News
EPA Restrictions on TCE, PCE, DCM in Effect May 1
April 30, 2025 - T. McCord
Effective Thursday, May 1, 2025 labs are required to follow EPA rules for TCE, PCE, and DCM.
ChemInventory Now Available for All MSU Hazardous Chemical Users
April 17, 2025 - T. McCord
EHS is pleased to announce that ChemInventory software is available for free to all users of hazardous chemicals. All users are required to enroll and begin using ChemInventory to meet MSU’s chemical inventory maintenance requirements.
Upcoming Click System Upgrade, Outage
March 12, 2025
A planned upgrade this spring to the Click system will require some system downtime. Please be aware of the outage times and plan accordingly for your research needs.
Alternatives to Dichloromethane Use
January 29, 2025 - G. Cottrell
In preparation for new federal restrictions on use of dichloromethane, EHS has compiled a list of alternative compounds available to research groups to explore.
Nathan Pence Joins Lab Inspection Team
January 29, 2025 - A. Bitters
Nathan Pence joined EHS on January 21 as a as a Safety Technologist working on the Lab Inspection Team. His primary job function will be conducting combined inspections in research laboratories across campus.
MSU Dichloromethane Research Compliance Plan
January 3, 2025 - G. Cottrell
In preparation for May 1, 2025 regulatory restrictions for dichloromethane use in research facilities. EHS has published MSU's Dichloromethane Research Compliance Plan.
Bloodborne Pathogen Training Program Updates
November 22, 2024
A new bloodborne pathogens training program is set to launch in December 2024, simplifying the training process, ensuring alignment with EHS guidelines, and enabling faster training content updates, all with minimal disruption to most users.
Survey Request - Methylene Chloride Use
November 15, 2024 - J. Andrews
The US Environmental Protection Agency has banned commercial and industrial uses of dichloromethane. Stringent restrictions for its use in research facilities will be required by May 1, 2025. The Office of Research and Innovation has prepared a survey to better understand your group’s use of DCM.
PFAS Use Requirements
October 4, 2024
Research into the health and environmental effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has increased at MSU in recent years. To address their unique health and safety concerns, EHS requires Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) documents outlining work procedures and safety practices.
Updated Sharps Container Requirement
September 17, 2024
Michigan law updated to extend sharps container storage limit from 90 days to 18 months.
EPA to Restrict Use of Dichloromethane, Proposes Restrictions on n-Methylpyrrolidone
July 25, 2024 - G. Cottrell
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized a rule to restrict most uses of dichloromethane (DCM) to protect workers and communities from harmful exposure. Additionally, the EPA has proposed restrictions on n-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) in the near future.
EHS Announces Recipients of the 2023 Laboratory Safety Recognition Awards
May 21, 2024 - A. Bitters
Join us in congratulating the 2023 recipients of the EHS Laboratory Safety Recognition Awards.
MSU will host Importation of Biologicals Workshop on May 23
April 9, 2024 - J. Willard-Smith
MSU will host The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Importation of Biologicals Workshop on May 23.
New and Improved Biosafety Training
October 12, 2023 - K. Bullard
EHS's biosafety training will soon be completely revamped with three concise, new courses focused on biosafety risks in specific workplace settings.
Welcoming Elyssa Cox, Industrial Hygienist to Chemical Safety Team
September 5, 2023 - D. Erickson
I am excited to share that Elyssa Cox will be joining the Chemical Safety team on September 5. Elyssa will be responsible for air monitoring for formaldehyde in anatomy labs and waste anesthetic monitoring in surgical suites.
August Click System Upgrade, Outage
July 12, 2023
Planned August upgrades to the Click system will improve the researcher experience and require some system downtime.
Biosafety Levels and How They Affect Your Lab
June 12, 2023
A combination of lab practices, containment equipment, and lab design make up the biosafety levels 1-4.
Importation of Biologicals Workshop
May 18, 2023 - J. Willard-Smith
On May 18, 2023, MSU Offices of Research and Regulatory Support (MSU ORRS) and Environmental Health and Safety (MSU EHS) hosted a day-long conference on the Importation of Biologicals.
EHS Announces Recipients of 2022 Laboratory Safety Recognition Awards
May 8, 2023 - A. Bitters
We are excited to announce the recipients of the 2022 Laboratory Safety Recognition Awards.
Biosafety Tips and Tricks - Soil Research Safety
May 4, 2023
Do you work with soil? If you do, are you aware that it may be regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service?
