Why Your College or University EH&S Program Needs a Gap Assessment

and   |  April 16, 2019

Colleges and universities face a wide-range of occupational health and safety risks and environmental compliance challenges. With so many institutional operations and changes, it’s all too easy for even the most carefully developed environmental health and safety (EH&S) programs to become out of date and out of compliance, creating potentially dangerous and costly gaps. These...
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Mold and Moisture Control During Construction

  |  March 22, 2019

Water use is an integral component of every construction project, and the focus should be on how to prevent it from impacting porous and finished building materials and affecting systems performance. There are three key phases common to all construction projects during which moisture and mold issues are most likely to occur: Transport and storage...
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8 Common Myths and Misconceptions About Commissioning a New Building

  |  February 27, 2019

The commissioning process is an opportunity for building owners to verify that their newly completed building was designed, constructed and delivered as promised. Most often performed by a third party, commissioning provides quality assurance that building owners are receiving exactly what they paid for. This is especially important because once the building is delivered and...
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Clinical Laboratories: Using BSL-2 Plus When Working with Pathogens Transmitted via Inhalation

  |  February 1, 2019

Clinical laboratories, such as public health or academic labs, commonly conduct procedures involving pathogens that are infectious via inhalation. These pathogens present a significant risk because in addition to getting the individual working with them sick, it can then be quickly transmitted to others. To prevent infection, it is recommended that such work be conducted...
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Why Tier II Compliance is Crucial for Community Safety — And How to Simplify the Filing Process

  |  January 24, 2019

As a facilities manager, you already know the importance of maintaining compliance with EPA regulations. However, with so many regulations to keep track of — and with reporting requirements changing constantly — maintaining compliance across the board can be a bigger challenge than many facilities are prepared to meet. Even worse, you might not even...
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Five Steps to an Effective Hospital Safety Committee

  |  January 10, 2019

Whether chairing your hospital’s safety committee or participating as a member, many of us struggle to energize our committees and to keep momentum. The value your safety committee holds for your hospital depends upon many factors, but there are some common themes to effective safety committees. An active and effective safety committee is an integral...
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Managing Asbestos Contaminated Soil During Construction in Massachusetts: Tips for Hiring the Right Consultant

  |  December 10, 2018

Recent Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) regulatory changes have significant impacts on construction sites where asbestos contaminated soil is present. Many sites, particularly those with a history of industrial, commercial or dumping activities, have soil that contains asbestos, often at “trace” (less than 1 percent) amounts. If asbestos in soil has been identified at...
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Emerging Biotechs: 6 Tips for Designing a Safe Laboratory

  |  November 15, 2018

The goal of any early stage biotech company is continual growth and success. However, as positive as company growth is, unless you initially leased an enormous laboratory, you may find that success means growing out of your existing space and designing a new one. In the biotechnology entrepreneurship world, growing and moving on is far...
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Safely Moving Out of Your Lab Space

  |  October 30, 2018

Moving a biotech laboratory to a new space isn’t as simple as renting a U-Haul and packing up boxes. You’ll have specific responsibilities and obligations that need to be followed to ensure you leave behind a clean, safe space for the next tenant. EHS Essentials for Biotech Start-Ups   First thing’s first: determine your decommissioning...
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