Environmental Health & Safety from the Director's Desk
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Welcome Back to Campus!
As the fall semester gets underway, the Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) team would like to welcome our faculty, staff, students, and researchers back to campus. We hope your semester is off to a safe and successful start.
While the academic year has begun, summer conditions in South Florida are far from over. Miami continues to experience exceptionally warm temperatures and high humidity, which can significantly increase the risk of heat-related illnesses. Whether you are working outdoors, moving between buildings, or performing physically demanding tasks, be sure to stay hydrated, take breaks when needed, and monitor yourself and your colleagues for signs and symptoms of heat stress, including dizziness, headache, nausea, excessive fatigue, or confusion.
As you settle back into your workspaces and laboratories, now is also a great time for a quick safety check. Take a moment to inspect your laboratory or departmental first aid kit to ensure supplies are stocked, materials have not expired, and the kit remains easily accessible. Additionally, make sure everyone in your area knows the physical building address and location information for their workspace. In an emergency requiring a 911 response, providing an accurate address can save valuable time and help emergency responders reach you more quickly.
In this edition of the newsletter, we are highlighting several important safety topics, including:
- Biosafety Month and opportunities to strengthen biosafety awareness and practices.
- Biological Registration Guidance to support compliance and safe research operations.
- Hazardous Waste Management Reminders for proper handling and disposal within laboratories.
- The Benefits of Good Housekeeping and how maintaining a clean, organized laboratory contributes to safety, compliance, and operational efficiency.
- Why Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) Matter and ensuring your team knows where and how to access SDSs for your lab.
- Lithium-Ion Battery Safety, specifically charging and fire prevention.
Thank you for making safety a shared responsibility across our campuses. We look forward to partnering with you throughout the semester to support a safe, healthy, and productive learning and research environment.
Stay safe and have a great semester!
Jennifer Laine, DrPH
Executive Director, EHS
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October is Biosafety & Biosecurity Month!
Every year we recognize and celebrate Biosafety and Biosecurity Month in the month of October. Since 2020 we have offered an annual webinar detailing some of the major projects we’ve worked on to promote good safety culture here at the U and gave away prizes for those in attendance. Last year we continued introducing new events, such as bringing in a guest speaker, hosting an escape room, and launching biosafety bingo. As we begin making our plans for this year’s Biosafety Month, we encourage you to be on the lookout for notifications on upcoming events and plan on attending as many events as you can. As an alternative, we will post our plans on the Biosafety webpage as they come together.
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Biological Registrations
While most of our biological labs have completed the biological registration in BioRAFT, many still need to submit their first project or update their current materials. BioRAFT has been updated to include a quick, mandatory Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC) screening survey that takes only a few minutes to complete and ensures we meet federal obligations. The biological registration is a module in BioRAFT that is required to be completed. When you visit your lab profile, click on the Bio tab along the top of your profile to access your biological registration.
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On the 2nd line of links at the top of the page, the 2nd link is your Biological Summary. This summary page features all the information and data you’ve added to your biological registration and is a great starting point if you’re completing the registration for the first time.
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Proper labeling of chemical waste is an important aspect of lab safety and a cornerstone of waste management. At a minimum all chemical wastes need to be labeled with the contents of the waste. If the waste is a solution or mixture of chemicals, the percent composition of each constituent needs to be marked.
Hazardous Waste Labeling
- If your chemical waste is hazardous, it must be labeled “Hazardous Waste.”
- Hazardous wastes are also required to be marked with an indication of the hazard: Flammable, Corrosive, Toxic, Reactive. The lab may choose the best way to indicate the hazard. The list below and the included graphic are examples of what can be used to satisfy this requirement.
- DOT Marking
- GHS Pictograms
- NFPA Diamond
- Written Indication
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- EHS has compliant labeling in the form of a fillable pdf (see picture below) that can be printed and affixed to the waste.
If you need any assistance with determining if your waste is hazardous or with labeling, please contact the EHS Hazmat group for a consultation.
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Keep Hazardous Wastes Contained
Hazardous waste containers must be closed, except when adding waste. These containers should be compatible with the waste it is holding and be in good condition with no visible cracks or other damage. Your Satellite Accumulation Area (SAA) should be large enough to hold your hazardous waste containers, with secondary containment. Secondary containment can be simple—in general, a plastic bin large enough to contain a spill from your largest container in the area will suffice. If you have questions or need recommendations, please feel free to reach out.
When you are ready for waste to be removed, please submit a waste pickup request on SciSure (BioRAFT). The EHS team can assist you with any questions that you may have regarding the new laboratory management system.
For additional information, questions, or to schedule an in-person training, please contact the EHS Hazmat Team at EHSChemicalWaste@med.miami.edu or Brian Cumbie at bxc933@miami.edu.
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Clean Spaces, Safe Workplaces: The Big Impact of Simple Housekeeping Practices
The National Safety Council shared an article in its monthly Safety + Health Magazine (Bottino, 2026), discussing how everyday conditions and hazards can also be encountered across University campuses. It highlights how simple, effective housekeeping habits in research laboratories, workstations, and mechanical rooms can contribute to your safety and of others around you.
When people think of workplace housekeeping, they often think about keeping areas neat and organized, but there is much more to it. Simple organization can serve as a fundamental safety practice that helps prevent slips, trips, falls, fire hazards, and other workplace incidents. Maintaining clear walkways, promptly addressing spills, properly storing materials, correctly using the engineering controls in place like fume hoods or vacuum systems and, keeping work areas free of clutter all contribute to a safer and more efficient work environment.
