News & Alerts

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News & announcements from EH&S.

News

December 12, 2023

Coming Soon: New BUA Process

Information for Biological Use Authorization (BUA) holders

We are modernizing the Biological Use Authorization (BUA) submission process by moving to the online UC Risk & Safety Solutions software system (“RSS BUA”).

December 7, 2023

Important lab coat reminders

EH&S needs your extra lab coats!

When researchers leave the lab or the university, many lab coats are left behind and remain unused. This occupies valuable space and prevents EH&S from reissuing coats.

1. Return Surplus Lab Coats.

To sustain our campus-funded lab coat program, please return any surplus coats by following the instructions.

October 18, 2023

Reminder: New Lab Coat Laundry Process

Information for Researchers

Earlier this fall, Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S) launched a new lab coat laundry process.

Please perform the following steps if your lab coat is in need of laundering:

October 2, 2023

Lessons Learned: Fume Hood Vessel Overpressurization and Skin Burns from Heating Glass

The following lessons learned reports detail what went wrong and what corrective actions have been taken or will take place to address the incidents. 

September 25, 2023

Skin Burns from Heating Glass Vessel

What happened?

A researcher was heating a small volume (<30mL) of hexanes/ethyl acetate containing approximately one gram of an organic azide. The solution was placed in a capped, 40mL pyrex media storage bottle. Holding the bottle of the azide solution in their left hand, the researcher was heating it with a heat gun with their right hand behind a horizontal fume hood sash protecting their face and torso. 

Fume Hood Sash Cracks due to Reaction Vessel Overpressurization

What happened?

Using dry Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) as solvent, a reaction between an organic macrocycle and bromoethane was placed in a round bottom pressure vessel. The reaction was heated using armor aluminum beads in a stainless steel bowl sitting atop a hotplate. The setup was briefly left unattended inside a fume hood with the sash closed.

September 20, 2023

Wildfire Smoke Information for Supervisors

Please share this information with supervisors in your department of outdoor workers:

Wildfire Smoke

As of this morning, the campus air quality index has exceeded 100 for a sustained period of time and we continue to be impacted by smoke from wildfires in Northern California and Oregon. Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S) advises the following actions in response to unhealthy air quality:

July 24, 2023

UC Center for Laboratory Safety - 2023 Workshop

2023 Workshop on Laboratory Safety

The UC Center for Laboratory Safety (UCCLS) will be hosting a hands-on in-person workshop to promote research safety for researchers and safety professionals on Sunday, September 17 - Tuesday September 19 in Los Angeles. 

July 21, 2023

Risk Assessment in the Research Lab Workshop

The ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety will be hosting their RAMP in the Research Lab workshop on Wednesda

July 10, 2023

Changes to Notification of Potential Workplace Exposure to COVID-19

UC Berkeley faculty and staff can now stay updated on potential COVID-19 exposures by accessing the UC Berkeley Potential Worksite Exposure Information Website. This will replace the previous practice of sending a COVID-19 potential workplace exposure CALmessage to all employees within one business day of a potential COVID-19 exposure in campus buildings.