News & Notes - UCLA - Environment, Health & Safety

Volume 4, No. 4
Director’s Note
This edition of News and Notes is focused
on injury prevention and describes progress
made in reducing worker injuries through the
Deficit Deferral Program. You may remember
reading in our Winter 2011 newsletter that
the program was established to address
the high injury rates among employees that
perform manual labor (e.g., custodians,
dining and facility workers). We are working
with individuals in these work areas to better
understand the risk factors and provide
tangible solutions to reduce the risk of injury.
So far, we have identified safer operating
procedures as well as better equipment that
should make their jobs safer.
The information and resources in this edition
are aimed at promoting worker safety to
create and maintain a healthy and productive
working environment. As always, we
welcome your input and encourage you to
call the EH&S Hotline at 310-825-9797 with
your feedback. We wish everyone at UCLA a
safe and healthy summer.
— James Gibson, EH&S Director
Do You Have Minors in Your
Lab or Shop?
UCLA provides summer internship and
volunteer research opportunities for minors.
There are special safety considerations
that must be taken into account if minors
will be in laboratories and/or shops. The
following is required:
9 Minors and parents/legal guardian
review and complete the release of
liability waiver form and supporting
documentation
9 Department where the minor will be
interning or volunteering keeps above
documentation on file
9 Minor receives appropriate safety
training before beginning their work
Please see the Minors in Lab and Shops
article on the EH&S website for additional
information.
www.ehs.ucla.edu
Summer 2011
News & Notes
501 Westwood Blvd . Los Angeles, CA 90095-1605
Since 1978
UCLA Custodians & Worker Safety
Campus custodians are an integral part of the
UCLA campus and our daily work. These dedicated
employees keep the campus looking great while facing
health and safety risks that few people appreciate.
Here are some interesting facts about their work:
• A staff of over 500 fulltime custodians are
responsible for keeping 192 campus buildings
that occupy over 21 million gross square feet in
pristine condition.
• This equals the daily maintenance of 365 football
fields or 5.7 Disneylands.
• Custodians have one of the highest injury rates.
This year, the campus is working hard to
determine how to make their jobs safer.
What are the Risk Factors?
The U.S. Department of Labor statistics ranked custodial cleaning
workers fifth in the nation as the most likely to be injured on the job.
• Primary risk factors are: bending, lifting, pushing and pulling.
• Campus custodians complete many tasks that involve these types
of movements (e.g., carrying waste to dumpsters and mopping
floors).
• This can often lead to low back, shoulder and knee injuries.
Research conducted at Cornell University Human Factors and
Ergonomics Laboratory found that workers with the most pushing/
pulling tasks (such as floor cleaning) had over five times the risk of
injury compared to workers who do not complete similar manual tasks.
Solutions Found to Increase Worker Safety
Armed with this knowledge, custodial supervisors and EH&S
ergonomists analyzed the risk factors involved in a typical custodial
work day. Findings indicated the need for a substantial shift in the way
custodians perform their work:
• By Fall 2011, the custodial staff will incorporate more efficient
techniques and automated-ergonomic equipment (see photos on
page 4) into their daily processes and procedures.
• Changes are expected to increase productivity, reduce the risk of
injury and maintain a healthier workforce – all while continuing to
contribute to the success of our world-class campus.
Continued on page 4
UCLA Custodians & Worker Safety P.1
Minors in Labs & Shops P.1
Lab Manual Deployment P.2
Training Tips for Adult Learners P.2
this issue
Preventing Heat Illness P.3
Ergo Solutions in Bakery P.4
Training & Outreach News P.4

2
Lab Safety Manual Deployment
www.ehs.ucla.edu
News and Notes
In the Winter 2010 Newsletter, the new Laboratory Safety Manual was introduced as yet another initiative aimed at
improving safety for research environments. The manual includes the new Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP), and various
training guidelines and resources that are available through EH&S. The manual also provides a section for labs to insert
their department-specific Injury and Illness Prevention Plan (IIPP).
How Do I Receive a Manual?
The completion of a customized IIPP is required in order to receive a Laboratory Safety
Manual. The Injury Prevention Division has already successfully worked with over 200
departments within the larger campus entities, including:
• Letters and Science
• School of Engineering
• School of Medicine
• Dentistry
Departments that have completed their IIPP are now ready to receive their Laboratory
Safety Manuals, and have been advised to designate a liaison that is to receive the
delivery. To ensure that departments receive their requested amount of Laboratory
Safety Manuals, the departmental liaisons will be responsible for obtaining signatures
from PIs upon receipt of a Lab Safety Manual.
