CSHEMA Innovation Award Application 2017 Resource Enhancement: Reduced Costs and

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1 California State University, Fullerton CSHEMA Innovation Award Application 2017 Resource Enhancement: Reduced Costs and Student Success Preparing Students for Environmental Health and Safety Careers While Saving Money California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) has found an innovative way to prepare college students for careers in the environmental health and safety (EHS) field while also saving the University a great deal of money. What began as a means to address a tough budget situation in 2009, has evolved into helping EHS students obtain career skills and jobs when they graduate. The practice of collecting hazardous waste chemicals from instructional and research labs and storing them safely on campus until a third party company properly packs them for disposal occurs at universities across the United States. To address a tough budget situation in 2009, two CSUF EHS staff members decided to consolidate the liquid wastes themselves instead of having a third party vendor lab pack the chemicals. The lab packing usually allows only up to 25 gallons of waste in a 55 gallon drum, whereas by consolidating the chemicals, EHS staff could fill a 55 gallon drum. The consolidation activity resulted in reducing the number of drums sent off for disposal in 2009 from 560 to 140 a year which amounted to $90,000 savings. In addition, the consolidation of the chemicals on a routine basis within the 90 day Environmental Protection Agency window, enhanced the safety surrounding the chemical storage since the numbers of containers stored were significantly less. As CSUF continued to grow, it became apparent that EHS needed to add more staff. While still trying to address tight budgets, the EHS team decided to add student employees to assist with the waste chemical consolidation and other chemical safety responsibilities which are listed in Exhibit A. The EHS student safety 1

2 team has grown over the past years to 4. Each student works a maximum of 20 hours during the school term. More important than salary savings to CSUF is the promotion of student success. Of the students who have graduated, Table 1 represents the jobs they have obtained due to their experience at CSUF s EHS Department. Other universities are now expressing interest in implementing a similar model for student employment at their EHS Department where they previously believed students could only assist with administrative duties. Understanding the importance of safety when conducting chemical consolidations, CSUF has extensive training requirements for the students which include a 40 hour Hazardous Waste Operations course, Respiratory Protection Program which includes medical monitoring, and annual refresher training. In addition to comprehensive training, the students receive the necessary supervision to ensure their safety. A few of the students have been with CSUF EHS 3-4 years, but a minimum of a 2 year commitment is required. The training they receive also makes them more marketable to employers. Table 1 - Reduction in Waste Disposal Costs by Drums Year # of Drums * * *change from 2009 due to increase in science laboratory courses based on increase in student population Table 2 Jobs for EHS Student Employees Job Industry Years with CSUF EHS Chemical Hygiene Officer Museum 2 Occupational Safety Medical Center 2 Technician Radiation Safety Technician University 2 Hazardous Materials Specialist University 2 2

3 Chemical Safety Officer University 2 Exhibit A CSUF EHS Health and Safety Student Technician Responsibilities Hazardous Materials/Waste Programs: Provide support & assistance to the Chemical Hygiene Officer/Hazardous Materials Specialist or other EHS staff member in the administration of the campus hazardous materials management program. Duties include but are not limited to the following: 1. Assist the Chemical Hygiene Officer in inspecting laboratories & other campus locations for the accumulation of hazardous waste. Identify the waste by hazard class & ensure appropriate labeling, segregation, & storage of the material. 2. Collect hazardous waste materials from laboratories & other campus locations & transport to the Chemical Storage Area. 3. Under the direction of the Chemical Hygiene Officer, or other qualified EHS staff, characterize hazardous chemicals within the Chemical Storage Area by hazard class and then consolidate the hazardous chemicals by compatibility. 4. Under the direction of the Chemical Hygiene Officer or other qualified EHS staff, assist with the implementation of the hazard communication program; ensure chemical users have access to Safety Data Sheets and assure all chemicals are properly labeled within the laboratories and other areas on campus as necessary to comply with applicable regulations. 5. Maintain Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response training and perform emergency response Radiation Safety Program: 3

4 Provide support & assistance to the Radiation Safety Officer in the administration of the campus Radiation program. Duties include but are not limited to the following: 1. Collect and distribute, on behalf of the Radiation Safety Officer, medical monitoring badges, rings and/or other dosimetry devices. 2. Operate the Liquid Scintillation counter as necessary and other radiation detection devices under the direction of the Radiation Safety Officer. 3. Inspect & monitor areas where radioactive materials are used. Assist with maintaining the inventory of radioactive materials. 4. Assists in maintaining inventories of radioactive materials and supplies. 5. Receives and inspects shipments of radioactive materials; log in the materials and delivers to the principal investigator. 6. Collect spent radioisotopes from laboratories. 7. Under the direction of the Radiation Safety Officer, respond to radioisotope spills, assist in managing the spill, cleaning up the spill and decontaminating the affected areas, containerize, label and transport the material to the Decay-In-Storage area. 8. Other duties as assigned. Biosafety Program: Provide support & assistance to the Biosafety Officer in the administration of the campus Biosafety Program. Duties include but are not limited to the following: 1. Under the direction of the Biosafety Officer, provide support for the Biosafety Program and Biosafety Officer as necessary. 4

5 2. Under the direction of the Biosafety Officer, monitor bio-hazardous waste disposal activities and assist in proper pickup, packaging, labeling for disposal of biohazardous wastes from the labs, health center or other area that may generate medical or biohazardous materials. 3. Under the direction of the Biosafety Officer, respond to spills involving biohazardous materials, manage the spill, clean up the spill and decontaminate the affected areas, containerize, label and transport the materials to the Chemical Storage Area or the Medical Waste Storage Area. 4. Other duties as assigned 5