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...
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5 Emerging Concerns in Indoor Environmental Quality

  |  November 4, 2019

On average, Americans spend 90 percent of their time indoors — and the quality of their indoor environment can have significant effects on their health and well-being. Since indoor concentrations of some pollutants can be as much as five times higher than outdoor concentrations, indoor environmental quality (IEQ) should be a top concern for everyone....
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5 Keys Areas Where Biosafety Programs Fall Short

  |  October 22, 2019

Institutions of all sizes and types share common challenges when it comes to the implementation of an effective and efficient biosafety program, as evidenced by a recent analysis conducted by EH&E. Looking beyond compliance with basic regulatory requirements, the analysis identified five key areas where biosafety programs fall short that are vital to making a...
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BERDO & BEUDO Compliance: What You Need to Know – and What You May Not Have Considered

and   |  October 3, 2019

Boston and Cambridge are following the path laid by New York City’s landmark Local Law 84. In recent years, both Massachusetts cities passed legislation to require mandatory energy and water reporting for large buildings within their jurisdictions. You may think you know the details…but you might not have considered all the consequences. Boston’s Building Energy...
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Dead Legs in Water Systems Can Lead to Live Legionella: A Cost-prevention Feature Can Create Difficulties in Hospitals and Other Building Types

  |  August 19, 2019

Design engineers and building owners should take notice: small features intended to prevent headaches down the line could be increasing their risk of waterborne infections. Many building systems are designed to allow for future expansion, which can lead to “dead legs” in domestic plumbing and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. This extra piping...
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Beyond ASTM Phase 1: Do You Need the Protection of a More Robust Environmental Site Assessment?

  |  July 16, 2019

Purchasing or leasing a commercial property is a big decision, and you deserve to have a clear understanding of exactly what you’re buying. While your bank will require you to conduct an ASTM Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) to identify environmental issues associated with your new facility, this evaluation may not be comprehensive enough....
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Earning the LEED IAQ Credit – Building Flush-out or IAQ Testing?

  |  July 15, 2019

Building flush-out or IAQ testing? This is the question many project teams ask when trying to determine how to successfully achieve the LEED IAQ credit under Version 4. In this post we’ll take a look at the key requirements and the pros and cons of these two options.   LEED v.4 IAQ Assessment Overview Leadership...
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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...
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