The outreach effort continues to assist with the development and roll out of the IIPP and CHP. For more information,
please email training@ehs.ucla.edu.
How to Conduct a Training Session for Adult Learners
In order for adults to benefit from training or change their behavior, they need to care enough to apply what they learn.
When it comes to safety, this is especially significant as it is easy to overlook safety behaviors. Supervisors and managers
are responsible for presenting a variety of safety training topics to their work groups each month. Questions are often
raised about how to conduct a worthwhile training session. The following are some tips and tools to help deliver safety
training topics more effectively.
How Do Adults Learn?
Adults come to safety training class with experience and knowledge. Tapping into that experience and knowledge is
one of the most powerful tools a trainer can use. Many safety topics that supervisors discuss are not new to employees.
Reminding your team of safety behaviors so it hits them where they live means more than reading a list of expected
behaviors.
Adults Learn Best When:
1. Build on what they already know.
2. They see the use for the knowledge, or What’s In It For Me (WIIFM).
3. They actively participate in the learning process.
Try an Example
For example, when conducting a “Slips, Trips and Falls” module for a training session, you
might practice this approach to training the material. This process takes about 15 minutes.
Have your participants do the following:
1. Write down three ways to avoid slips, trips and falls (see point #1: build on what they
already know).
2. Have the participants pair up and discuss their lists (see point #3: actively participate).
3. As a whole group, compile all the lists on the board. You will have a comprehensive list and this process will remind
people of things they may have forgotten (see point #3: actively participate).
4. Have group share experiences of participants’ own slip, trip or fall accidents that may have been avoided if they had
been more attentive in prevention. Everyone will be able to relate to these stories and see how they could happen
to any one of us (see point #2: use for the knowledge or WIIFM).
In the months ahead, EH&S will work with the campus to provide additional training resources and support. In the
meantime, if you have any questions or comments, please contact: Carol Hastings, Safety Training Specialist, at
chastings@ehs.ucla.edu.

News and Notes
Do you work outside? Are the high temperatures and humidity affecting how you feel? Southern
California summertime brings hot weather, even on the temperately-situated UCLA campus near the
Pacific Ocean. We should all be informed and take the proper precautions to prevent heat-related
illness.
How does the body respond to heat?
5 The body tries to maintain a constant internal temperature by getting rid of excess heat by (1)
increasing blood flow to skin surface and (2) sweating
5 Increasing blood flow to the skin surface means less blood flow to the brain and active muscles,
which can cause reduced mental alertness & comprehension, fatigue, weakness, loss of strength
5 Sweating can cause objects to become slippery, increasing chances of an accident
Why do the body’s cooling mechanisms sometimes fail?
5 High air temperature reduces effectiveness of heat release
5 High humidity reduces evaporation of sweat
5 Sweating leads to excess loss of fluid & sodium
What factors contribute to heat-related illness?
5 Environmental factors: air temperature, humidity, radiant heat sources, air circulation
5 Physical work factors: type of work, level of physical activity and duration, and clothing color, weight & breathability
5 Personal factors: age, weight, fitness level, drug/alcohol use, prior heat-related illness
What can be done to prevent heat–related illness?
5 Drink plenty of fluids
5 Give your body time to adjust to the heat: most works require 3-5 days – so go slow
5 Choose proper clothing: Wear light colors if working outside and choose lightweight/breathable material
5 Try to perform your most strenuous activities in the early morning/early evening
5 Use work/rest cycles when possible to give your body time to recover
Recognizing and Treating the Most Common Heat Disorders
Type & Severity Signs & Symptoms Treatment
Mild: Heat Cramps
• Often the earliest and least
serious form of heat stress
• Not dangerous unless the
symptoms aren’t treated
• You should get treated and tell
your supervisor
Moderate: Heat Exhaustion
• More serious form of heat stress
• It should be treated right away.
