VPP, OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program: Part 1
By Vince McLeod, CIH
A robust health and safety management program can benefit any workplace no matter how large or small. Recognizing this, OSHA developed an assistance program called VPP for Voluntary Protection Program.
Cutting Class
By Vince McLeod, CIH
In one published report, the Consumer Product Safety Commission statistics indicated that nearly 40% of all medically treated injuries due to manual tools in the United States involved knives or retractable blades.
Take This Jar and Store It
By Vince McLeod, CIH
Good rules of thumb for chemical handling and storage in the lab
You've got me under Pressure
By Vince McLeod, CIH
In this column the Safety Guys offer a few basic tips on safe use of compressed gas cylinders and preventing accidents and close calls.
Lucy in the Lab with Diamonds
By Vince McLeod, CIH
This issue we are going to discuss the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) hazard diamond, sometimes referred to as the fire diamond, and how to decipher the information it contains.
Winning with LOTO
By Vince McLeod, CIH
No, we are not talking about a new state lottery. We are talking about Lockout/Tagout, the process by which equipment is put into a safe condition so repairs or maintenance can take place.
Don’t Slip Up!
By Vince McLeod, CIH
This month the Safety Guys alert you to the potential significant physical hazards present at crime scenes and in the workplace.
The Medicolegal Autopsy Facility: Specialized Design for Specialized Needs
By Jeff Arnold, Adam Denmark
Medicolegal autopsy facilities represent a particularly challenging set of criteria for project design teams. The facilities generally require core spaces developed for subsections of analysis and must support a specimen processing flow.
Wasting Away: Handling Laboratory Hazardous Wastes
By Vince McLeod, CIH
This month the Safety Guys provide an introduction and overview of hazardous waste handling in a typical forensic laboratory. Our focus will be on hazardous chemical wastes.
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.
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.
