http://www.des.umd.edu University of Maryland Department of Environmental Safety News and web site additions en-us Copyright 2005-2010 University of Maryland http://www.des.umd.edu/rss Tue, 31 May 2005 09:14:45 EST The 2007 calendar year OSHA 300 summary is now available http://http://www.des.umd.edu/risk_comm/wcomp/form/UMOnly/osha2007.pdf safety@umd.edu Wed, 13 Feb 2008 08:14:45 EST Mercury is a toxic metal that can pose a risk to laboratory workers and the environment, if released. The US Environmental Protection Agency is working to reduce the amount of mercury in the environment by working with product manufacturers and through regulatory actions. As part of our Pollution Prevention and Waste Minimization Program, the Department of Environmental Safety (DES) is sponsoring a Mercury Thermometer Exchange Program at University of Maryland. You may exchange all of your unbroken mercury thermometers for a mercury-free thermometer at No Cost to you, for as long as funding is available. The mercury-free thermometers are manufactured by HB Instruments and meet the same standards as their mercury counterparts. Just visit the following DES web page to view the selections and place your order: https://des.umd.edu/mercury/mercury.cfm http://www.des.umd.edu/hw/min/mercury.html safety@umd.edu Tue, 4 Apr 2006 09:53:45 EST You have been hearing the local, regional, national and international concerns about the potential for an avian (bird) flu pandemic. Many experts have predicted that it could happen, and that it could happen here in the United States. University officials are hoping that scenario is never realized. However, as stewards of the health and well-being of the campus community, we must take every step to prepare for this potential pandemic. To that end, a task force was appointed last spring to identify the critical issues that we may have to face, and to plan for what actions we must take in the event of such a reality. We have put those thoughts into a University-wide Avian Flu Pandemic Response Plan. We encourage you to view the details of the plan on the University web site. http://www.umd.edu/emergencypreparedness/pandemic_flu/ safety@umd.edu Tue, 19 Sep 2006 08:240:45 EST Safety Talk our Fall 2007 newsletter is now available. http://www.des.umd.edu/general/news/2007fall.pdf safety@umd.edu Thu, 30 Aug 2007 13:46:45 EST As students go off to college and leave the comforts of home, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning about the dangers of fires in college housing such as dormitories, fraternities, sororities and barracks. http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml07/07279.html safety@umd.edu Wed, 19 Sep 2007 13:46:45 EST The DES Annual report for 2006-2007 is now available. http://www.des.umd.edu/general/AnnualReport06_07.pdf safety@umd.edu Thu, 8 Nov 2007 12:05:45 EST The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a new regulation, the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (6 CFR Part 27) for any facility that manufactures, uses, stores, or distributes any of the listed chemicals above a specified quantity. Colleges and universities must comply with this regulation in a very short time frame by reporting the listed chemicals if the regulatory screening threshold quantities are met. Since reporting requirements are based on aggregate amounts on campus, individual laboratories or other locations are not exempt from reporting as even small quantities must be factored in to the campus total. Read the rest of this notice at: http://www.des.umd.edu/os/chemfac/initial.html http://www.des.umd.edu/os/chemfac/initial.html safety@umd.edu Thu, 6 Dec 2007 10:00:45 EST The Chemical Facilities Anti-Terrorism Standards require laboratory managers or designated responsible individuals to identify chemical materials that could be used for terrorism purposes. The UM Chemical Information Database (https://des.umd.edu/research/chem_start.cfm) must be completed by Jan 25, 2008 for all laboratories and laboratory support areas on campus. https://des.umd.edu/research/chem_start.cfm safety@umd.edu Tue, 18 Dec 2007 10:00:45 EST Every year, almost 1,000 smokers and non-smokers are killed in home fires caused by cigarettes and other smoking materials. The U.S. Fire Administration is working to help prevent home fire deaths and injuries caused by smoking materials. Fires caused by cigarettes and other smoking materials are preventable. http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/campaigns/smoking/ safety@umd.edu Wed, 16 Jan 2008 11:08:45 EST The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has produced an award-winning fire safety video, Get Out and Stay Alive. The Get Out and Stay Alive program is designed to educate college students about the importance of day-to-day fire safety and prevention measures in residence halls and off-campus housing. The program consists of a video and accompanying training kit focusing on three main topics: getting out, prevention, and protection. http://www.des.umd.edu/video/stay.html safety@umd.edu Fri, 14 Nov 2008 11:08:45 EST Several post-exposure procedures for infectious agents are now available. http://www.des.umd.edu/biosafety/infectious/index.html safety@umd.edu Tue, 18 Nov 2008 08:08:45 EST The 2008 calendar year OSHA 300 summary is now available http://http://www.des.umd.edu/risk_comm/wcomp/form/UMOnly/osha2008.pdf safety@umd.edu Wed, 4 Feb 2009 08:14:45 EST The DES Annual report for 2007-2008 is now available. http://www.des.umd.edu/general/AnnualReport07_08.pdf safety@umd.edu Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:05:45 EST The 2009 Annual Fire Safety Report is now available. http://www.des.umd.edu/fire/report/index.html safety@umd.edu Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:05:45 EST Container venting caps should reduce the number of waste container over-pressurization incidents on campus. http://www.des.umd.edu/ls/vent.pdf safety@umd.edu Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:05:45 EST