November 1995

Ohio Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Law and
University Vehicles

Ohio's new Financial Responsibility Law requires drivers of vehicles to be
able to demonstrate Proof of Financial Responsibility.  This applies to all
vehicles, including university vehicles driven by students and staff. 
According to the regulation, financial responsibility is required to be shown:

 whenever a police officer issues a traffic ticket
 at all vehicle inspection stops
 upon every traffic court appearance
 after every motor vehicle crash
 upon random checks by the Registrar of the Ohio Bureau of Motor
Vehicles (BMV).


Any driver or owner who fails to demonstrate Proof of Financial
Responsibility will:

 lose his or her driver license for 90 days on first offense and for one year
on additional offenses (work driving privileges cannot be given during this
suspension)
 lose his/her license plates and vehicle registration
 pay reinstatement fees of $75 first offense, $250 second offense, and $500
any additional offense
 pay a $50 penalty for any failure to surrender his/her driver's license,
license plates, or registration
 be required to maintain special Financial Responsibility Proof (high risk
insurance or equivalent) on file with the BMV for five years.

Once this suspension is in effect, any driver or owner who violates the
suspension will have his or her vehicle immobilized and his or her license
plates confiscated for at least 30 days for the first offense and 60 days for the
second offense.  For third or subsequent offenses, the vehicle will be forfeited
and sold, and the vehicle owner will not be permitted to register any motor
vehicle in Ohio for five years.  These penalties are in addition to any fines or
penalties imposed by a court of law.

To comply with the requirements of the new law, the university's insurance
carrier has provided an insurance identification card for each owned or leased
vehicle.  The identification card satisfies the financial responsibility
requirements of the State of Ohio and should be placed in a safe and easily
accessible location in the vehicle (such as the glove compartment).  If this ID
card is not found in a university vehicle which you will be driving, contact
your supervisor immediately.

This law applies to everyone driving, whether in a university vehicle or
one's own.   Protect yourself:  take steps to insure you have proof of financial
responsibility ready at all times.


Methylene Chloride in Consumer Products

Methylene chloride is used widely in labs and is present in many common
consumer products.  Whether at home or in the laboratory, products
containing methylene chloride should always be used under very high
ventilation conditions because of its hazardous properties.  

Methylene chloride causes neurological impairment.  Observed effects
include fatigue, dizziness, forgetfulness, and delusions.  It is metabolized to
carbon monoxide in the body which binds to hemoglobin.

In addition, methylene chloride causes cancer in some laboratory animals and
may pose a cancer hazard to humans.  Harmful exposure to a chemical with
the potential to cause cancer, such as methylene chloride, may occur without
immediately observable symptoms (such as headaches, dizziness, or watery
eyes).

OSHA recently changed the regulations concerning methylene chloride to
reflect this potential danger.  The Time-Weighted Average (or TWA, the
airborne concentration over an eight-hour day, five days a week) for
methylene chloride is now 50 ppm, down from the previous 500 ppm.  This is
a huge reduction and is directly related to the health effects which have been
observed in exposed individuals.  It goes a long way in showing the increased
awareness and concern of regulatory agencies as to the chemical's hazardous
properties and status as a carcinogen.

Following OSHA's lead, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
has ruled that consumer products containing methylene chloride should be
labeled to warn about a possible cancer hazard when used without proper
controls.  At least some (but not all) products in the following categories
contain methylene chloride:

paint strippers
adhesive removers
spray shoe polish
adhesives and glues
paint thinners
glass frosting and artificial snow
water repellents
spray paints
wood stains and varnishes
cleaning fluids and degreasers  
aerosol spray for automobiles
automobile spray primers


Paint strippers and adhesive removers generally represent the highest
exposures to methylene chloride, but when the products are used under high
ventilation, the hazard is low.  The exposures associated with similar use of
the remaining products would be even lower than those from paint strippers
and adhesive removers.

Exposure to methylene chloride occurs by breathing its vapors.  The risk
depends on the level and duration of exposure.  Here are some ways to reduce
exposure:

use products containing methylene chloride outdoors.
if a product using methylene chloride must be used indoors--even in a
garage--open all windows and doors and use a fan to exhaust the air outside
during application and drying. 
respirators may not offer protection from methylene chloride vapors, so
don't assume you are safe without putting in place other engineering
controls.


It is important that products containing methylene chloride always be used
either outdoors or under very high ventilation conditions.

