ing Most Hazardous Waste Folks Have some responsibility

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Most Hazardous Waste Folks � Have some responsibility for responding to incidents (chemical, biological, fire, radiological, etc. ) � Have this as an additional duty – it ain’t their full time nor primary job.

Mercury Spill Response Mason, Civil Engineering

Explosion in Hood Mo. SE 2285

President’ s Wife Complains that a Fox is Drinking out of the pool and chasing her cat

10 PM: Recover Materials from Dorm Drug Bust

Let’s get this over with and: a. Get Back to Work b. Go Home c. Get a Beer

So… We Weren’t Addressing � Could we have done it better � Is there a way to prevent recurrences

About 5 Years Ago One Hour (9 -10 AM) 1 st Friday of the Month Mandatory For Hazardous Waste and Chemical Safety Personnel Voluntary for Every One Else

GEORGIA TECH POLICE BUILDING MGR MEDICAL SERVICES FACILITIES O&M ATLANTA FIRE & RESCUE OUTSIDE CONTRACTORS COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS EHS

GA Tech EHS Non-OSHA All Exempt

Currently “HAZWOPER” Hazwoper Qualified Not OSHA Regulated All Full-Time Exempt

24/7 On-Call Personnel Not OSHA Regulated All Full-Time Exempt

2 nd: Mercury Spill (Boggs 2 -52) 15 th Needle stick w/ Baboon Cells 20 Jun: Street Sweeper/Hydraulic oil release 27 Jun: Trash Can Fire (North Ave Apartments)

Where We Are Now � Power Point “Blank” Posted to Shared Drive at Beginning of the Month � Events Posted as they Occur

THE RULES � Whoever had the action briefs it � NO recriminations � Try to answer: �What could we have done different/better �What can be done to prevent recurrences

WHAT DO WE GET OUT OF IT � Nothing Earth Shaking � Have � � � we reduced incidents? For at Least One-Hour per Month we’re focused on this one subject Many/Most of the Actions Taken May have been accomplished anyway (But presenting them in public and having the Boss write them down – adds emphasis) Good Material for Use with “Safety” Committees and answering “what have you done for me lately? ”

WHAT DO WE GET OUT OF IT � Reinforce things we already know (or should know).

24 JUNE: ACID SPILL AWPL � Leaking Sulfuric Acid Bottle Discovered During CHEMATIX Reconciliation � Recovered Same � Took to Haz. Mat Bldg

Oct 2011: Student Assistants prepping for Freshman chemistry lab, mixed the wrong materials. AFR Response Vehicles Evacuees Alarm pulled: Bldg Evacuated About a 4 ½ hour exercise Incident Command

AND THEN……… � Distraught co-ed in parking lot reported “ 40 students trapped in building!” � Attempted to re-enter to sweep and air test � Door locked-no one had access

WHAT DO WE GET OUT OF IT � � Reinforce things we already know (or should know). Training for EHS Personnel.

21 May: Trenching Issues Glen/Towers No one from General Safety on Campus = Refresher on Trenching Rules and

14 Mar: Gas Line Break Bobby Dodd and Power Plant Contractor Busted Gas Line GTPD/AFR/AGL/EHS Responded Minor leak that was barely discernible Fire Alarm Pulled in Old CE Building Library Building Manager and Area 4 Facilities Maintenance contacted. Gas to Crossland Tower shut off and left off at meter until next morning. Should have contacted Utilities & Engineering.

WHAT DO WE GET OUT OF IT � � � Reinforce things we already know (or should know). Training for EHS Personnel. Identify Training Needs of Campus Constituents

March 9: Ladder Fall, 711 Marietta � � � Worker trying to access roof hatch from 8 -ft. ladder Lost balance causing ladder to “kick-out” from under him Fell to mezzanine floor

April 25: IBB ME Capstone Student was clean up after the previous day’s research. The needle was contaminated with rhesus monkey blood from the CDC that was infected with Plasmodium coatneyi. The student was recapping the needle after removing it from the trash beaker and placing into a bleach solution. The student was pricked in the right index finger She washed with soap and water and then waited at least an hour to call Student health Services The CDC was contacted and the monkey was determined to have a clean bill of health. The student’s blood was tested by the National B virus lab and was free of typical monkey illnesses

25 Feb: Nitrogen Tank Venting IBB GTPD Dispatch – Student reported Leaking Nitrogen Tank in an equipment corridor Pozniak Responded Did not find GTPD on site, but did locate the cylinder Was about to call dispatch when searched out both by phone and in person. Was unaware that AFR had been called and that GTPD had established a Command Post Convinced AFR that evacuation was not necessary.

WHAT DO WE GET OUT OF IT � � Reinforce things we already know (or should know). Training for EHS Personnel. Identify Training Needs for Campus Constituents Change EHS Procedures/Capabilities

NOV 9: THF STILL, ES&T 2365 � � � THF still explodes, activating sprinkler system. One injury (sprained wrist) Full (AFR++) Response GTENS alert to “Evacuate Campus” EHS personnel inundated with calls.

