Any proposal involving the use of chemical materials, hazardous waste,
and/or radiation/laser energy must receive the approval of the Environmental
Health Manager, David Armanini, who can be reached at Ext. 5-2040, or
by e-mail at daaehs@rit.edu.
The following information is provided by EHS:
- Hazardous Waste: If the project will generate hazardous waste, the
Principal Investigator must evaluate how much will be generated,
the cost of disposal, any unknown waste that may be generated, and
how they will manage the waste in accordance with EPA and NYS Dept.
of Environmental Conservation rules and regulations. It is preferred
and actually required that the generator make meaningful attempts
to minimize the hazardous waste produced. EHS is responsible to oversee
the waste disposal and we need specific information and proper labeling
on each waste product so that we can do our job properly. RIT is
considered a "large quantity generator" (LQG) under the
regulations which requires additional storage, labeling and handling
procedures.
- Hazardous Chemicals: The use of toxic chemicals in labs is nothing
new. A critically important component of any lab safety program is
the evaluation of the hazards in the lab and the protection of the
employees and students working in the lab. Extremely toxic materials
(P-listed chemicals) need to be scrutinized carefully as to how they
are used (in a lab hood) and if there is a substitute that is less
toxic. Minimizing the use of highly toxic materials by micro-scaling
experiments is very effective in reducing exposure and minimizing
the waste generated.
- Radiation Safety: The RIT Radiation Safety Officer, prior to ordering
radioactive materials, must approve the purchase order. This is a requirement
of the NYS Dept. of Health and RIT's written Radiation Safety Program.
Once we know who, what and where, we can generally accommodate the use
of radioactive materials. If radioactive waste is going to be generated,
the cost is very prohibitive and the paper work involved is substantial.
Lasers are also a concern, especially Class IV lasers and we do have
a written Laser Safety Policy that follows the ANSI Standard for the
Safe Use of Lasers. People requiring more information should review relevant
laws and regulations for environmental health and safety.
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