emergency communications – getting the message right

through the creation, sharing, harvest-ing and leveraging of knowledge. Thesepeople may have differentbackgrounds,but they all work together towardsachieving the same goal(s), using theirknowledge, skills and abilities. This col-laboration assists in innovation andknowledge creation across boundariesin the organization. Understanding theformation,objectives,workandbenefitsof CoPs will foster growth withinCSHEMA as well as individual organi-zational safety culture initiatives.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jchas.2013.03.426

Data management with On Site Sys-tems’ EHS AssistantSteven HunterArizona State University, United StatesHave you been frustrated managingyour data? We will discuss ArizonaState University’s experience with OnSite System’s EHS Assistant software.With more regulations it is becomingapparent that we need to have data atour fingertips or at least centralizedwhere people who need the informa-tion can retrieve it. This session willdiscuss the basics of relational data-bases, how to standardize your data,and how to manage the needs of dif-ferent disciplines using the system. Wewill discuss the importance of backupand security of data. What are theadvantages of and disadvantages ofEHSA?


Data mining EH&S informationBruce BackusEnvironmental Health and Safety,Washington University in St. Louis,United StatesEH&S departments collect a lot ofinformation: laboratory & clinicinspection results, training records,occupational injury & illness, chemicalspills, indoor air quality complaints,protocols, chemical & radioactivematerial inventories, and waste genera-tion reports, as examples. The data isused for safety and regulatory compli-ance reports. In this age of informatics,the question being posed is whetherthe data can be mined for predictive

analytic purposes, to further improvesafety and compliance through targetedinterventions, beyond simple trends.WU’s initial efforts are presented.


Effective emergency communications– NFPA 72-2010Wayne D. MooreHughes Associates, Inc., United StatesThis seminar will address importantconsiderations involved in emergencycommunications systems (ECS) includ-ing:

� The impact of the National FireAlarm and Signaling- Code1 on ECS- What changed in the 2010 edition

of NFPA 72- What changes have been made in

the 2013 edition of NFPA 72

� Basics of sound and communica-tions- Sound and hearing- Understanding the difference

between audibility and intelligibil-ity

- Factors that affect intelligibility- Discovering the basic differences

in fire alarm and sound systems

� Achieving intelligibility for your ECS- Challenges when converting fire

alarm only to ECS.


EHS training via learning manage-ment systemRobert ClayLincoln University Police Department,United StatesHow to create online EHS trainingusing the Moodle Learning Manage-ment System (LMS). Pointers on tips,tricks, and lessons learned Moodleuses powerpoints, handouts, videos,other media, and tests that can all beused online. This system also acts as arecord to document training by work-ers along with adding discussiongroups and blogs that can be utilizedfor training.


Electrical safety applied to researchequipmentJames N. ‘‘Jim’’ GilsonUniversity of California, Berkeley, Uni-ted StatesThis seminar will explore electricalsafety as it applies to research, experi-ments and teaching in labs. Manyresearch processes and equipmenthave potentially life-threatening elec-trical hazards created by the researchequipment design/installation/use.This seminar will first explore thebasics of electricity, then look at thephysiology of what happens whenelectricity flows through the body, willthen look at specific kinds of researchequipment and their associated elec-trical hazards and controls, and thenfinally discuss NFPA70e and how itcan be applied in the research lab.


Emergency action plans as campusforce multiplierLynn DaleyRochester Institute of Technology,United StatesAlthough Emergency Action Plans arerequired by OSHA (29 CFR 1910.38),they can be leveraged to improve com-munity resilience through empowering‘‘first’’ first responders (AKA, the cam-pus community). Incidents happen tothe campus community first, and nomatter how skilled and efficient, cam-pus responders arrive after the incidenthappens. The time between when theincident happens and when respon-ders arrive on scene is critical andchaotic. Having trained communitymembers on scene will enhance theoverall emergency response. The valuecommunity members bring should notbe underestimated.


