Happy Holidays and A Look Back at 2024

As the year draws to a close, we at USC Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) would like to extend the warmest holiday wishes to you and your families. May this season bring you joy, rest, and a time to recharge for the year ahead. As we bring 2024 to a close, we wanted to provide…

New Arrival! RSS Radiation Module

USC EH&S is pleased to announce the unveiling of the Risk and Safety Solutions (RSS) Radiation Module to manage your RAM usage logs, waste requests for RAM, uploading contamination documentation, and more beginning January 6, 2025. Authorized RAM Users with RSS accounts are required to: Those awaiting an RSS account are expected to discontinue entries in EHSA and…

USC Researcher Spotlight (Biosafety Month 2024)

Professor Cheryl Mae Craft, Ph.D. October marks International Biosafety and Biosecurity Month, a time to reflect on the critical importance of safety in research environments. At USC, our focus is promoting best practices that protect researchers, their teams, and the communities they serve. Whether handling biohazardous materials, ensuring the safe disposal of lab waste, or…

Happy Biosafety Month!

Happy Biosafety Month and Happy Halloween! What do Biosafety Month and Halloween have in common? Both happen in October and can bring up scary images. But, this month, we’re highlighting how to contain the real fright – biohazards – and keep our labs safe! Join USC EH&S for weekly activities, prizes, and essential tips to…

New Web Page Published: Hazardous & Compressed Gases

Compressed gases, though widely used in USC research laboratories, USC shop locations (instructional, fabrication), and USC facilities, present physical, chemical, and health hazards. It is critically important then to consult key references (including manufacturer’s safety guidelines) before planning and executing work with compressed gases. See the Hazardous and Compressed Gases web page….

Workplace Violence Prevention Training

As part of USC’s commitment to maintaining a safe and secure environment for faculty, staff, students, alumni, volunteers, and visitors, the university maintains a Violence-Free Campus Workplace Policy. Recently, California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal/OSHA) released new regulations requiring employers, including USC, to develop a formal plan and train employees on the prevention of…

2024 Asbestos-Containing Materials Building Inventory Memo

USC is committed to maintaining a healthy and safe environment. In compliance with California regulations (Connelly Act), USC Environmental Health & Safety is required to identify areas at USC where asbestos may be present in building materials. The annual inventory was recently updated on April 29, 2024. If there are any questions regarding asbestos-containing materials,…

New Guide Sheet Available: Waste Anesthetic Gas Canisters

Waste Anesthetic Gas (WAG) Canisters are passive gas filters that rely on anesthesia flow and the anesthetized animal’s exhalation volume to push waste anesthetic gases into the charcoal canisters. Download the guide sheet for instructions on use, storage, and disposal of the canisters. The guide sheet is also available at the Fact/Guide Sheets and Health…