Protecting Workers Pays Off: Part 2
By Vince McLeod, CIH
The first part of this article discussed the grim statistics for worker illnesses, injuries, and deaths in American workplaces. This second, and final, installment picks up that theme and presents the rest of the story in favor of protecting workers.
Protecting Workers Pays Off: Part 1
By Vince McLeod, CIH
With the new OSHA administration and potential new legislation, taking the risk of non-compliance could prove very costly and a bad business decision.
Avoid IEQ Pitfalls
By Vince McLeod, CIH
The following recommendations have been culled from years of dealing with IEQ complaints. Often the fix is very simple and costs almost nothing.
Working Internationally Case Study: South America
By Ken Mohr, Lou Hartman, PE
The International Criminal Investigation Training Assistance Program of the United States Department of Justice, through Military Professional Resources, Inc. contracted us to conduct an on-site review of a recently partially remodeled lab in South America. The following issues were identified and documented.
Take a Look: Choosing the Right Safety Glasses
By Vince McLeod, CIH
Of all the hazards faced as a forensic specialist, the one ubiquitous danger faced almost daily is hazard to the eyes.
Don't Take The Fall
By Vince McLeod, CIH
Almost daily we review accident or injury reports that remind us about the dangers of slips, trips, and falls and the heavy cost associated with the resulting injuries. A few recent statistics hammer home the reality of the concern:
Scared Safer
By James A. Kaufman, Ph.D.
Being “Scared Safer” is the positive effect of hearing an accident story. It’s the desired result.
Keeping The Flow: Getting The Most From Your Chemical Fume Hood
By Vince McLeod, CIH
One of the most important fixtures in any laboratory, including a well-outfitted forensic lab, is the chemical fume hood. Regardless of the specific type selected, there are a few design parameters and basic operational principles that should be used across the board.
Clicky Fingers
By Vince McLeod, CIH
The increased use of computers in forensic laboratories warrants a close look at workstation ergonomics.
LEEDing the Way
By Vince McLeod, CIH
Preventing Indoor Air Quality Issues after New Construction or Renovations
LEEDer of the Green World
By Vince McLeod, CIH
In this column the Safety Guys take a look at building green and some of the potential health and safety issues involved.
Building Green is in the LEED
By Vince McLeod, CIH
Building green is gaining more and more momentum. So, what does this mean for the forensic facility manager? This column will give you a brief overview of LEED, planting the seed for your next renovation or construction project so you can go green.
Handle With Care
By Vince McLeod, CIH
A primer on protective gloves
Can You Hear Me Now?
By Vince McLeod, CIH
It’s important to monitor ambient noise levels in forensic laboratories both in the design phase and during operation.
Postprandial Premontions
By Vince McLeod, CIH
Continue reading to learn how to develop training that will keep your attendees interested and focused.
A Fresh Look at Your Old Lab: The People
By Vince McLeod, CIH, Glenn Ketcham, CIH
Yoga instructors often say we should close our eyes and open them as a child to see the world anew. We ask that you take a walk through your lab, observing your staff, looking at all with the eyes of a child, with unprejudiced honesty of all you see.
A Fresh Look at Your Old Lab: the Facilities
By Vince McLeod, CIH, Glenn Ketcham, CIH
Does the lab you manage represent the message you would want to pass on to those entrusted to you? Take a walk through your lab, looking at all with the eyes of a child, with unprejudiced honesty of all you see.
Making Sense of MSDS: The Foundation of Safe Chemical Management
By Vince McLeod, CIH, Glenn Ketcham, CIH
A few months ago an entirely preventable tragedy occurred when a UCLA research assistant was burned over 43% of her body and died eighteen days later in a hospital burn unit. A quick glance at the compound’s MSDS might have prevented this terrible loss.
Change Is in the Air: Safety and Design of Toxicology Laboratories
By Matthew Pettit, Susan Halla
The proper design of a toxicology lab is more than process and people. There are significant strategies to consider in the design.
Don't Get Burned: UV Exposure in the Workplace
By Vince McLeod, CIH, Glenn Ketcham, CIH
Hazards of UV do not distinguish between work and home, and the exposure guidelines for the general public for sun exposure are certainly applicable to the workplace as well.
Planning Chemical Management for the Forensic Laboratory
By Vince McLeod, CIH, Glenn Ketcham, CIH
This column will provide fundamental information on managing chemicals in forensic facilities and offer initial suggestions and guidance for proper chemical handling.
Job Hazard Analysis: An Important Process in the Lab and in the Field
By Vince McLeod, CIH, Glenn Ketcham, CIH
One of the cornerstones of a successful safety and health program is the inclusion of a process called job hazard analysis (JHA) or job safety analysis (JSA).
Earth(movement), Wind, and Fire: Emergency Preparedness is the Key!
By Vince McLeod, CIH, Glenn Ketcham, CIH
Let’s briefly touch on each of the four phases of emergency management. The approach described is scalable from the management of a large county forensic facility to a small independent crime lab or an individual lab.
Implementing LEED: A Case Study of the Scottsdale Forensic Facility
By Gabriela Klieman, LEED AP, Nicholas Raab, PE, Susan Halla
In order to produce a facility that is LEED certified, specific guidelines within the LEED rating system must be followed. Forensic facilities have a number of unique characteristics that differentiate them from other building types.
Pickled Think!
By Vince McLeod, CIH, Glenn Ketcham, CIH
In this column, we will take a closer look at the hazards of formaldehyde and how to safely use this common preservative.
