Risks Identified by the Office of Environmental Health & Safety

If you have questions about the following exposures after reading the descriptions below, please call EHS at 355-0153.

Work with lead (defined as exposure at or above the action level of 30 μg/m^3 for more than 30 days per year)

This includes skilled trades engaged in aggressive activities including welding, torch cutting, or grinding on lead coatings. The EHS Lead Management Program provides more detail on this requirement and is available here.

Required monitoring/training:

• Annual blood lead testing arranged by calling or coming to MSU Occupational Health, 123 Olin Health Center, 353-9137.
• Two hour lead awareness training and annual refresher training is required.
• Call EHS at 355-0153 to arrange for initial training.  
  

Work with asbestos 30 or more days a year.

Employees who work in an area involving levels of asbestos (including tremolite, anthophylite and actinolite) for 30 days or more a year at or above 0.1F/cc on a time-weighted average or those who must wear a respirator because of asbestos exposure. Operating departments should consult with EHS to determine whether their employees are eligible for medical surveillance. To arrange for medical monitoring, call MSU Occupational Health at 353-9137.

The MSU Asbestos Management plan provides more information regarding asbestos, including required training, and is available here.

Required monitoring/training:

• Annual medical monitoring at MSU Occupational Health, call 353-9137 for an appointment.
• Receive 8, 16, 32 or 40 hours of asbestos training as detailed in the asbestos management plan, call EHS at 355-0153 to arrange.

Work with formaldehyde (defined as exposure at or above 0.5 parts per million for an 8-hour day or 2 parts per million for 15 minutes). 

This includes some workers in anatomy, pathology or histology labs. Other examples are the human and veterinary anatomy technicians, workers in the placenta lab, and some EHS employees. Generally, those who work with formaldehyde, or formalin in a fume hood, or who work with small quantities and have low exposures, do not meet the exposure criteria. For more information, call EHS at 355-0153.

Required monitoring/training:

• Annual medical monitoring at MSU Occupational Health

Work with hazardous waste (defined as exposure at or above the permissible exposure limits for a chemical(s) 30 days or more a year).

Examples include EHS workers who pick up and consolidate hazardous waste and incinerator workers.  It does not include employees that generate hazardous waste.

Required monitoring/training:

• Biannual medical monitoring at MSU Occupational Health

Work with ethylene oxide (defined as exposure at or above 1 part per million for an 8-hour day or 5 parts per million for 15 minutes).

Central Sterile Supply workers at the Clinical Center and the Veterinary Medical Center are the only known users of ethylene oxide and they have low exposures. Any use of ethylene oxide outside of a fume hood may have exposure above the limits. Currently there is no one in this program. For more information, call EHS at 355-0153.

Required monitoring/training:

• Annual medical monitoring at MSU Occupational Health

Work with chemicals and routinely exposed to any chemical above the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Standards, including pesticides.

This covers any chemical covered by the OSHA standard. The department must check with EHS on a case-by-case basis. Any laboratory worker exposed to a spill, leak, explosion, or who develops symptoms associated with routine work exposure to chemicals, can request an evaluation by the occupational health physician. Call MSU Occupational Health at 353-9137 to arrange an evaluation.

Work with chemotherapeutic (anti-neoplastic) medications

This is a NON-required, voluntary program for individuals who mix or compound chemotherapeutic (anti-neoplastic) agents and/or administer the mediations intravenously. Individuals who choose to participate should call MSU Occupational Health at 353.9137 to make an appointment to complete a questionnaire and have periodic blood and urine testing.

Work with any of the following carcinogen(s)

Any MSU employee who works with the listed carcinogens must contact EHS at 355-0153 prior to any work with these materials:

2-Acetylaminofluorene

4-Aminodiphenyl

Benzidine

Bis-chloromethyl ether

3,3-Dichlorobenzidine(and salts)

4-Dimethylaminoazobenzene

Ethyleneimine

Methyl chloromethyl ether

Alpha-naphthylamine

Beta-naphthylamine

4-Nitrobiphenyl

N-nitrosodimethylamine

Exposure is with or without respiratory protection devices. Laboratory workers do not routinely have significant exposures unless a spill or leak occurs. Significant exposures can occur if fume hoods, or containment devices fail, or if safe work practices are not followed. Using large quantities of volatile chemicals outside of a fume hood, or in confined or poorly ventilated areas may result in significant exposures. For more information, call EHS at 355-0153.

Required monitoring/training:

• To be determined based on evaluation by EHS and Occupational Health