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.
Sharps are any items with pointed edges or projections capable of cutting, puncturing, or piercing the skin. Common examples include:
Hypodermic needles
Syringes with attached needles or tubing
Razor blades, scalpels, and X-Acto® knives
Glass Pasteur pipettes
Broken glass items
The campus Ergonomics program is a faculty and staff support unit part of the Be Well at Work program under University Health Services. They provide assistance to departments to guide ergonomic improvement for campus faculty and staff work environments to prevent and address repetitive strain injury.
Please review the following personal protective equipment (PPE) reminders and share this information with lab members.
EH&S is now offering bulk lab coat replacements. This time of the year is a good time to exchange your lab coat for a clean one, even if there are no visible stains or spillage on it.
Behind every groundbreaking scientific discovery at UC Berkeley’s Innovative Genomics Institute, there lies an almost invisible force that keeps the research running smoothly — its facility services team. While scientists like Nobel Laureate Jennifer Doudna develop revolutionary genome-editing technology, Building Manager Teddy Prompichai and Lab Operations Manager Josh Miller work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure labs are safe, equipment is functional, and researchers have the support they need.
A small fire broke out in a laboratory in the Department of Physics when a service technician plugged a heat gun into a power strip that was plugged into an isolation transformer. When a transformer is overloaded, the transformer can experience high operating temperatures, causing it to overheat. In this case, the overheated transformer caused a small fire to break out.
Last month, severe flooding occurred in a campus building, leading to unexpected challenges in laboratory waste management.
A serious concern emerged when floodwater seeped into cardboard boxes, used for clean glass disposal, that did not have plastic liners. Without this essential barrier, the integrity of the boxes were compromised, rendering them unsafe for handling and disposal.
A new Cal/OSHA Indoor Heat Illness Standard went into effect July 2024 to protect workers in areas where temperatures may exceed 82°F. During Bay Area heat waves, our building ventilation systems may be challenged to maintain temperatures below this threshold, potentially affecting all campus employees.
The campus Drain Disposal Restrictions have been revised in an effort to simplify the guidelines and mitigate improper disposal practices. Discharge of hazardous chemical wastes into the municipal sanitary sewer system is prohibited by campus policy and is regulated by federal, state, and regional laws. UC Berkeley is committed to the protection of the local community and the environment.
CSHEMA's Lab Safety Awareness Week is held from February 10-14, 2025, and is intended to promote laboratory health and safety programs and offer information and ideas on how to keep our faculty, staff, and students safe.
Following guidance from Cal/OSHA and the University of California Office of the President (UCOP), UC Berkeley’s Guidelines on Protecting Workers from COVID-19 training, the COVID-19 Prevention Program, and the COVID-19 Workplace Exposure dashboard will be retired.
Please refer to the University Health Services website for the latest COVID-19 information.
The following materials are for researchers, principal investigators, staff, and faculty involved in off-campus fieldwork–both domestic and international.
Practice your Drop (or Lock), Cover, and Hold on this ShakeOut at 10:17 am on October 17.
We invite you to get involved by taking actionable steps to bolster your personal preparedness for earthquakes and other emergencies that can impact our campus and region.
Where? South Side of McCone Hall
When? 11 am to 2 pm Thursday, October 17
The town hall will be held on Wednesday, October 23, 2024 online from 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm.
Zoom Meeting ID: 948 3905 3719
Passcode: 6427540.
Warmer temperatures are returning. The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for the region. Heat can be dangerous and potentially life-threatening. It is important to take precautions and to be prepared for high heat conditions. Please share this information with supervisors and employees in your department that work outdoors or may be exposed to high temperatures indoors during their workday.
Following the enactment of California law SB 553, UC Berkeley is introducing a Workplace Violence Prevention (WPVP) Plan. This plan is designed to protect you and everyone on campus by clearly outlining what constitutes prohibited conduct, including any act or threat of violence that occurs in the workplace