MSDS-Access Documentation to be Sent Out

The brochure with instructions on how to access the Material Safety Data
Sheets (MSDS) database through CWRUnet has been mailed to all Principal
Investigators. Few campuses have such an extensive online MSDS system, 
and The Department of Occupational and Environmental Safety (DOES)
encourages all laboratories to take advantage of this extensive chemical safety 
information. 

The MSDSs provide everything required by OSHA's Hazard Communication
Standard--carcinogen status, target effects, persons at  increased risk, anitdote
information, chemical properties, and handling and hazard data.

It is required that all laboratory personnel know how to access this
information.  We recommend not only teaching all lab personnel how to
access the database but also printing out hard copies of MSDSs for ready access. 

If you have not received  the brochure by the end of the month, contact DOES
at 368-2906.


Using Phenol Safely:  Know the Dangers

Phenol, also known as carbolic acid, is a commonly used substance in many
scientific fields. However, it is not really an acid at all. This base received its
"acid" nomenclature because of the severe burns it is capable of causing
through any contact with the body.

Phenol is used readily by the medical field in cell research.  It is also used in
plastics research in the polymer science field and in weak concentrations is a
common disinfectant.  The danger of phenol in the lab is increased by its
extensive utilization--people who use it often tend to forget what an
insidious toxin phenol is and are not careful to completely protect themselves
from it.  Phenol causes severe damage internally through ingestion or
inhalation and externally through direct contact.   Often phenol causes dual
harm, both as a corrosive and after absorption as a systemic toxin.

Dangers:

Skin Contact:  Burns are the most common injury caused by phenol,
occuring when it comes in contact with the skin or eyes. Upon initial
contact with phenol, the skin will turn white while the phenol is being
absorbed.  Often one will not feel the burn in this beginning stage.  By the
time a burning sensation arises, the phenol will have already been completely
absorbed; the skin will have turned red and a second-degree burn will have
formed.  At this time, the toxin is already absorbed by the body.  The dangers
from a phenol burn therefore are two-fold:  a physical burn and toxic
poisoning.  

Any area of the skin that has come into contact with phenol should be
immediately flushed with water for 15-20 minutes until no trace of the
substance remains.  Applying alcohol to the area, once thought the best way to
clean a phenol burn, only spreads the substance further.  Medical attention
should be procured immediately.

The ensuing damage occuring when phenol comes into contact with the eye
is even more severe--direct contact can cause blindness; even vapors cause
severe burns.  Flush the eye with water for 15-20 minutes followed by 20-30
minutes with saline solution. 

Inhalation:  Damage can occur to the respiratory system if phenol is
inhaled.  Fumes are released when phenol or a compound containing phenol
is distilled.  Irritation to the mucus membrane  is usually severe, and if large
amounts of  phenol are inhaled in a short period of time, death from
respiratory or cardiac failure can occur.

Ingestion:  Having food or drink in the lab when working with any
chemical can lead to accidental ingestion--phenol can be introduced into the
digestive system this same way.   Once in the digestive system, phenol will
again work both as a corrosive, burning the mouth and throat, and as a toxin,
causing systemic effects such as abdominal pain, nausea, headaches, and
death.

Using Phenol Safely:

Lab Attire:  since exposure of any kind to phenol is dangerous, it is 
imperative that proper protection be taken.  Gloves (preferably rubber) and  a
lab coat should always be worn when working with phenol  to prevent any
contact with the skin.  Protective eyewear should also be worn--at the least
safety goggles, but a face shield may also be needed if there is the potential of
splashing.  Again, contact of any kind with this substance will cause damage,
so make sure your protection is impervious and securely in place.  Wash
thoroughly after use or handling.

Fume hoods:  always use phenol under a fume hood if there is a
danger of inhalation from fumes of any sort.  

Eyewash station/safety shower:  know the location of the nearest
shower and eyewash stations in case of an emergency, when using this or any
hazardous material.

Storage:  store phenol in a cool, dry, well-ventilated location
separate from oxides and other incompatable substances.


Though phenol may be a well-known chemical to you, do not let down your
guard when using it--the damage phenol can cause is quite serious.  Always
wear proper protection and take necessary precautions.