• You may need to take a break
from work and get medical
attention
Severe: Heat Stroke
• Serious, life-threatening medical
emergency
• If not treated right away, heat
stroke can lead to permanent
brain damage and even death
Hot Weather Tips for Your Health
• Sweating profusely
• Having painful spasms in your muscles
during activity or hours afterward
• Developing tiny red bumps on skin and
prickling sensation
• Feeling irritable, dizzy, or weak
• Sweating a lot
• Cold, moist, pale or flushed skin
• Feeling very weak or tired
• Headache, nausea, loss of appetite
• Feeling dizzy or giddy
• Rapid or weak pulse
• Sweating stops
• Hot, dry skin looks red, mottled, or
bluish
• Deep, fast breathing
• Headache or nausea
• Rapid, weak or irregular pulse
• Feeling dizzy, confused or delirious
• Fainting
• Having convulsions
www.ehs.ucla.edu
• Rest in a cool, shady area
• For muscle cramps, use warm, moist
compresses. Then massage gently
• Drink water or a sport drink
• To relieve rash, use a mild drying lotion. Keep
skin dry and clean
• DO NOT take salt – it is unnecessary
• Resting in a cool, shady area
• Drinking water or a sport drink. In some cases,
a medical professional should administer fluids
• Taking salt, if instructed
• Using cool compresses on the forehead,
around the neck, and under armpits
• Blowing air onto your skin with fans
• CALL 911 from a campus phone or (310) 825-
1491 from a cell phone
• Rest in a cool or shady area
• Have clothing soaked with cool water. Or,
remove outer clothing and be wrapped with a
sheet soaked in cool water
• Be blown with fans
• Drink water or a sport drink (unless the person
is unconscious)
3

4
Fact Sheet
How many people develop allergies?
Need more information?
Be safe, stay informed.
Health Alert
Lab Animal Allergies & Occupational Asthma
What are lab animal allergies and occupational asthma?
Laboratory Animal Allergies (LAA) and Occupational Asthma (OA) develop from exposure to
animal allergens, and are among the most common, serious occupational disease of workers
exposed to animals in laboratories.
According to NIOSH, approximately 33% of animal handlers have allergic symptoms and
approximately 10% have symptoms of animal induced asthma.
What are some of the symptoms?
Symptoms generally occur as early as 10 minutes after exposure or within 12
months of significant contact with lab animals. The most common symptoms are
itchy, watery eyes, and an itchy, runny nose, although skin symptoms and lower
respiratory symptoms (e.g. wheezing, shortness of breath, etc.) may also occur.
What are some of the risk factors?
• Exposure: Working with animals (or in an animal housing facility) outranks
all known risk factors
• Genetics: Some individuals are predisposed to develop allergies & asthma
• Environment: Working in animal related areas without proper ventilation
increases risk
How are allergens transmitted?
Though allergens can sensitize the body via the skin or mucous membranes,
inhalation of allergens remains the most potent sensitization route.
Will my allergies go away?
LAA/OA are often permanent conditions, even when the stimulus ends and
symptoms regress.
How can I prevent LAA and OA?
For more information on LAA and OA, contact the Occupational Health Facility:
Tel: 310-825-6771 or http://ohs.uclahealth.org
For general questions about laboratory or biosafety, contact EH&S:
Tel: 310-825-9797 or http://www.ehs.ucla.edu
Can I develop allergies if I
don’t work with animals?
Yes, you can have a secondary
exposure (non-occupational
exposure) in the following situations:
• Sharing lab space where animals
are housed or brought in for
procedures (e.g., administrative
staff using a desk in the lab or
close to animals)
• Exposure of household members
via soiled work cloths (scrubs)
Note: Children of laboratory animal
workers have an increased incidence
of childhood asthma. Additionally,
studies revealed significant levels
of mouse allergen in homes of lab
workers, particularly in pillows and
mattresses.
Use Administrative Controls
• Fill out a Medical History Questionnaire (MHQ) if you are working with or
coming in contact with animals or animal tissues, or enter animal housing areas
• Follow work place practices such as washing your hands after working with animals or their tissues
Implement Engineering Controls
• Utilize a Biological Safety Cabinet or Chemical Fume Hood when working with animals
Standard Operating Procedures
• Follow all applicable operating procedures and design new procedures which minimize the exposure to animal allergens
Wear Personnel Protective Equipment
• When properly fitted, N95 respirators are effective in reducing exposure, sensitization, illness and severity of illness
• Disposable gowns, shoe covers and gloves should be removed when leaving animal rooms to prevent allergies from
being carried into other areas
• Wear a hair bonnet or bouffant, which will markedly decrease allergen attachment to a worker’s hair and prevent the
carrrying of those allergens to their home (to pillows or bedding)
Created in conjunction with
the UCLA Occupational
Health & Safety Coordinating
Council
2011
Safety Training
Matrix for Laboratory Personnel
What? This document outlines the minimum medical & training requirements for personnel working in a research setting. Answer the
questions below to determine which requirements apply to you. If you answer “Yes,” the corresponding requirements apply. (It is
recommended that you complete the requirements in the numeric order listed below.
