Spectrum Volume 17 Issue 36 - July 13, 1995

Environmental Health and Safety offers monthly safety-education classes in each of its four divisions. All classes are held in room 12, downstairs in Building 459 on Tech Center Drive.

For more information about specific classes, call the number given below for the division that offers the class.

I. Occupational Health and Lab Safety Division

For information, contact Lisa Cole at 1- 3919

Bloodborne Pathogens Introductory Class --First Wednesday of each month, 10 a.m.-noon

This session is designed to meet OSHA training requirements for employees with occupational exposure to human body fluids. Participants will learn about bloodborne diseases, exposure-control methods, vaccination programs, and accident follow- up. Upon completion, participants will be eligible to receive free hepatitis B vaccinations.

Lab Safety

This session is designed to address safety concerns of laboratory personnel. Contents include: Chemical Hygiene Plan, University Inspection Checklist, common safety violations, proper fume hood use, and biohazard-exposure prevention.

Occupational Health

Deborah E. Young conducts this session, which addresses the programs that provide medical services for employees exposed to occupational health hazards, such as chemical vapors, hazardous dust, noise, lead, and human blood. During the session, participants will learn about occupational health hazards at Virginia Tech, preventative exposure-control measures, program entrance methods, medical services provided, and post- exposure reporting procedures.

II. Occupational Safety Division

For information, contact the Occupational Safety Education Team at 1- 4056

Asbestos and Lead Awareness

Required for newly hired custodial and maintenance personnel, and any employee who conducts work that could potentially impact an asbestos material (for example, computer science personnel who run computer lines) or lead material such as those found in older paints. This training covers the following: what is asbestos, and where it is found; health effects related to exposure; the conditions under which asbestos is a hazard; the university's asbestos operations and maintenance program; and regulatory requirements. This course is also presented to all custodial and maintenance personnel on an annual basis.

III. Hazardous and Infectious Waste Division

For information, contact Bernadette Mondy at 1- 8758

Hazardous and Infectious Waste

This training explains the university, state, and federal regulations regarding the packaging, transporting, and disposing of laboratory and other chemical and infectious wastes.

IV. Radiation Safety Division

For information, contact Fran Leighton at 1- 8753

Certification to Use Radioactive Materia l--First Tuesday of the month from 2- 4 p.m., third Tuesday from 10 a.m.-noon. Required for anyone who needs to use radioactive material. Prerequisites: studying the Radiation Safety Training Manual, obtained from the Radiation Safety Office. This session includes a lecture and a test.

Radiation Safety Awareness Training for Non- Radiation Workers and New Employees --Third Wednesday of the month from 9- 10 a.m.

Required for new custodial and maintenance personnel, optional for any other individuals. This session includes a 20- minute video shown to provide a basic overview of what radiation is and to provide a basic history of radiation uses. A slide show completes the session and includes: potential risks of radiation exposure, examples of radiation sources, radiation dose-reduction techniques, radiation uses at the university, contacting the Radiation Safety Office, and general safe work practices.