Screen Shots
By Vince McLeod, CIH
Computers have revolutionized our lives. How many hours a day do you average sitting in front of one?
Disinfection Dilemma: Safe use of liquid sporicidal sterilants
By Vince McLeod, CIH
A popular product of non-bleach disinfectants used for cleanrooms and biosafety cabinets is the class of liquid sporicidal disinfectants.
Since You Asked... AAALAC Site Visit Preparation
By Angie Heiser
“What are some tips for AAALAC site visit preparation?”
Breathing Easy: Keeping tabs on indoor air quality
By Vince McLeod, CIH
Even with a wealth of information and today’s sophisticated HVAC systems, indoor air quality issues arise due to many different reasons.
Sterilize Safely: EtO Sterilization Concerns
By Vince McLeod, CIH
The focus of this article is ethylene oxide (abbreviated as EtO or less commonly EO), a frequently used and potentially dangerous sterilizing agent.
The How, What, and Why of Ergonomics
By Brian Lucid, Ken Lepidi
Why bother with ergonomics? The short answer is money. Big money.
Breathing Room: Design considerations for indoor environmental quality
By Vince McLeod, CIH
The following recommendations have been culled from years of dealing with IEQ complaints. More often than not the problem is traced back to poor design and ends up costing lots of money for renovations.
Spine Tingling: Avoid Back Injuries Through Proper Lifting
By Vince McLeod, CIH
There are some things that make your spine tingle that are exciting and good for you, but more often than not, if you experience a tingling in your back it is a sign of something bad.
Application of Ergonomics to Animal Facility Operations
By Stacy LeBlanc, Jerry Percifield, Michael J. Huerkamp, Mike McGarry
Ergonomic solutions can have a positive impact on morale, productivity, and retention. Why wait?
Nothing to Sneeze About: Laboratory Animal Allergens
By Vince McLeod, CIH
If you work with laboratory research animals you probably know that animal allergies are still one of the most common health hazards faced each day.
Fired Up! Safely Storing Flammables
By Vince McLeod, CIH
Some tips and rules of thumb for safe storage of flammables in the lab.
Letter to the Editor: Ventilation in Surgical Areas
By Richard B. Huneke, DVM, MPH
Animal facility engineers and managers should be aware that making anesthesia areas slightly negative to surrounding areas is in conflict with the "Guide."
All Hands on Deck: a primer on protective gloves
By Vince McLeod, CIH
Given the myriad of glove types and materials it is imperative that both employees and supervisors know which gloves are suitable for the task at hand (no pun intended).
Get a Whiff: Recognizing, evaluating, and controlling potential exposures to anesthetic gases
By Vince McLeod, CIH
Anesthetic agents pose a potential exposure concern. In this article, we discuss who is at risk, the most commonly used agents and their health effects, signs and symptoms of exposure, how to determine if your anesthesia operations present exposure concerns, and, finally, what to do to minimize or eliminate exposures.
Ready for Your Close-Up?
By Vince McLeod, CIH
The How, When, and What for a Meaningful Lab Safety Audit
Wasting Away in Laboritaville
By Vince McLeod, CIH
Mixing incompatible chemical wastes can be hazardous to your health.
Take This Jar and Shelve It
By Vince McLeod, CIH
Good rules of thumb for chemical handling and storage in the lab
Lucy in the Lab with Diamonds
By Vince McLeod, CIH, Glenn R. Ketcham, CIH
Discussion on the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) hazard diamond, sometimes referred to as the fire diamond, and how to decipher the information it contains.
Making Sense of MSDS – the Foundation of Safe Chemical Management
By Vince McLeod, CIH, Glenn R. Ketcham, CIH
A few months ago an entirely preventable tragedy occurred when a UCLA research assistant was burned over 43% of her body and died eighteen days later in a hospital burn unit.
The Case For A "One Health" Paradigm Shift
By Bruce Kaplan, DVM, Mary Echols, DVM, MPH
The One Health concept calls for a merging of perspectives from within human and veterinary medical disciplines.
A Little Slice of Life
By Vince McLeod, CIH, Glenn R. Ketcham, CIH
The Safety Guys offer a few basic tips on safe use of cutting instruments and preventing accidents and close calls.
Stay Cool, No Pressure: Safe Use of Cryogenic Materials
By Glenn R. Ketcham, CIH, Vince McLeod, CIH
Cryogens are similar to other broad classes of chemicals. As with other chemicals in the lab, it should go without saying that the MSDS should be reviewed and SOPs developed for inclusion in your chemical hygiene plan.
Tidy Up! Managing Chemicals in the Animal Laboratory
By Glenn R. Ketcham, CIH, Vince McLeod, CIH
This column will provide fundamental information on managing chemicals in animal research facilities and offer initial suggestions and guidance for proper chemical handling.
Seeing Red? UV Exposures in the Workplace
By Vince McLeod, CIH, Glenn R. Ketcham, CIH
Hazards of UV do not distinguish between work and home, and the exposure guidelines for the general public for sun exposure are certainly applicable to the workplace as well.
Take the LEED®: Prevent Indoor Air Quality Issues After New Construction or Renovations
By Vince McLeod, CIH, Glenn R. Ketcham, CIH
Indoor air quality, and in a broader sense and perhaps more accurately, indoor environmental quality, IEQ, has risen to the top of the list for worker complaints over the last decade.