety Web Site:                  
www.ehs.umaryland.edu

1. Research Operations/SOPs

The following sections summarize features of the environmental health and safety program at the University of Maryland Baltimore. Full program descriptions are available for review at the Environmental Health and Safety web site (www.ehs.umaryland.edu).

Safety Program

Description:  The Office of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) is responsible for direction, consultation and policy development regarding aspects of health and safety.  The following committees meet on a regular basis and advise the University President, the Vice President for Administrative Services, and the Deans on matters related to their designated function.

Risk Management Committee: The President of the University of Maryland Baltimore has established the Risk Management Committee for the purpose of developing campus-wide policies that will ensure the health and safety of faculty, staff, students, and visitors.  The committee addresses issues related to the use of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, infectious materials, recombinant DNA research, hazardous chemicals, accidental injuries, fire, and general occupational safety.

Institutional Biosafety Committee:  Develops policies on research involving the use of materials posing an infection or toxic hazard to humans, and the management of biomedical waste. It develops criteria for audits and provides advice to investigators on matters related to biosafety. This committee also satisfies the requirements of the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules. This review involves independent assessment of the containment levels required by the NIH Guidelines and the assessment of facilities, procedures, practices, training and expertise of personnel involved in recombinant DNA research.  Once these assessments have been completed, a project receives a registration number and is reviewed annually.

Radiation Safety Committee:  Develops policies and performs oversight functions to assure that the acquisition, use, and disposal of radioactive materials are conducted in a safe and appropriate manner in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.  Ensures that occupational doses to radiation workers and doses to the general public from institutional activities are As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA).  Oversight functions include approval or denial of radioactive material authorizations in research and human use, personnel dosimetry program including ALARA policy, inspection program, and radiation safety training.

Implementation of Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200):  Directories of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for materials are maintained and available to employees at the Office of Environ­mental Health and Safety (EHS), 714 West Lombard Street, and on the EHS website.  EHS offers monthly training programs in hazard communica­tion.  Training records are main­tained by EHS.

Implementation of Laboratory Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1450 (Chemical Hygiene Plan):  Implementation of the Laboratory Standard is evidenced by the University’s Chemical Hygiene Plan.

Frequency and Type of Facility/Laboratory Inspections:  The Chemical Laboratory Inspection/Audit Program is a joint program carried out by Occupational Safety and Health staff and laboratory custodians.  Inspections are performed annually. Spot inspections are conducted by EHS staff as needed.  Office, shop and mechanical room inspections are performed on a yearly basis.  Inspections are conducted by industrial hygienists from EHS.  Deficiency memorandums are sent to each facility custodian.

Quality Assurance Program:  Records of employee training and qualification are maintained at the Office of Environmen­tal Health and Safety for an indefinite period.  Schedules for, and documenta­tion of, inspections for proper functioning of safety equipment are maintained by EHS.  Documentation of corrections of deficiencies found during inspections is required of the laboratory custodian and records of corrective actions are maintained by EHS.

Safety Training Program:  Documented safety training includes mandatory instruction for employees who handle or may come in contact with etiologi­cal agents, hazardous chemicals, and radioactive material.  The Office of Environmental Health and Safety provides training in hazard communica­tion and chemical hygiene, bloodborne pathogens, radiation safety, hazardous waste, and shipment of infectious materials. The principal investigator is responsible for insuring that personnel have received appropriate safety training.  The principal investigator provides specialized training for procedures unique to the laboratory conducting research.

Ionizing Radiation:  Consistent with regulations of the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the recommenda­tions of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), and the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP), EHS has a program for the control of radioactive materials and the radiation producing devices.

Biological Safety Program:  The Office of Environmental Health and Safety has responsibility for the execution and auditing of the University’s biological safety program as defined by the Institutional Biosafety Committee. The program uses the following guidelines as its foundation.

Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL), 5th ed., February 2007. 

Biological Safety Principles and Practices, 3rd Edition, D.O. Fleming & D.L. Hunt (eds.), ASM Press, Washington, DC, 2000.

Waste Management Program: The waste generator and the Hazardous Waste Division of EHS jointly hold responsibility for the proper management of waste.  The generators must correctly identify, treat, package and handle wastes generated within their facilities.  EHS is responsible for the disposal of waste materials subsequent to collection by EHS personnel.

Occupational Medicine Support:  The Student and Employee Health Clinic provides routine occupational safety and health care for employees of the University.  It is available for medical consultations, medical surveillance, urgent care requirements, and immunizations during normal working hours.  After hours, the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) Emergency Room, UMMS Hospital is used for medical surveillance and emergency medical support.

Occupational Health Program: Occupational health monitoring is carried out as needed when associated with this research proposal.  Medical Monitoring and evaluation requirements are met through the professional services of Student and Employee Health.