Attention PIs:  Waste Pick-ups

Recently we have noticed some problems concerning waste pickups.  Since
these issues are common and have been addressed both in the newsletter and
in some cases in person, we feel that perhaps newcomers to the lab might be
unwittingly making some of these mistakes.  Please go over the requirements
with any new people on your staff, especially students, so they are aware of
the proper protocol.  Here are some items that need to be addressed: 

All radioactive waste and its completed forms should be ready at the time
the call is made for a pickup.  If the waste is not ready when the technician
comes for the pickup, the technician will not  pick it up.  It will be up to the
laboratory to reschedule a time.

Scintillation vials and acrylamide gels should be separated from dry waste
and placed in their own separate bags--these items are not considered dry
waste.  If these are not separated, the waste bag will be returned to the lab for
separation.  Please make sure to double-bag scintillation vials, since the added
weight of scintillation fluid may cause the bag to leak or break.  Vial bags are
available from the Radiation Safety Office upon request.

Do not fill containers for liquid up to the rim.  This creates a hazard for
both the lab and the technician picking up the waste by increasing the
liklihood of spillage.  The containers also should be wipe-tested to make sure
that they are contamination -free.  We recommend using a plastic (not glass)
container with a wide mouth, holding about 4 liters of liquid.  Large
containers that hold 20 liters will not be returned until the waste has decayed
to background, since it is too difficult to safely pour their contents into storage
drums.   If you generate less than this amount per month, it would be
advisable to invest in smaller reuseable containers.  Their contents can be
poured into larger drums and returned to your lab.  These containers can be
obtained through commercial vendors like Fisher Scientific.



Respirator Training

OSHA requires that all workers whose responsibilities may require the use of
a respirator go through a Respiratory Safety Program.  If you work with
materials that may cause damage to your respiratory system if inhaled, you
may qualify for this program.   DOES offers this program as needed, which
consists of three parts:  training, medical approval, and a fit test.

Respirators work by protecting the respiratory system  from the inhalation of
hazardous gases.  Because they are used as protection against harmful
inhalation and in emergency situations, their individual fit must be assured,
and employees must be properly trained in their use and care.

There are two main types of respirators:  those that filter out contaminants
from the air and those that supply fresh air independent of the surrounding 
contaminated air.  The former is most commonly used in the laboratory
environment.

Each worker must go through a basic training session as the first step to
complete the program.  The following issues are among those covered: 
information on respiratory hazards and health effects, how respirators work,
the limitations of a cartridge filter, and engineering controls vs. respirator
use.

The OSHA standard also requires medical approval for all workers who will
potentially use a respirator.  At the training session, each person fills out a
confidential medical questionnaire, which is sent immediately to University
Health Services. University Health Services then phones each trainee to set
up an appointment and administers physicals to determine that each worker
is healthy and will not be harmed by doing work requiring the use of a
respirator.

The selection of the type of respirator, filter or fresh supply, is dependent on
the materials with which each person will most likely work.  The choice is
made after taking into account the type of work done, the nature of the
hazard, particulate contaminants, the concentration of the contaminant, the
location of the hazardous area, and worker activity.   

After selection of the proper respirator, each worker must be fit tested to
assure that the respirator is airtight.  The final steps in the program include
how to put on the respirator and check to make sure it is working properly,
maintenance of the respirator, and cleaning and storage of the respirator.

Overall, respirators should rarely be necessary.  Whenever possible, use a
fume hood; at times when a respirator is necessary, it means that the
individual is working in a hazard zone, which is less desirable than
removing the hazard as a fume hood does.

Each person using a respirator need only go through the training program
offered by DOES once.  However, if you lose or gain over 20% of your body
weight, be sure to get re-fit for a respirator so that it continues to protect you.
 

Recycling Styrofoam Chemical Containers

Chemicals shipped to the university from various scientific companies often
come in styrofoam coolers with return postage and labeling included.  Take
these coolers to the University Mail Room located in the Service Building to
be sent back to these companies.

Note that this is the only mail room that has the capacity to accept these
containers.  The mail room in the Medical School, for instance, exists just for
sorting mail and is not large enough to handle any shipping or receiving.

If a hazardous chemical was shipped in a cooler, any labels designating the
container as hazardous must be removed or defaced.  If the chemical  bottle
broke inside the cooler, it cannot be sent back--contact DOES for proper
disposal procedures.

We encourage all researchers to mail back as many of these containers as
possible.  Since return postage is already included, it costs nothing to mail
these back and saves a lot of room in landfills.


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