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.
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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
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
November 25, 2025
This Safety Newsletter, sent to department safety coordinators, is intended to build community and raise awareness about safety topics.
November 19, 2025
Alicia Bihler stepped into the role of Executive Director of EH&S on July 1, 2025. Since 2023, she has led the department as Acting Director, guiding EH&S through a period of sustained focus on campus safety, regulatory compliance, and emergency preparedness.
November 17, 2025
After nearly two years of effort, the campus-wide chemical inventory tagging project is wrapping up—and the results are remarkable. Since February 2024, our partners at Triumvirate Environmental have visited almost every lab and hazardous materials area on campus, placing barcode tags on chemical containers and logging them into the RSS Chemicals database. In total, the team has tagged more than 200,000 containers, creating one of the most comprehensive chemical inventories UC Berkeley has ever had.
November 13, 2025
A researcher was soldering on an open bench for extended periods of time over two days. The work was quite small and included soldering many wires to connectors.
The researcher was exposed to soldering fumes resulting in irritation to the respiratory system. Symptoms experienced included watery eyes, coughing, chest tightness and dry nose & throat.
September 10, 2025
The fall semester is under way, and Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S) would like to help get you started on the right foot with some key lab safety reminders
August 22, 2025
The following message is meant for labs:
Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S) will be performing audits of groups on campus with chemical inventories to check for chemical inventory accuracy. Maintaining chemical inventories to at least 90% accuracy is a prerequisite to UC Systemwide MAQ compliance
August 18, 2025
The following messaging is meant for Department Safety Coordinators:
Unhealthy air quality associated with wildfire smoke poses health risks, particularly for those who work outdoors or have outdoor activities planned. Ensuring the safety and well-being of the campus community is a top priority for Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S). As a proactive measure, departments and employees are encouraged to prepare by taking the following actions.
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Stay Informed
July 7, 2025
This Safety Newsletter, sent to department safety coordinators, is intended to build community and raise awareness about safety topics.
July 2, 2025
When Alan Bolind walks into a lab, he’s not just inspecting equipment — he’s laying the foundation for a safer research environment. As a lab safety specialist (LSS) for UC Berkeley’s Office of Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S), Bolind works closely with department safety coordinators (DSCs), like Amin Jazaeri, to ensure that safety isn’t just a checklist item, but a shared culture.
June 27, 2025
This message was sent as a Calmessage to all faculty and staff by the Vice Chancellor for Research and Vice Chancellor for Administration.
Dear colleagues,
Following a nationwide search, we are pleased to announce that Alicia Bihler will assume the role of Executive Director within UC Berkeley’s Office of Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S), effectiveJuly 1, 2025.