Immunization Program: Student and Employee Health provides the Hepatitis B vaccination series to personnel potentially exposed to human blood and/or body fluids.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):  PPE may include, but is not limited to, lab coats, gloves, lab aprons, and goggles or face shields.  Research departments are responsible for the purchase and maintenance of this equipment.  The individual user is re­sponsible for proper use and day-to-day care and maintenance.  Eyewash and safety showers are strategically located thro­ugh­out the laboratory area.

Respiratory Protection: Staff are enrolled in the University’s respiratory protection program when respirators are required in the conduct of their work.

Coordination and Communication with Local Emergency Authorities:  The University has coordinated emergency response to incidents involving hazardous materials in laboratories with the Director of Public Safety, University of Maryland, Baltimore, the Director, Student and Employee Health, University of Maryland, Baltimore, and the Baltimore City Fire Department. Coordination with these emergency responders occurs annually.

Safety Provisions for Personnel Working with Animals:  University employees who come in contact with animals or animal tissues are made aware of information, precautions, and available services through the veterinary resources of the Comparative Medicine Program of the University of Maryland School of Medicine.  The program addresses protection from tetanus, rabies, measles, tuberculosis, herpes B virus, allergies, toxoplasmosis, Q fever, and other specific health concerns related to exposure to animals or animal tissues.

Security:  Buildings on campus are accessible only by key card or by presentation of an ID card to Security Officers.  Door postings control access to research facilities.  Laboratories are locked after normal working hours.

2. Facility Equipment and Description

Laboratory and building ventilation conforms to currently recommended practice, e.g. ASHRAE Standards and ACGIH Industrial Ventilation.  Proper directional airflow is maintained between office/general occupancy areas and laboratory areas ensuring that air flows from less potentially contaminated to more potentially contami­nated areas. Fume hoods are vented by way of an independent exhaust system.  Exhaust air streams are filtered as needed and vented to the outside and directed away from occupied areas and air intakes.  Local exhaust is used when and where necessary. Fume hoods and biological safety cabinets are inspected and certified annually.

Personal protective equipment may include, but is not limited to, lab coats, gloves, lab aprons, and goggles or face shields.  Research departments are responsible for the purchase and maintenance of this equipment.  The individual user is re­sponsible for proper use and day-to-day care and maintenance.  Eyewash and safety showers are strategically located thro­ugh­out the laboratory area. Staff are enrolled in the University’s respiratory protection program when respirators are required in the conduct of their work.

3. Radioactive Materials

Radioactive materials are used under the authority of a license issued to the University (attached).

4. Hazard Analysis

The hazards associated with medical research at the University include potentially infectious materials, hazardous chemicals, and radioactive materials. Existing laboratory engineering features, operating procedures, and use of standard laboratory personal protective equipment are sufficient to protect laboratory personnel. The maximum credible event is the spill and release of a chemical, a biohazard, or a radioactive material. The policies and procedures for dealing with such incidents are described below.

Spills of Chemical Compounds:  University policy is based on the prevention of uncontrolled release of chemical compounds.  However, in the event of a chemical spill, the laboratory custodian has primary responsibility for control and clean up.  Appropriate spill control materials are purchased and maintained by the research department.  No unauthorized persons may enter the laboratory until the spill clean up is completed.  The staff of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) is available for technical advice and assistance. The staff of EHS have been trained and equipped to handle HAZMAT emergency chemical spill containment and clean up for incidents up to and including a Level B response.  In the event of any HAZMAT emergency spill requiring a Level A response for containment and clean-up, an appropriate University official will call the Baltimore City Fire Department Hazardous Materials unit and/or our chemical waste contractor.

Spills of Biohazard Materials:  University policy is based on the prevention of uncontrolled release of biological materials.  However, in the event of a biological material spill, the laboratory custodian has primary responsibility for control and clean up.  Appropriate spill control materials such as absorbents and appropriate disinfectants are purchased and maintained by the research department.  No unauthorized persons may enter the laboratory until the spill clean up is completed.  If the biological spill involves pathogenic microorganisms that are present in human blood and can cause disease in humans, the standards for Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens, 29 CFR 1910.1030 and recommendations of the CDC/NIH Biosafety in Microbiology and Biomedical Laboratories will be observed to evaluate potential personnel exposures and to handle waste management procedures.  The staff of Environmen­tal Health and Safety is available for technical advice and assistance and, if needed, will be involved in the containment and the decontamination of personnel, equipment and facilities.

Spills of Radioactive Materials: The following chart describes a variety of radioactive spill scenarios.  A spill of radioactive of isotopes would be considered a major or a minor spill depending on the activity of the materials involved.