28 June: Dangerous Gas Monitoring Alarm Bunger-Henry Carbinization Lab Reported by monitoring Company as a fire. Sep 5: H 2 S: Bunger Henry 439, Attributed to “bad "Regulator. Aug 15: Determined to be an electrical glitch Electrical problem continues but no more alarms being sent System only accessible from on-campus. EHS had to come to Campus to reset. Have 4 people with Tech issued and programmed laptops that allow access and resets from home.

Jan 19 (+) CRC Emergency Generator brought in to supply power to Campus Rec Center due to a pool leak into an electrical room Parked under major air intakes 1, 000 children and adults at swim meet w/diesel fumes. Took 2 ½ Hours to Get HVAC and Electrician Support EHS Managers Now Have Facilities O&M on-call roster at home.

2 April: Nitric Acid EHS Package rejected by FEDEX Brought Back Upstairs by Shane Discovered to be Leaking Acid Burns and Loss of Trousers Seen at Concentra For Discussion: ■ Proper Packaging? ■ Handling out of ordinary shipments ■ Ventilation Fan did not work Shipping of “large amounts” moved to HAZMAT Installed Drench Hose at EHS Got the adapter to make the fan work

WHAT DO WE GET OUT OF IT � � � Reinforce things we already know (or should know). Training for EHS Personnel. Identify Training Needs for Campus Constituents Change EHS Procedures/Capabilities Examine Questionable Procedures

1 FEB: NITRIC ACID/DIETHYL ETHER MIXTURE Student working added nitric acid solution to solution of diethyl ether and lignin. Mixture reacted violently and erupted into student’s face Student not working in fume hood – fume hood was full of “stuff” that could have been located elsewhere Student not wearing safety glasses (but did not get any in eyes) Student did not use eyewash in lab, instead went down hall to men’s room. Student treated at Stamps - received 1 st and 2 nd degree chemical burns to face

June 22: Mercaptan Release Mo. SE (Chapter 2) � � � GTPD contacted EHS approx 6 PM; 4 th Floor Mo. SE reported odor similar to that of the night before. Culprit was inappropriately discarded container. Research Suspended Pending Review.

WHAT DO WE GET OUT OF IT � � � Reinforce things we already know (or should know). Training for EHS Personnel. Identify Training Needs of Constituents Change EHS Procedures/Capabilities Examine Questionable Procedures Initiate Corrective Actions

24 May: Odor & Visible Emissions Love 372 Identified a small amount of smoke protruding from a t-joint where a couple tubes exhaust into one line Main tube was exhausting vacuum pump near the bottom of the glove box Looked to be a visible amount of smoke inside the tube Pump was sitting below glove box on near side (from angle of picture) Dr. Thadhani also came in and helped guide us on what was reported Area 1 Facilities Maintenance came and helped us trace/check exhaust lines in 372

Jan 21: Sulfide Release, Love 372 Original report was “gas leak” Led to evacuating building, AFR response, and shutting off of all gas to the building. Lithium sulfide in THF sample being dried in vacuum chamber of glove box AHU and large exhaust fans shut down due to freezing temps (“freeze stat”) causing sulfide odors to release into room and hallway Lab closed until Tuesday EHS returned on Tuesday to open lab and check for lingering odors (Area I and Building Managers coordinated return of gas service)

Love 372: FOLLOW UP � � � Inspected Lab: ■ Many Findings to including 8 Separate Devices Vented Though Building HVAC System, some connected w/ Duct Tape Meet w/ Lab Personnel, Maintenance, and Department Chair Redesign of Ventilation System for 372 (and another lab) in Progress

19 June: Flood 433 Bunger-Henry � � � Water Leaking Thru Fire caulk? Lab Personnel Shut off Water During Change out of Filtration System. While Water was Off, Someone Turned on a faucet in a non-draining sink When the water came on…. . Lab Personnel, Building Services cleaned up – but, no one checked the chase – which was leaking water to 3 rd Floor. This lab is snake-bit, need checklist procedures

June 22: Acid Treatment System Malfunction: Bunger Henry 433 � � � In preparation for maintenance, 2 x 50 gallon acid filled tanks were to be brought to neutral. Added ½ of a 30 gallon drum of 50% Sodium Hydroxide. Machine emitted a heavy foam covering ~ 50 sq feet. Foam p. H’d at 11; Ammonia Release: Draeger’s Pegged. HEPACO performed cleanup; completed at 3: 45 AM Saturday. Don’t have HEPACO cost; disposal cost for clean-up and maintenance will be over $3, 000. Spill Response: 17 K

SUMMARY � � We Like What We Do Improvements � Incident Log/Record Capture It All (we generally ignore IAQ, slips-trips-and falls, etc) � Procedures Book/Checklist Guidelines for Repeating Incidents Sloooowly � Periodic AARs with All the Players