ORRS and EHS to host Importation of Biologicals Workshop
May 4, 2023 - J. Willard-Smith
MSU Offices of Research and Regulatory Support (MSU ORRS) and Environmental Health and Safety (MSU EHS) to host The U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) Importation of Biologicals Workshop.
Biosafety Tips and Tricks – There is no good science without Safety Training
April 10, 2023
Training can promote a culture of safety in clinics and laboratories.
Ability LMS Training Update for Labs
April 4, 2023
The Ability system support team is migrating lab personnel into appropriate Lab Safety tracks per EHS initiative to make safety training and monitoring simpler.
Take Your Child to Work Day: Safety Tips
March 15, 2023 - G. Cottrell
The WorkLife Office is pleased to announce the return of the highly attended Take Your Child to Work Day on Thursday, April 27, 2023
Lisa St. Clair Joining EHS as MSU Food and Water Sanitarian
March 12, 2023 - L Brownlee
Lisa St. Clair will be joining EHS in her current role as the MSU Food and Water Sanitarian.
Fume hood safety
March 1, 2023
The equipment described here will either protect the materials inside them from contamination or protect the worker from a hazard, in one case it does both. Confusing these can be dangerous.
New Safety Requirements for 2-propanol
January 13, 2023 - G. Cottrell
Moving forward, all 2-propanol containers will need to be dated upon receipt and tested/dated/documented every 12 months for peroxide formation. Please pay particular attention to 2-propanol in secondary containers, clear containers and containers that have been exposed to sunlight.
Open Flames Hazard for Labs
January 2, 2023
Open flames cause fires, explosions, destroy biosafety cabinets and ruin facilities. Risks for personnel can be anything from burn injuries to deaths.
December is Sharps Injury Awareness Month
December 1, 2022
Reduce your risk of needlesticks and Sharps injury
Biosafety Tricky Topics - Aerosols and Biohazards
October 31, 2022 - K. Bullard
Aerosols and Biohazards
October is Biosafety & Biosecurity Month
October 17, 2022 - J. Willard
October is the American Biological Safety Association (ABSA) International’s Biosafety & Biosecurity month putting a spotlight on research and teaching institutions as an excellent way to foster a culture of biosafety and biosecurity.
Training Changes for All Laboratories
October 3, 2022
MSU’s Environmental Health & Safety is implementing several significant changes to how training will be documented.
College of Natural Science Joins EHS in Recognizing Laboratories
September 27, 2022 - A. Bitters
The College of Natural Science joins EHS in recognizing recipients of the 2021 Laboratory Safety Recognition Awards
Contractor Safety Requirements Manual Published
September 26, 2022 - Z. Hansmann
The MSU Contractor Safety Committee voted to publish its inaugural Contractor Safety Requirements Manual, which will help the university communicate expectations for safety to contractors working on campus.
Luis Ochoa Carrera Appointed President-Elect of ABSA
September 19, 2022 - J. Willard-Smith
EHS's Luis Ochoa Carrera Appointed President-Elect of the American Biological Safety Association
EHS Welcomes Dr. Katie Porter to Inspection Team
August 29, 2022 - A. Bitters
EHS is excited to announce that Dr. Katie Porter will be joining our team on September 1, 2022.
EHS Announces Recipients of 2021 Laboratory Safety Recognition Awards
June 22, 2022 - A. Bitters
We are excited to announce the recipients of the 2021 Laboratory Safety Recognition Awards.
Cristiane Neves Pereira-Hicks Joining EHS Inspection Team
June 21, 2022 - A. Bitters
EHS is excited to welcome our new Safety Technologist, Cristiane Neves Pereira-Hicks, on July 11, 2022.
Dr. Alessandra Hunt Joins EHS Biosafety
May 12, 2022 - J. Willard-Smith, MSU EHS IBC Biosafety Officer
I am happy to announce that Dr. Alessandra Hunt has joined the MSU Biosafety Team. Her main responsibilities will include managing the MSU Fit testing, autoclave testing, and the MSU South Campus Neighborhood safety programs. She will also be assisting with laboratory inspections, High containment lab management and the Institutional Biosafety Committee management (IBC).
Reminder: Use Appropriate PPE in Photo and Video Shoots
April 22, 2022
EHS stresses the importance of using appropriate PPE during photo and video shoots.