Emergency communications – Get-ting the message rightLawrence ZacareseUniversity Police, Emergency Manage-ment, United StatesEmergency Management is a crucialaspect to any institute of higher educa-tion. All College and University cam-puses are vulnerable to a broad array of

Journal of Chemical Health & Safety, May/June 2013 45















emergencies based on their size, demo-graphics, and geographic locations.Communicating to students, faculty,and staff during a crisis is a high stakesgame, requiring careful planning andaccurate information dissemination.Join Assistant Chief of Police andDirector of Emergency Managementat Stony Brook University, LawrenceM. Zacarese, as he discusses the var-ious aspects of a successful emergencycommunication program for yourcampus.


Emergency preparedness: Collabora-tion is key!Lauren KellyColumbia University, United StatesPreparedness planning is like anythingelse, whereby practice make perfect.Periodic testing of your plan and iden-tification of opportunities forimprovement are essential in your suc-cess and having strong relationshipswith partners in Public Safety and theregulatory agency sector can go a longway in averting disaster. Establishingthose partnerships in advance of anemergency event and conducting pre-paredness and response exercises/training on the variety of probable(and even improbable) events can bethe difference between success and thefront page of the local newspaper.


Expanding EHS programs beyondyour comfort zoneWayne MainesThe University of Maine, United StatesSafety and Environmental Manage-ment (SEM) at UMaine was once tra-ditional model that focused oncompliance, education, technical sup-port and crisis management, butrecently we have expanded our mis-sion to help protect the entire campusfrom all threats, helping students,faculty and staff maintain their healthand safety on and off campus. Underthe direction of the President’s BlueSky Plan, we are doing even more.We continue to expand our efforts byaligning our resources with unusualpartners enhance our existing tools

while developing new managementsystems.

Today’s businesses and universitiesmust be more flexible and adaptive tobe competitive to ensure institutionalsuccess. Safety plays an important rolein this success and safety is much morefar-reaching than most people realize.It is much more far-reaching than ourdepartment realized. We learned thateveryone on our campus plays a sig-nificant role in promoting the health ofour institution, health that includesmany factors. Come explore how weare helping our campus communitystay healthy and well.


Fall protection in theater productionBill ReynoldsYale University, United StatesTheater production involves situa-tions where workers and performersmust be protected from elevatedhazards using many types of fall pro-tection. Facility hazards: falls fromcatwalks, stage grids and the frontedge of a balcony, can be addressedusing standard fall protection typicalof such elevated work areas. Each pro-duction has unique fall hazards thatmust be evaluated, planned for, andmitigated using creative technologicalsolutions and industry best-practices.This session will provide examples ofsolutions that address both types of fallhazard protection in theater produc-tion.


Fire/life safety in nanotech researchfacilitiesJonathan EisenbergRolf Jensen & Associates, UnitedStatesSemiconductor/nanotech researchfacilities contain fire and explosionhazards that impact life safety andoperations. This presentation discussesthe major fire protection and life safetyrequirements, contained in the IBC &IFC, and NFPA codes. Project exam-ples will be used to illustrate how theseaspects are addressed.

The presentation will include thefollowing:

- Location and design of Use Group Hoccupancies

- Special suppression, detection andexplosion protection

- Permitting and fire departmentresponse

- Ongoing/operational code compli-ance

- Risk Management.


Funding a FEMA hazard mitigationplan and projectsJeffrey HescockUniversity of Massachusetts, UnitedStatesUniversities experience risks andimpacts of natural and human hazards.To mitigate these hazards through plan-ning, The University of Massachusettsreceived a $350,000 FEMA/MEMAgrant to develop Hazard MitigationPlans for four of its campuses. The plansidentifymeasures to reduce oreliminatelong-term risk to life and propertyallowing the university to be eligibleto receive funding assistance for hazardmitigation projects. For funding eligibil-ity projects must be pre-identified, mak-ing well developed plans essential,involving outreach and participationfrom diverse campus stakeholders.


Gap analysis – A tool with multiplebenefitsKalpana RengarajanEnvironmental Health and SafetyOffice, Atlanta GA, United StatesA key benefit of gap analysis is that itgives EHS Professionals a structuredsystematic way to identify programgaps or risks. Once gaps are identified,mitigation plans can be developed.


GIS for EHSCathy BrennanUNC, Chapel Hill, United StatesGeographic Information Systems (GIS)mapping technology is used in manyindustries as an integral part of dataanalysis and decision making. GIS useby EHS departments can be a beneficial

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emergency communications – getting the message right

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