Who? Principal Investigators (PI), Lab Supervisors (LS), research personnel, graduate students & undergraduate students in research
laboratories as well as general staff working in laboratories and animal housing facilities.
Are you UCLA Faculty, staff or a student
Complete this Medical or Training Requirement (See Key Below)
who…
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
will handle animal carcasses, animal tissue or will
have access to a vivarium?
will have direct contact with live vertebrate animals?
is a PI, Faculty Sponsor or personnel listed on an
ARC Protocol (even if you don’t handle animals)?
is a PI or Laboratory Supervisor (LS)? *
will use chemicals or work in a wet lab? (excluding
PI’s or LS’s) *
will use a respirator? *
will use pyrophorics, explosives or large quantities of
flammables? *
will use shop equipment? *
will work with human materials (e.g. blood,
specimens, tissue or cells)? *
will use biohazardous materials? *
will work in a Biosafety Level 2+ (BSL2+) lab?
will ship biological materials? *
will handle radioactive materials? *
will work with lasers?
will work with X-Ray equipment?
will work with mice?
will work with rats?
will work with a species other than mice or rats?
will perform a survival surgery procedure or a
procedure requiring aseptic technique?
will enter or have access to an animal barrier facility?
will enter or have access to an animal
biocontainment facility?
* Principal Investigators (PI) & Lab Supervisors (LS) complete “3” in lieu of “4” ** Check your ARC Protocol for further details *** Check your IBC Protocol for further details
Key Requirements Frequency Contact Key Requirements Frequency Contact
1 Medical History Questionnaire (MHQ) - ONLINE Annual OHF 12 Biosafety Level 2 w/ Biosafety Level 3 practices (BSL2+) 3 Years EHS
2 Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) ONLINE 3 Years ARC 13 Shipping Biological Materials (SBM) - ONLINE+$95 FEE 2 Years EHS
3 Laboratory Safety for PI’s & LS’s Once EHS 14 New Radiation Worker Qualification (NRWQ) Annual EHS
Last Updated: 7/8/2011 Safety Training Matrix Page 1
Continued from page 1
What’s to Come
Soon you will likely see custodians using efficient
light-weight backpack vacuums, touch-less cleaning
systems washing the restrooms, and automated
scrubbers cleaning the hallways. Assistant Director of
Maintenance & Alterations, Florencio De Dios put
it this way, “It’s about working smarter, not harder.
Our goal is to reduce injuries while maintaining the
highest possible standards. By rethinking our cleaning
processes and integrating new technology, our staff will be able
to do their job with a significantly minimized risk of injury and go
home to enjoy their families.”
How Can I Help?
The next time you’re leaving for the night, place
your trash can next to the door or someplace
easier to reach and empty your own
recycling bin in the main office recycling
area. Remember not to dispose of sharp
objects in your regular trashcan to prevent
possible injury to custodians. And when
you see your custodian, introduce yourself
and say thank you for their hard work.
Animal
Research
Safety **
Laboratory Safety
Biosafety ***
Radiation
Safety
DLAM Safety **
4
5
6 -
7 -
8 -
9 3 -
3 a -
2 3 a -
Laboratory Safety Fundamental Concepts Annual EHS 15 Laser Safety Annual EHS
Respirator Training & Fit Test (Medical Clearance Required) Annual EHS 16 X-Ray Diffraction Safety Annual EHS
Hands-On Fire Extinguisher Training Once EHS 17 Working with Mice in Research Settings ONLINE+WET LAB Once DLAM
Shop Safety Training Once EHS 18 Working with Rats in Research Settings ONLINE+WET LAB Once DLAM
Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP) Annual EHS 19 Species Specific Training CLASS+WET LAB Once DLAM
Biological Safety Cabinet (BSC) Years EHS 20 Aseptic Surgical Technic ONLINE+WET LAB Once DLAM
10 Medical Waste Management (MWM) Years EHS 21 Working in Barrier Facility ONLINE+WALKTHROUGH Once DLAM
11 Biosafety Level A,B,C’s (BSL2) Years EHS 22 Working in Biocontainment Facility ONLINE+WALKTHROUGH Once DLAM
Fact Sheet
Emergency Management
Facts
Earthquake Preparedness
Why should I prepare?
