Submarines and Research Safety

Submarines and Research Safety

Does the OceanGate Titan disaster (18 June 2023) have anything to teach research safety professionals?  I think it does. There are two axioms in safety that we will need to keep in mind for this post: · Nature is an indiscriminate executioner: Nature does not...
In Research- Sometimes Things Just Go Sideways

In Research- Sometimes Things Just Go Sideways

Sometimes things just go sideways I was working with a client conducting cutting-edge research recently when they experienced something completely unexpected.  A slight over-pressure in a glass reaction vessel caused one of the ground glass joints to unseat...
Understanding Group Needs in EHS Leadership

Understanding Group Needs in EHS Leadership

This is Part Three in Midwest Chemical Safety’s series on Leadership in Environmental Health and Safety. Catch up on the series in sequential order here: Part One: Leaders- Not Managers in EHS Leadership Part Two: Giving Information in EHS Leadership Forming the...
GHS and Laboratory Chemical Labels

GHS and Laboratory Chemical Labels

I get the question at just about every workshop: “Do I have to put GHS-type labels on all of my in-use chemicals – even the 10 mL dropper bottles? The short answer is, “No,” provided that you are operating under the OSHA’s Laboratory Standard, 29CFR1910.1450. There...
Rethink Respirators In Learning Facilities

Rethink Respirators In Learning Facilities

There is occasional chatter on safety listservs regarding the use of respirators in academic laboratory work.  Students don’t like the smell of organic chemistry lab work, and respirators are an easy fix, right?  Not so fast…. Barring the necessity of making...