EH&S E-News and Notes
Archives
Winter'02, No. 6

Stanford University
Environmental Health and Safety
480 Oak Road
Stanford, CA 94305-8007
650-723-0448

C o n t e n t s

• National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month
  
  
• Holiday Fire Safety Tips
  
  
• Chemical Waste Pickup is on line
  
  
• Stanford University Biosafety Manual 2003
  
  
• Laser Institute of America Membership
  

December is "3D Month" National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month

Contributed by
Training and Communications Specialist, Susie Claxton

The month of December is National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) "3D Month" - National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month. Be sure to be mindful yourself and share with your loved ones (especially teenage drivers) the facts about the dangers of impaired driving and the very simple solutions to preventing loss of life due to impaired driving. Make a personal commitment that you will not let yourself, or anyone you are with, drive impaired.

UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEM
FACT: Impaired driving is a chronic problem that will affect one in three Americans during their lifetime. Nearly 42,000 people die in motor vehicle crashes each year. Approximately 16,000 of these deaths are alcohol-related.
FACT: The loss of lives due to impaired driving is completely preventable. There are alternatives to impaired driving:
Designate a sober driver
Take a taxi or call a safe ride program
Make arrangements to spend the night where you are

Holiday Fire Safety Tips

Contributed by
Assistant Fire Marshal, Alison Pena

The winter holidays are a time for celebration, and that means more cooking, home decorating and entertaining. It's just these types of activities that bring an increased risk of fire. The National Fire Protection Association, NFPA, states that December is the peak month for candle fires. Heating equipment is the leading cause of home fires during the months of December, January and February. By arming yourself with a few safety tips, you can ensure that your family and home remain safe this holiday season. Just reading the list below will increase your awareness and contribute to your overall safety!

CANDLE SAFETY

• Did you know that candles are not permitted in student residences?
• It's a good idea not to allow children or teens to have candles in their bedrooms since almost half of home candle fires start in the bedroom.
• Do use candleholders that are sturdy, won't tip over easily and are large enough to collect dripping wax.
  

HOLIDAY ENTERTAINING

• Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home fires. When cooking for holiday visitors, remember to keep an eye on the range.
• After a party, always check on, between and under upholstery and cushions and inside trashcans for cigarette butts that may be smoldering.
• Be sure to turn off all light strings and decorations before leaving the house or going to bed.

HOME HEATING

• Space heaters need space. All types of portable heaters need a three-foot clearance from anything that can burn and should always be turned off when leaving the room or going to sleep.
• Use a sturdy fireplace screen to keep sparks from flying into the room.
• When buying heaters, look for devices with automatic shutoff features.

For more information visit the National Fire Protection Association web site today.

Chemical Waste Pickup form is on line

Contributed by
Environmental Programs Manager, Craig Barney

The Hazardous Waste Program is happy to announce that our Chemical Waste Pickup Form is now available on line. Once you complete the required information, this web based form will be submitted to the Hazardous Waste group at Environmental Health and Safety. Once submitted, you will receive electronic confirmation of your request. The Hazardous Waste Program is committed to completing pickup of your waste within 10 working days.

For more information please check the following URL:
http://web.stanford.edu/dept/EHS/prod/enviro/waste/index.html
We also will keep the permanent link to this form on line at EH&S Home Page:
http://ehs.stanford.edu

Stanford University Biosafety Manual 2003

Contributed by
Bisafety Manager, Ellyn Segal

This Biosafety Manual represents the institutional practices and procedures for the safe use and handling of biological materials and recombinant DNA at Stanford University. The Administrative Panel on Biosafety and the Biosafety Manager have prepared this document based on the latest government regulatory requirements, guidelines and current professional standards. If you would like a hard copy, send a request to esegal@stanford.edu.

Click here to access the Biosafety Manual on line.

Laser Institute of America Membership

Contributed by
Laser Safety Manager, Arefeh Shanjani

Environmental Health & Safety has purchased the Institutional Membership (Corporate Membership) of the Laser Institutes of America (LIA)! This membership allows faculty, laser fellow researchers, safety professionals, engineers, laser operators, technicians, students and other professionals at Stanford University to stay up to date with the latest laser safety standards. LIA membership includes but is not limited to: discounts on LIA products and discount on laser safety training courses. Log on today, to take full advantage of LIA member benefits. http://www.laserinstitute.org/.

If you have questions regarding LIA membership, please call Arefeh Shanjani at 5-1411.

E-mail us with your questions, thoughts and suggestions or if you would like to be added to our mailing list.

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