Good housekeeping also plays an important role in protecting Indoor Air Quality. Dust, debris, paper accumulation, and improper handling or storage of materials can become sources of airborne particulate matter that may affect occupant comfort and contribute to respiratory or allergy related symptoms. Regular cleaning, proper chemical handling and waste disposal, and organized storage practices help minimize the buildup and redistribution of dust, gases, fumes, mists, and fibers throughout occupied spaces.
Beyond safety and air quality benefits, well-maintained workplaces often experience improved efficiency and morale. Employees spend less time navigating cluttered spaces or searching for tools and materials when work areas are organized and maintained. Good housekeeping also supports routine inspections and maintenance activities by providing clear access to equipment, emergency exits, and safety systems. These practices help us identify potential issues earlier, reducing the likelihood of equipment problems, property damage, or workplace incidents.
Effective housekeeping is not a one-time cleanup effort but an ongoing process that should be incorporated into daily operations. Simple actions can have lasting benefits for workplace safety and indoor environmental quality. By making housekeeping a routine part of everyone's responsibilities, we can create cleaner, safer, and healthier spaces for everyone.
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Chemical Safety Starts with the SDS: A Critical Resource for Every Laboratory Member
Laboratory research and teaching activities often involve the use of hazardous chemicals that can pose risks to health, safety, and the environment if not handled properly. Whether you are a faculty member, principal investigator, laboratory manager, postdoctoral associate, student, or staff member, understanding the hazards associated with the chemicals you use is a fundamental responsibility. One of the most important tools available to support safe chemical use is the Safety Data Sheet (SDS).
An SDS is a standardized document that provides detailed information about a chemical's hazards, safe handling procedures, storage requirements, personal protective equipment (PPE), emergency response actions, and disposal considerations. The Globally Harmonized System (GHS) requires manufacturers to provide this information in a consistent format, making it easier for laboratory personnel to identify hazards and implement appropriate controls.
At the University of Miami, SDSs are readily accessible through BioRAFT ChemTracker, the University's official chemical inventory and SDS management system. ChemTracker provides laboratory personnel with immediate access to manufacturer SDSs for chemicals stored and used campus-wide. This valuable resource allows researchers to quickly obtain critical safety information before working with a chemical and during emergency situations.
Consulting the SDS before using a chemical is a key step in conducting an effective hazard assessment. The SDS can help laboratory personnel identify important hazards. It also provides information on incompatibilities, storage conditions, engineering controls, spill response procedures, and first aid measures that may be necessary in the event of an accidental exposure.
Reviewing the SDS is particularly important when working with highly hazardous chemicals, including carcinogens, reproductive toxins, acute toxic substances, pyrophoric materials, water-reactive chemicals, and chemicals subject to regulatory requirements. Understanding these hazards before beginning work can help prevent incidents, injuries, and unplanned exposures.
Laboratory supervisors and principal investigators play a crucial role in promoting SDS awareness and ensuring that laboratory personnel know how to access and interpret SDS information. New laboratory members should be trained to locate SDSs in ChemTracker and encouraged to review relevant SDSs as part of their routine experimental planning. Incorporating SDS review into laboratory onboarding and pre-experiment discussions helps strengthen the overall culture of safety.
The EHS Office encourages all laboratory personnel to make SDS consultation a regular habit. Before introducing a new chemical into the laboratory, modifying an experimental procedure, or handling an unfamiliar substance, take a few minutes to review the SDS in ChemTracker. This simple step can provide critical information that helps protect you, your colleagues, and the University community.
Chemical safety is a shared responsibility, and informed decision-making is one of the most effective ways to reduce risk in the laboratory. By using ChemTracker and consulting Safety Data Sheets before working with hazardous chemicals, every member of the University of Miami research community contributes to a safer and more compliant laboratory environment.
Need assistance with BioRAFT configuration, ChemTracker, SDS access, or chemical hazard assessments? Contact the Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Office - Chemical Safety Adrian Hernandez Ferrer for support and guidance.
Access BioRAFT ChemTracker SDS service: SDS Search | BioRAFT.
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Safe Charging Starts with You
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Many of the devices we use every day, including phones, tablets, laptops, and power tools, are powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. These batteries pack a large amount of energy into a compact space, making them efficient and convenient. However, if they are damaged, improperly charged, or misused, they can overheat, catch fire, or even explode.
The good news is that preventing lithium-ion battery fires often comes down to practicing safe charging habits. The way you charge and store your devices can make a significant difference in reducing fire risks. By following a few simple precautions every time you plug in, you can help keep yourself and your workplace safe:
- Use the cord and charger that came with your device or one approved by the manufacturer. Using the wrong charger can damage the battery and increase the risk of fire.
- Charge devices on a table, desk, or other hard, flat surface. Do not charge them on beds, couches, or under pillows. Devices and chargers produce heat during normal charging. Soft surfaces can trap heat and block airflow, which can cause the battery to overheat.
- Stop using your device if it feels very hot, starts to swell, is smoking, or has a strange smell. These are warning signs that the battery may be damaged or failing.
- Unplug your device when it is fully charged. Do not leave it plugged in longer than needed. Leaving a device plugged in too long can increase heat and stress on the battery.
- Charge larger items, like power tools, outside. These batteries are larger and store more energy. If they fail, fires can grow quickly and spread.
- When on a plane, keep your device where you can see it while charging. Do not charge devices in overhead compartments. Do not charge e-cigarettes or vapes on a plane.
Remember: Safe charging is smart charging. Every charge is an opportunity to prevent a fire before it starts.
For more information, please contact Christine Daley.
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