News & announcements from EH&S.
What Happened
β-mercaptoethanol (BME) is a hazardous substance characterized by its acute toxicity, corrosivity, and reproductive risks. Additionally, its thiol group gives the compound a distinct, pungent odor.
News
June 30, 2026
April 24, 2026
Solid methyllithium remnants were wiped up in a glove box using kim wipes, which were then wrapped in aluminum foil. This foil packet was then transferred to a fume hood for the quenching procedure. Isopropanol was added dropwise to this foil packet. Upon addition, the kim wipes and isopropanol started to smolder and caught fire within the fume hood. The researcher quickly put the fire out with a fire extinguisher and reported the incident to EH&S.
Small amounts of residual sodium metal (Na) on lab spatulas and tools were quenched by placing the items in an isopropanol bath within a fume hood. Not all tools were fully submerged in the solvent bath, and the reaction was not stirred. Water was then added to the isopropanol bath. Unreacted sodium remained on the tools and reacted upon contact with the water, igniting a fire. The heat from the fire damaged the fume hood sash and caused melting of nearby containers.
April 1, 2026
The Berkeley Medical Reserve Corps (BMRC) now proudly offers Basic Life Support CPR Certification w/ AED training for UC Berkeley staff and the wider community. The training teaches individuals how to recognize and respond to cardiac arrests, better empowering all members of the campus community to save lives. The training is an inexpensive and timely resource offered in-house by BMRC, a student-run organization of EMT-B volunteers.
March 20, 2026
Why safe science is good science, fire extinguisher trainings, and more
March 10, 2026
Derek Apodaca has been the Safety Manager and Health and Safety Officer for the Division of Biological Sciences for the last 14 years. He shared what it’s like to have a front-row seat on world-changing research… and why safe science is good science.
February 26, 2026
Last November, a researcher in a BSL2 lab was centrifuging stocks of a Risk Group 2 biological agent when the centrifuge experienced a catastrophic failure. The researcher heard a loud pop in the middle of the cycle and went to open the lid. The researcher determined the aerosol tight rotor bucket had cracked and carried it to the tissue culture room across the lab, not realizing the conical tubes inside were also broken. Since the biological agent spilled has an aerosol transmissible route of exposure, personnel present in the lab during the incident were advised to seek assistance from Occupational Health.
February 10, 2026
How many times have you ever glanced at a weather alert that used terms such as Advisory, Watch, and Warning and thought, “Okay… so what does that mean and what am I actually supposed to do?”
Understanding what these terms mean in the context of emergency alerts will empower you to make informed decisions about your commute to and from work or classes, attending events on campus, and the overall safety of yourself and your loved ones.
Daisies belong in gardens, not outlets. Daisy chaining—plugging power strips into other strips or extension cords—is a major fire hazard. This practice increases electrical resistance and heat, often overloading circuits and violating safety standards.
January 22, 2026
Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S) is preparing the 2026 Manufactured Nanoscale Materials Disclosure for the City of Berkeley.
If you use nanoscale materials in your lab, and
a. you have never filled out the Nanoscale Materials Information Form,
or,
b. you have begun using new nanoscale materials, or a new class of nanoscale materials
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