What Massachusetts Labs Need to Know About State Fire Code Update

  |  June 26, 2023

Effective December 9, 2022, Massachusetts amended the state Comprehensive Fire Safety Code 527 CMR 1.00 (Fire Safety Code) to adopt the 2021 edition of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1 and added Massachusetts-specific amendments. Chapter 26 of the Fire Safety Code requires authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs – Fire Department) to obtain additional documentation from existing...
Read More

Prepare for Updated Standards by Improving Your Ethylene Oxide (EtO) Management Plan

  |  April 13, 2023

Ethylene oxide (EtO) plays a critical role in manufacturing and medical device sterilization. However, this antimicrobial pesticide is also a carcinogenic agent that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers to be more dangerous over long-term exposures than was recognized in the past. As a result, EPA recently proposed revisions to its National Emission Standards...
Read More

Commissioning is Critical to Validating Containment in the Biosafety Level-3 (BSL-3) Environment

  |  November 3, 2021

Design standards, biosafety level criteria, and performance requirements are continually evolving to keep pace with the rapidly changing technologies used in Biosafety Level-3 (BSL-3) laboratories. For BSL-3 laboratory mechanical systems, the ventilation and specific design features are vital to containment and protecting workers, the community, and critical research. Commissioning is an essential risk management strategy...
Read More

Successful Laboratory Energy Reduction Programs Start with
Buy-In

  |  February 24, 2021

While laboratories present a significant opportunity for energy savings, executing a successful energy saving program is challenging. This is largely due to the complexity of the environments and the sensitive operations being performed combined with the need to prioritize and ensure safety. Correctly qualifying laboratory spaces for energy conservation measures (ECM) such as occupied ventilation...
Read More

Research with SARS-CoV-2: Safety Considerations for BSL-2 and BSL-2+ Laboratories

  |  August 25, 2020

Research into therapies and vaccines for COVID-19 is exploding across the globe. Laboratories looking to begin research involving SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, must rapidly assess whether their facilities, policies and training are sufficient to protect their employees and the surrounding community. SARS-CoV-2 is a new pathogen and we learn more about it every...
Read More

Successful Strategies for Creating a Culture of Laboratory Safety

  |  March 2, 2020

It’s been over 10 years since the tragic death of a staff research assistant in the chemistry department at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Devastating and high-profile laboratory accidents such as this have elevated safety concerns for academic and biotech research facilities in recent years, driving many to seek ways make safety an...
Read More

EHS Essentials for Biotech Start-Ups

  |  February 11, 2020

There are a lot of decisions that go into launching a biotech start-up, but one of the most important for the long-term success of your new company is the decision to establish a culture of safety. This is best done through the clear and intentional development of an environmental health and safety (EHS) program. Not...
Read More

How to Investigate and Prevent Accidents in Research Laboratories

  |  November 14, 2019

With the proper training, engineering controls and administrative precautions, laboratory safety risks can be effectively managed. However, accidents can and do happen. Accidents, while unfortunate, present an opportunity to learn and improve the performance of a laboratory safety program. The investigation must be carefully and thoughtfully executed to gain the full benefits of an accident...
Read More

The Importance of Tabletop Exercises — and How to Do Them Properly

  |  June 4, 2019

If your biotechnology organization has a thoroughly developed business continuity plan or crisis management plan, you might think you’re well prepared for the unexpected. However, how can you really know your plan will work? While there’s no foolproof way to ensure your research facility or commercial laboratory is 100 percent safe from vulnerabilities and disaster...
Read More