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Permanent URI for this communityhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12503/21673
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Browsing Abstracts by Author "Adeyemi, Adebola"
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Item Laser Program Implementation in the University of North Texas Health Science Center Environmental Health and Safety Department(2017-03-14) Sadiq- Onilenla, Rasheedat; Otakore, Catharine; Moncus, Matthew; Nair, Maya; Adeyemi, AdebolaPurpose: Safety is an important feature of a higher education system because it helps to prevent employee exposure to occupational and environmental risk while performing daily task. There is an existing safety program in the university which is made up of three crucial components: policy, training and auditing. Due to constant change in research experiments, there is a need for evaluation and improvement of the program to accommodate those changes. The purpose of this research is to improve the existing higher education safety program and accommodate changes in the manual with emphasizes on laser safety. Methods: Unscheduled laboratory inspection was carried out in all the laboratories in the key buildings on campus to examine safety practices. A couple of deficiencies were identified during the inspection. The data collected were compiled and analyzed using Excel software. Results: The result from the analysis and from reviews of policies from state regulatory agencies and safety manual from other higher institutions in Texas showed a couple of deficiency in the area of program specific manuals in the Laser safety area. There are a couple of laboratories that uses class 3b and 4 lasers. Currently the laser safety is covered under the general radiation safety program. Conclusions: The result of the study justifies the need for a Laser Safety Program. Adding the laser safety programs will help to improve the overall safety program of the institution and ensure compliance while working with laser. Based on this recommendation, a Laser Safety Manual was compiled for the proposed laser safety program. I recommend that periodic training should be conducted. Also, I recommend that routine audits of laser use activities should be conducted to assess the program.Item Process Improvement Based on the Outcome of an Audit In the Higher Education Safety Program(2017-03-14) Adeyemi, Adebola; Sadiq-Onilenla, Rasheedat; Moncus, Matthew; Nair, Maya; Otakore, CatherinePurpose: The process put in place by the National Institute of Health (NIH), and the Environmental Health and Safety Department of the University of North Texas Health Science Center (UNTHSC) is designed to encourage safe practices in higher educational institutions with emphasis on their laboratories. Process improvement is an opportunity to increase efficient laboratory audits which positively influences safety practices in the laboratories. The aim of this study is to examine the current laboratory auditing by assessing the ability of the department to conduct audits through looking at staffing levels and, resources available, with the greatest emphasis on tools currently used. The outcome will help us upgrade the process and tools used for an effective audit. Methods: We used a regular lab inspection method for collecting the data. My team modified pre-existing checklist from NIH and a list developed by the University’s Environmental Health and Safety Department, to carry out unscheduled laboratory inspections for the main research buildings at UNTHSC. We tried to determine the deficiencies that occurred during a regular work day at the lab that could put the workers at risk. Excel software was used to analyze the data collected which included, shortcomings in the lab and what percentage affected either, policy, good training programs or an efficient auditing program. Results: We inspected 106 laboratories and found minor deficiencies in all. An error in the checklist and miscommunication between the auditors and lab workers resulted in the finding of a deficiency in 100% of the laboratories on one item. Duplicated results, was seen from similar questions (less than 1%), and some results had conflicting answers to the same issues. Conclusions: Based on the results of this study the checklist needs to be modified annually in keeping with the changes in the laboratories. The questions on the lists should be amended; there should be no repetitions, no similar meanings and no redundant questions which have no impact on the safety practices in the lab. Ultimately, the lists should be merged to form one useful list. The laboratory staff should be trained annually or instructed on how to meet compliance with the laboratory inspections. The increase in resources, team members, and biannual training of the auditors will all work towards an efficient auditing program. Changing the entire verification process into an online electronic version will be more time effective with efficient data storage and accessibility.Item The Need for Review and Improvement of Laboratory training Program in UNTHSC(2017-03-14) Adeyemi, Adebola; Otakore, Catherine; Moncus, Matthew; Nair, Maya; Sadiq-Onilenla, RasheedatIntroduction: The three main components of an efficient safety program are policies that outline the regulatory requirements, training programs that educate the research community about the risk involved and the audit program that ensure the effective safety practice implementation. The importance of an excellent safety program cannot be undermined in an academic setting because it is an essential tool for smooth running of daily activities on the campus. An efficient safety program ensures that the research activities are in compliance with the federal, state and institutional level regulations. Thus the safety program protects the employees and environment from exposure to hazardous materials The objective of this study is to improve the training aspect of the UNT HSC Environmental Health and Safety Laboratory Inspection Program. Methods: Unscheduled inspections were carried out to examine safety practices in laboratories across campus. A total of 92 laboratories were inspected in which some of the laboratories use strong chemicals, some work with cell lines, biohazard pathogens and some work with laser materials. Minor deficiencies identified during the inspection were analyzed and a program improvement plan was created. Results: Data analysis revealed minor deficiencies in the safety practices in the laboratories inspected. Defaults in the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), laboratory manuals, chemical inventory keeping, and other safety procedures were discovered. Recommendations: Training and retraining of laboratory personnel; quarterly lab inspections.