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IN THIS ISSUE: Biosafety for Your Lab Fume Hood Inspection Spotlight on EZ-Facts® New Products Get Your Calibration Done Here! Count-the-Dogs Winner Lab Talk Challenge Lab Talk Back

Does Your Lab Comply with OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogen Standard?

A bloodborne pathogen is any infectious material carried in blood that can cause serious disease in humans. Some of the better known diseases that can be transferred by bloodborne pathogens are hepatitis B and C and HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). Even minimal exposure to these pathogens puts a person at risk of contracting a serious disease.

To help prevent the spread of disease, OSHA developed the Bloodborne Pathogens standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030. The standard provides minimum guidelines for employers and requires their compliance. This basic protection is especially important for workers whose jobs bring them into contact with potentially infectious materials such as blood and bodily fluids.

To see what is required of employers by the bloodborne pathogens standard click here.

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Request a Catalog
Get a FREE Lab Supplies catalog for yourself or a colleague. You’ll find more than 1000 pages of brand-name lab supplies and equipment inside. Click here to request your FREE catalog, or call 1-800-356-0783.

 

Fume Hood Inspection

Most labs are equipped with a ventilation system to help control employee exposure to airborne contaminants. Probably the most common system is the fume hood. Fume hoods are engineered to contain harmful materials that may be toxic, noxious, corrosive, flammable or odorous. However, in order to be effective, a fume hood must be placed, maintained and inspected properly to ensure worker safety.

When choosing the location for your laboratory fume hood, be sure that it is out of the way of a main traffic flow. Airflow through the hood can be altered simply by people walking in front of the hood. Keep the hood away from other air disturbances such as doors, windows, air conditioning and other ventilation supplies or outlets. Extraneous air currents such as these can also disrupt the internal flow within the hood.

For tips on proper fume hood maintenance click here.

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Free “Lab” Dog and Mousepad To say “Thank you!” for ordering from LSS, we’ll send you a colorful mousepad that conveniently doubles as a 48-page notepad and two-year calendar. It’s FREE with any order, but you MUST request item FG-126395.

You can also have your own, six-inch tall, Stuffed “Lab” Dog! It’s cute, and it’s FREE with any order of $125 or more, but you MUST request item FG-126400 when you place your order. Offer good through Dec. 31, 2005 or while supplies last.

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Spotlight On EZ-Facts®

Electrical Safety—EZ-Facts 266

Electrical safety guidelines set by OSHA help you reduce the risks of electrical hazards in your workplace. 29 CFR 1910 Subpart S defines the difference between unqualified and qualified electrical safety personnel, proper work practices and provides information on electrical protective equipment. Read more in EZ Facts® Document No. 266, Electrical Safety. To view it, go to: http://www.labsafety.com/refinfo /ezfacts/ezf266.htm.

Chemical Protective Clothing—EZ-Facts 190

EZ Facts® Document No. 190, Selecting Chemical Protective Clothing for Vapor and Splash Protection, provides definitions of the different levels of protection, information regarding selecting material types and contact information on the regulatory agencies for further guidance. To view it, go to: http://www.labsafety.com/refinfo/ezf acts/ezf190.htm.

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New Products

Thermo Electron Corporation’s new Orion Star Series meters take handheld and benchtop electrochemistry measurement to new levels of accuracy and convenience. The series includes the first US-made multi-parameter meter that can store up to 10 programmable methods with password protection. Star Series meters are built with the option of 21 CFR Part 11 compliance in mind to ensure electronic records are as valid as anything on paper.

Benchtop models are splash-proof, dust-proof and very compact. Lightweight handheld models feature waterproof, secure electrode connectors that are ideal for field work. All models provide an intuitive user interface with bright, easy-to-read LCD screens.

For more information click here.

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Get Your Calibration Done Here!

LSS now offers a service that helps you keep your instruments in compliance. Get temperature, humidity, electrical and electrochemistry equipment received, calibrated, certified and returned to you within five business days! Same thing for timers, calipers, micrometers, force gauges and tape measures. Top quality NIST calibration by an A2LA Accredited metrology lab with ISO9001:2000 certification—all at the lowest price available. Any product purchased from LSS can be calibrated before it ships to you! For details call 1-800-356-2501 or go to www.lss.com/calibration.

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Count-the-Dogs Winner  The 2005 Lab Supplies catalog challenged readers to find and count all 54 dogs that appeared throughout its pages. From those who counted correctly, two winners were chosen at random to receive a life-size (25" high), stuffed “Lab” dog. Congratulations to our winners, Joy from Wahpeton, ND and Kirsten from Reading, PA.

Because response to this promotion was so positive, plans are underway to find a good home for another (stuffed) dog in 2006.

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The Lab Talk Challenge

Last issue’s challenge question was:

Some 300 years ago an Italian named Bernardino Ramazzini recorded his observations of musculoskeletal injuries in occupations, but it was the mid-nineteenth century before a Polish professor coined the term “ergonomics.” What was this professor’s name?

Answer: Wojciech Jastrzebowski.

Congratulations to Greg of Corona, CA, Sandy of Memphis, TN and Rebecca of Northville, MI. They answered correctly and each received an Oakton® Waterproof pH Testr 10 (an $80 value ) .

Here’s your new challenge question:

What does ASHRAE stand for?

Send your answer to LSSLabTalk@labsafety.com no later than Friday, August 26, 2005. Three lucky winners will be selected at random from all correct entries received by the deadline. Each winner will receive Nalgene RTK Safety Wash Bottle Assortment Pack (a $26.90 value) and a Solar Thermometer (a $27.30 value). Winners will be notified by e-mail. Good Luck!

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Lab Talk Back

Let us know what you think! We’ll send a FREE LSS Padfolio and “LAB” Calendar-Mousepad to five randomly selected respondents who answer all of the questions below.

Thanks to Clair of Woburn, MA, Peyton of Gordon, GA, and Earl of Bloomington, IL for responding to all three Talk Back questions from our last issue. Enjoy your LSS Padfolio and “LAB” Calendar-Mousepad .

PLEASE NOTE: Answers must be received by Friday, August 26, 2005. To receive your FREE gift, you MUST include your name and mailing address. This information must correspond to your LSS.com registration information. If you are not registered at LSS.com, don’t worry! It just takes a few seconds. Click here to register.

Lab Talk Back Questions:

1. Have you ever increased the size of a catalog purchase in order to receive a gift being offered along with a certain purchase amount?

2. LSS offers FREE Technical Support, plus Calibration and Repair services. Are there any other services you would like to see made available through LSS?

3. Which topics would you most like to see explored in future issues of LSS Lab Talk?

Send your Lab Talk Back answers to LSSLabTalk@labsafety.com.

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