Travis Smith Joining EHS Radiation Safety Team
January 19, 2022 - P. Wright
EHS is excited to welcome our new Senior Health Physicist, Travis Smith, on February 1, 2022. Travis’ primary responsibility will be radiation safety at our Grand Rapids facilities, though he will be an integral part of the radiation safety program for all MSU.
Gary Bosh Joining EHS Environmental Compliance Team
January 18, 2022 - M. Lindsey
I am excited to share that Gary Bosh will be joining the Environmental team on Monday, January 17th. Gary will be responsible for hazardous building materials, including asbestos, lead, and PCBs.
New EHS Learning Tracks in Ability LMS
December 16, 2021 - A. Bitters
Save time and increase compliance by using one of three new lab safety learning tracks (groups of courses) in Ability LMS.
Launch of ChemInventory Software
November 1, 2021 - G. Cottrell
The ChemInventory Software is launching for a larger user group starting in November 2021.
Important MSU EHS Hazardous Waste Changes
October 28, 2021 - S. Horn
Effective Immediately - Important MSU EHS Hazardous Waste Changes
Genevieve Cottrell Receives Jack Breslin Distinguished Staff Award
September 13, 2021
Chemical Hygiene Officer Genevieve Cottrell has been recognized with the Jack Breslin Distinguished Staff Award.
Waste Disposal Guide Phased Out
August 26, 2021 - S. Horn, B. Smith
The Waste Disposal Guide has been removed from the EHS website.
Luis Alberto Ochoa Carrera Joining EHS Biosafety Team
June 27, 2021 - J. Willard, MSU EHS Biosafety Officer
I am excited to share that Luis Alberto Ochoa Carrera will be joining the MSU EHS Biosafety team on Wednesday, June 30, 2021. Luis will be responsible for the safety management of the BSL-3/ABSL-3 facilities at MSU as well as operating as the Pandemic Safety Manager moving forward.
EHS Safety Portal Upgrade
March 14, 2021
MSU's Environmental Health & Safety has completed of a significant redesign of the EHS Safety Portal which houses important safety-related processes such as waste pickup requests (chemical/hazardous, radioactive, incinerator), supplies/materials requests (radioactive materials, dosimeters, labels, door signs), laser registration, asbestos survey search.
EHS Safety Portal Upgrade
March 3, 2021
MSU's Environmental Health & Safety is nearing completion of a significant redesign of the EHS Safety Portal which houses important safety-related processes such as waste pickup requests (chemical/hazardous, radioactive, incinerator), supplies/materials requests (radioactive materials, dosimeters, labels, door signs), laser registration, asbestos survey search.
Travis VanWyck Joining EHS Hazardous Waste Management Team
December 28, 2020 - Brian Smith, Hazardous Waste Coordinator
I am excited to share that Travis VanWyck will be joining the EHS Waste team on December 28th. Travis will be responsible for picking up, transporting, and processing hazardous waste for disposal. Travis is joining us from Americhem.
EHS Service Portal Upgrade
October 15, 2020
The Environmental Health & Safety Info Portal is undergoing a significant upgrade. Redesign of the database and testing is already underway. Conversion to the new web portal is planned for December 2020. Watch here for announcements as we get closer to implementation.
Tyler McCord, EHS Chemical Industrial Hygienist, Published in "Annals of Work Exposures and Health"
August 24, 2020 - L. Brownlee
Tyler McCord, EHS Chemical Industrial Hygienist, Matthew Legaspi, Elaine West, Priscilla Yun, Diana Larson, Samuel Paik, and David Zalk’s study on Quantitative Validation of Control Bands Using Bayesian Statistical Analyses was published August 21, 2020 in the Annals of Work Exposures and Health. Help us to congratulate them on this outstanding accomplishment. Click to read abstract.
The FDA issues additional recalls on methanol containing hand sanitizers
July 12, 2020 - A. Bitters
The FDA issues additional recalls on methanol containing hand sanitizers.
The FDA advises against using 9 different hand sanitizers
June 24, 2020 - A. Bitters
The FDA advises against using 9 different hand sanitizers.
Use Appropriate PPE in Photo and Video Shoots
May 19, 2020 - E. Uithoven
As featured in MSU Today, EHS stresses the importance of using appropriate PPE during photo and video shoots.
What's that stink? It could be your drain.
February 13, 2020 - EHS Chemical Safety
A common indoor air quality problem across Michigan State University is caused by dry drains. Read about dry drains and how to prevent them.