Earthquakes represent the greatest natural disaster threat to people living in Southern California. Every California
resident should have a disaster preparedness plan and know what to do before, during and after an earthquake
occurs.
How do I prepare for an earthquake?
People need to be prepared at home, in the office and while commuting:
• Keep personal disaster supply kits where you spend most of your
time, so they can be reached even if your building is badly damaged.
The kits will be useful for many emergencies, and should include
items such as water and snacks, emergency contact phone numbers,
a prescription list, sturdy shoes, etc. (See the website list below for
more extensive guidance.)
• Create a disaster preparedness plan for your home, and review the
plan for your work environment.
• Identify potential hazards in your home and begin to fix them.
What should I do in an earthquake?
Wherever you are, protect yourself! If you cannot find shelter beneath
furniture, then crouch low against a wall, with your arms covering your
head and neck.
1. Immediately DROP to the ground where you are.
2. Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table.
3. HOLD ON! to something sturdy and ride out the earthquake until the
shaking stops.
What websites can help me prepare?
• To improve your readiness & assemble a preparedness kit, visit:
http://www.earthquakecountry.info/roots/steps.html
• Discover Drop, Cover, and Hold On!:
http://www.dropcoverholdon.org
• Review the UCLA Employee Safety Handbook for UCLA information, see:
http://ehs.ucla.edu/SafetyHandbook.pdf
• Review the UCLA Shop Safety Manual at:
www.ehs.ucla.edu/ShopSafetyManual.pdf
• Learn more about UCLA’s Emergency Management Programs at:
http://www.emo.ucla.edu
Drop, Cover and Hold on.
Be Prepared with a Disaster
Supply Kit
1. Prepare your kit based on how
it will be used (personal/family
survival, food & water, search &
rescue, etc.) and how long the
kit is needed.
2. Check kits at least annually. Kits
stored in a car trunk degrade
quickly under extreme heat
conditions.
3. Use a backpack or small bag so
you can take them with you if
you evacuate.
Don’t forget a kit for home,
work and your vehicle!
What do I Need to Remember?
• Don’t run. You can trip or fall, or there could be broken glass. You can injure yourself or others by running.
• Remain Indoors. NEVER try to exit a building; you could be killed by falling debris (e.g., glass, cement, roofing
materials).
• If you are driving, slow down and pull to the side of the road until the shaking stops. Don’t park under trees,
overhead power lines, or freeway overpasses.
Contact Information:
Tel: 310-825-6800
Fax: 310-206-9480
www.emo.ucla.edu
7/2011
www.ehs.ucla.edu
News and Notes
Ergonomic Program Assists
Campus Bakery Staff
Injuries often occur because of repetitive tasks from
lifting, twisting, bending and stooping. These awkward
postures can cause damage to the muscles and tendons
in the back, hands, wrists and arms.
Repetitive Tasks Lead to Injury
Food service
workers perform
many repetitive
movements, which
place them at a
greater risk of
injury. During a
typical workday, a
food service worker
washes six to eight
80-quart mixing
bowls weighing 44 pounds each. This requires the
employee to manually maneuver the bowl from the floor
to the sink. In addition, food service workers repetitively
bend down to scoop dough to a baking pan located on a
large table, approximately 30 inches high. This repetitive
task, along with manually handling and the washing the
bowls, has resulted in two serious injuries this year alone.
Ergonomic Solutions
The EH&S Ergonomics team reviewed various options to
find a solution that would decrease the awkward postures
and repetitive movements of workers. A bowl with a lifter
was selected,
which is able to
move empty and
full mixing bowls
to both the table
for removal of
dough and to
the wash bin for
proper cleaning.
The lifters will be
manufactured
specifically for the
UCLA bakeries
and should be
in use during
the Fall Quarter. For more information, please email
injuryprevention@ehs.ucla.edu.
EH&S News and Notes Editorial Staff
Editorial Staff: Estey Theriault, Karin Wasler
Contributors: Ben Doyle, Michelle Amante, Carol Hastings, Jose Zavala,
Michael Williams, Daniela Zaccaro, James Gibson, Karin Wasler, Estey
Theriault
Comments or suggestions? Please contact Estey Theriault at ext. 45654 or
etheriault@ehs.ucla.edu.