University of Connecticut |ABOUT US: BIOLOGICAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
The Biological Health and Safety Programs have 2 areas of focus: Biological Safety and Public Health. The aim of biological safety (biosafety) staff is to recognize and evaluate the occupational and laboratory risks associated with the use, storage or disposal of biological agents such as bacteria, viruses and fungi. The biosafety programs are designed to introduce and/or recommend procedures, practices, equipment and/or facility design that promotes contamination control, agent containment and/or risk reduction and to help assure University compliance with OSHA, CDC/HHS, NIH/HHS, DPH, FDA, DEP/EPA, USDA/APHIS, DOD, DOC, DOT and USPS regulations. The Public Health programs are designed to facilitated protection of the public health of the University community and visitors from environmental hazards (biological, chemical, radioactive and physical) associated with food and water and general hygiene by assuring the appropriate DEP, OSHA, Department of Consumer Protection (DCP), FDA, Public Health code and University policy regulations are followed.
Staff:
Leslie Delpin, Manager (Institutional Biosafety Officer) 486-2436
- Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) and MUA questions, Select Agent Registration questions, Biosafety Level 3 registration questions
Leslie Delpin, Manager
David Cavallaro, Safety Specialist II 486-3180
- biosafety questions, biowaste handling, clean air device and other engineering controls questions, bloodborne pathogens program, Biosafety training
David Cavallaro, Safety Specialist II
- Biosafety laboratory audit program, Department of Public Health facility inspection program
Cheryl Lebeau, RS, Safety Specialist II (University Sanitarian) 486-6022
- food safety, temporary food service applications, mobile vendors, any sanitation questions, potable and recreational water safety
Bill Field, Specialist II 486-1376
- animal handlers safety program, animal facilities Biosafety audit program, Biosafety training
David Judd, Safety Technician II 486-1804
- biological waste collection, biological sharps distribution, clean air devices service call coordination
ABOUT US: CHEMICAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
The Chemical Health and Safety Section has a dual role: first, it serves the University in general as the source for chemical and hazardous waste removal, storage, and disposal; second, it offers, primarily the research community, a consultative resource for health and safety issues from a chemical and laboratory perspective. In both roles, Chemical Health & Safety staff are tasked with promoting University compliance with applicable OSHA, EPA, Connecticut DEP, DoT, and other employee/environmental safety regulations. The Chemical Health and Safety section provides this support and these services to a broad range of faculty and staff working in a variety of settings, including Facilities Operations, Researchers, food service, custodial services, farm services, Public Safety, and office and administrative areas. Chemical Health and Safety develops policies and procedures, conducts training, responds to chemically-related incidents, and performs laboratory inspections, hazardous waste audits, and accident/spill investigations. Issues that are commonly referred to Chemical Health and Safety include: hazard characterization; hazard assessment; waste determination; indoor air quality; reproductive hazards in the lab; lab design and set-up; engineering control evaluation (fume hoods); and personal protective equipment selection.
Staff:
Stefan Wawzyniecki, Manager 486-1110
- OSHA Lab Standard, general safety questions in laboratory settings.
- specialty areas: lab ventilation, exposure monitoring, hazardous waste issues
Denis Shannon, Health and Safety Specialist 486-3115
- Hazardous waste determinations, chemical recycling, Universal wastes, Connecticut Regulated wastes
Brent Lewchik, Health and Safety Specialist 486-4927
- Chemical Waste pick-up coordinator, fume hood evaluations, laboratory inspections
Mich Colgan, Health and Safety Specialist 486-2691
- Chemical Waste pick-ups, lab safety training, fume hood evaluations, lab inspections
ABOUT US: OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
The Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Section’s role is to promote and protect the health and safety of University employees, and to promote University compliance with applicable OSHA, EPA, CT DPH, and other worker safety regulations. The OHS section provides services covering a broad range of worker safety issues that affect the health and well-being of University faculty and staff working in a variety of settings, including the maintenance and construction trades, technical fields, food service, custodial services, farm services, protective services, and office and administrative areas. The OHS section develops policies and programs, conducts training, responds to complaints and referrals, and performs workplace consultations, audits, and accident investigations. Health and safety issues covered by the section include: asbestos, lead, non-laboratory chemical use and handling, electrical safety, personal protective equipment, respiratory protection, industrial vehicle safety, noise exposure, machinery and equipment safety, trenching and excavations, ergonomics, and indoor air quality.
Staff:
Terri Dominguez, Manager 486-0981
- General OSHA and workplace safety questions in non-laboratory settings.
- specialty areas: ergonomics, indoor air quality, mold, pesticide safety, ventilation
Valerie Brangan, Health and Safety Specialist 486-2982
- asbestos, hazard communication, hearing conservation, lead, personal protective equipment, respiratory protection
Rich Kula, Health and Safety Specialist 486-3190
- accident investigations, aerial lifts, confined space entry, electrical safety, fall protection, industrial vehicle/equipment safety, lockout/tagout, machine guarding, scaffolds, trenching and excavation safety
Dennis Demers, Health and Safety Technician 486-2229
- workplace environmental monitoring, general workplace safety inspections/surveys
ABOUT US: RADIATION SAFETY
The Radiation Safety Section (RSS) is responsible for ensuring a safe environment for all personnel and members of the public at the University of Connecticut with regard to radiation from X-rays, isotopes, and lasers. These sources of radiation are restricted primarily to research laboratories and have very little impact on workers in non-laboratory settings. In the event that a worker has to enter a radiation lab, precautions are taken to ensure that this person is trained and never comes in contact with radioactivity. Personnel who work in or near a radiation lab where they may be exposed are provided with training and monitors to measure their exposure. This documents that their radiation exposures are within the regulatory guidelines and are as low as reasonably achievable. Those personnel who work with radioactive materials are classified as radiation workers and have explicit training and licensure requirements that include approval by the Radiation Safety Committee, limits to the amount of radioactivity they may possess, quarterly inspections and required personal monitoring. The RSS oversees all aspects of the federal regulations that regulate the use of radioactive materials under the auspices of the license issued by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to the University of Connecticut.
Staff:
Martin C. Graham, Radiation Safety Officer and Manager 486-1108
- All questions and issues relating to ionizing radiation and laser radiation
Amy Courchesne, Radiation Safety Specialist, II 486-5399
- Inspection of and questions pertaining to radiological material and analytical x-ray laboratories, radiological surveys, training, personnel monitoring, inventory control
Roy Brown, Radiation Safety Specialist, II 486-0925
- Inspection of and questions pertaining to radiological material laboratories, radiological surveys, inventory control, radioactive material waste management
Dawn Kemp, Administrative Services Specialist, II 486-1105
- Radioactive material requisitioning, inventory control, personnel monitoring, committee secretary, general guidance on radiation safety policies and procedures