Here is our list of issues from EHS.

Whoever is in charge of the ethanol/bleach solutions needs to fix the issues with the decontaminant and let me know when it is taken care of.

I will get the new door signs printed and hung up soon.

We will discuss all of these issues on Monday at group meeting, but please read through the list ahead of time so that you can ask questions if you have them.

Remember – your safety is the most important thing in the lab! If there is ever anything that you feel is unsafe, please let me know so that we can address it right away.

From: ehs@unl.edu <ehs@unl.edu>
Date: Wednesday, March 5, 2025 at 2:11 PM
To: Nicole Iverson <iverson@unl.edu>
Cc: Cameron Spaulding <cspaulding2@unl.edu>
Subject: EHS Laboratory Safety Compliance Survey Results

Hello Dr. Iverson,

This email is to inform you of the results of the EHS Laboratory Safety Compliance Survey conducted by our EHS team, led by Cameron Spaulding, in your laboratories. Below, you'll find a list of open items that require attention. Any issues applicable to all surveyed rooms will be marked as “All surveyed rooms”. If a specific room isn't mentioned, it means no room-specific deficiencies were identified and/or were corrected during the time of the audit.

Please take a moment to go through the listed action items and address them accordingly:

MOLR 263:

- print and post updated placard located on the link provided below containing the addition of "Laser" symbol and updated contact

- Provide eye protection and train personnel to wear eye protection while working with biological/ chemical hazards in the laboratory

-The biological spill kit needs to have disinfectant included in or near the spill kit

-Class I BSC certification is past due (annual certification required) and needs to have a sign posted (DO NOT USE or OUT OF SERVICE) until

the cabinet is certified. Contact: servicedesk@unl.edu and let them know this cabinet needs certified or, if needed, reach out to your BMR. (note/ FYI: Class I BSC protects the personnel and environment only, it does NOT protect the sample)

MOLR 263A: Expired bleach found under the sink needs to be disposed of and replaced with non expired bleach. Place the expiration date on the new bottle(s).

MOLR 259: Print and post updated placard located on the link provided below containing the addition of symbols related to gas compression, oxidizer and irritant (the nitric oxide) and the updated contact

MOLR 257: Print and post updated placard located on the link provided below containing the updated contact

Once you or your laboratory staff has fixed/ updated the identified issues, can you contact me (hblair4@unl.edu) and let me know when completed?

Should you have any questions, concerns, or need further information, please feel free to reach out to us. Best, Heather Blair

Findings for Inspection #: 16657

Code	Description	Location	Recommendation	Observations	Correct By Date	Picture(s)
BIO01	Disinfectant containers are not appropriately labeled (name, made/mfg. date and expiration date). Expired disinfectants are in use.	263A / Morrison Life Sciences Research Center	Disinfectants in use must not be expired. See the EHS SOP "Chemical Disinfectants for Biohazardous Materials" for information about disinfectant shelf life at https://ehs.unl.edu/safe-operating-procedures/. Refer to the manufacturer's container or documentation for expiration dates. If expiration date is unknown, properly dispose of disinfectant. Most working solutions of disinfectants can be disposed of down the drain, but refer to the EHS Sewer Disposal List SOP prior to disposal.	Bleach located under the sink is expired.	06/03/2025
BIO03	A biohazardous spill kit is not available in the lab or is not appropriately stocked. Spills and contaminated surfaces and equipment are not appropriately cleaned and decontaminated.	263 / Morrison Life Sciences Research Center	Please replace the missing components of the biohazard spill kit. The missing components include: Disinfectant Additional guidance on clean up of spills of biohazardous materials as well as a complete list of minimum spill kit components can be found in the EHS SOP: SPILL AND EXPOSURE RESPONSE FOR BIOHAZARDOUS MATERIALS (https://ehs.unl.edu/resources/safe-operating-procedures).	No disinfectant component included in the spill kit.	06/03/2025
CHE01	Entrances to areas where hazardous chemicals are stored are not identified with a laboratory door placard, or the placard and/or hazard assessment is illegible or inaccurate.	257 / Morrison Life Sciences Research Center	[Door Placard Missing/Incorrect] EHS will generate and provide an updated door placard. Please print the placard in color and post on or near the lab entrance. Updated door placards can be found here: Campus Door Postings. For additional information see EHS SOP: DOOR POSTINGS FOR POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS LOCATIONS at https://ehs.unl.edu/safe-operating-procedures/.	Door placard needs updated. Remove Ivon Acosta and add Portia Plange as a secondary to contacts.	09/01/2025
CHE01	Entrances to areas where hazardous chemicals are stored are not identified with a laboratory door placard, or the placard and/or hazard assessment is illegible or inaccurate.	259 / Morrison Life Sciences Research Center	[Door Placard Missing/Incorrect] EHS will generate and provide an updated door placard. Please print the placard in color and post on or near the lab entrance. Updated door placards can be found here: Campus Door Postings. For additional information see EHS SOP: DOOR POSTINGS FOR POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS LOCATIONS at https://ehs.unl.edu/safe-operating-procedures/.	Door placard needs updated. Remove Ivon Acosta and add Portia Plange as a secondary to contacts. Add hazard icons for nitrous oxide (compressed gas, oxydizer, and irritant).	09/01/2025
CHE01	Entrances to areas where hazardous chemicals are stored are not identified with a laboratory door placard, or the placard and/or hazard assessment is illegible or inaccurate.	263 / Morrison Life Sciences Research Center	[Door Placard Missing/Incorrect] EHS will generate and provide an updated door placard. Please print the placard in color and post on or near the lab entrance. Updated door placards can be found here: Campus Door Postings. For additional information see EHS SOP: DOOR POSTINGS FOR POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS LOCATIONS at https://ehs.unl.edu/safe-operating-procedures/.	Door placard needs updated. Remove Ivon Acosta and add Portia Plange as a secondary to contacts. Add class 4 laser hazard to placard.	09/01/2025
PPE01	Personal protective equipment is not available, accessible, consistently used by employees, and/or appropriate for the operation(s) conducted, sized or properly maintained	263 / Morrison Life Sciences Research Center	Appropriate personal protective equipment, including eye protection should be worn while working in the laboratory.	No eye protection worn by the student working in the room.	06/03/2025
VEN01	Ventilated cabinet certification is expired; or certification sticker is missing or illegible.	263 / Morrison Life Sciences Research Center	[Certification Expired] The certification for the noted ventilated cabinet has lapsed. Ventilated cabinets must be inspected and tested on an annual basis. The issue will be referred to the facilities service desk for follow-up and correction. See EHS SOP: LABORATORY HOOD/CABINET IDENTIFICATION AND USE at https://ehs.unl.edu/safe-operating-procedures/ for more information.	Class I BSC Test Certification sticker is past the "Next Test No Later Than" date of July 2023.	04/04/2025

Environmental Health and Safety is committed to excellent customer service and we invite you to complete a Customer Satisfaction Survey to provide feedback on our services and staff. By taking a few moments to complete the survey (https://ehs.unl.edu/satisfaction-survey-0/), you will be helping us to identify areas where we might need to focus our attention. Your participation is greatly appreciated.