Environmental Health and Safety

Tips for leaving your dorm

Follow these precautions to secure your space and prevent weather-related issues:

Unplug appliances/electronics (except refrigerator)
Set thermostats to HEAT, AUTO, and between 70-75 degrees (even if it is 80 degrees the day you leave!)
Take trash and recycling to the appropriate dumpster.
Clear your floor and breezeways of books, boxes, electronics and personal items
Open cabinets under bathroom and kitchen sinks
Remove food that will be spoiled from your refrigerator and your room
Turn off lights, lower shades and tilt blinds up
Lock doors including bedroom and patio/balcony
Pick up mail and take all valuables and pets with you

ResLife Resources

Holiday Decorating Safety Tips

With the holidays quickly approaching, we want to share important safety tips! This week's focus is decoration safety.

- Keep poisonous holiday plants (mistletoe, holly berries, etc.) away from children.

- For artificial trees, ensure a "fire resistant" label.

- For live trees: cut trunk, water regularly, remove when dry.

- Place breakable/small-part ornaments out of children's reach

- Replace damaged light sets

- Follow recommended socket load limits

- Avoid nailing/stressing wiring

- Keep plugs dry and off-ground

- Use flameless candles near flammable objects

- Don't burn trees/wrapping paper in the fireplaces

Service. Quality. Knowledge.

The OSU Environmental Health and Safety Department consists of four teams - Environmental Compliance, Fire and Life Safety, Laboratory Safety, and Occupational and Construction Safety. Our primary goal is to promote health, safety, and environmental protection by providing exemplary programs and services in support of the university's mission.

Meet the team

Student Employee Feature

Lucas Condon

Lucas is a Fire and Life Safety Assistant for EHS. He is currently working on his degree in Fire Protection and Safety Engineering, and he is involved in the Fire Protection Society here at OSU. If he could have any superpower, it would be the ability to fly, so he could get to class faster. He is a night owl with a special talent of cooking steaks and BBQ for holidays and events. We appreciate you, Lucas!

November Newsletter

August Newsletter

Person wearing a respirator while working

Respiratory Protection

Required annually for members who wear respiratory protection.

Register

Class will take place the first Tuesday of each month.
Next opportunity: January 7, 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
Facilities Management North building, Room 101C

Bloodborne Pathogen

Required annually for members under OSHA's standard.

Register

Class will take place the second Tuesday of each month.
Next opportunity: January 14, 9-9:45 a.m. or 2-2:45 p.m.
EHS Conference Room, University Health Services 003

Employee Training

Topics include haz comm, fire safety, office safety, back safety, and slips, trips, and falls.

Register

Class will take place the third Thursday of each month.
Next opportunity: January 16, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
EHS Conference Room, University Health Services 003

Fire Safety Training

Includes hands-on fire extinguisher training using the Bullex simulator.

Register

Class will take place the second Friday of each month.
Next opportunity: January 10, 9-10 a.m.
EHS Conference Room, University Health Services 003

Laboratory Safety and Hazardous Waste Training

Training for principal investigators and graduate assistants.

Register

Class will take place the fourth Tuesday of each month.
Next opportunity: January 28, 8:30-10:30 a.m.
EHS Conference Room, University Health Services 003

Additional Training Opportunities

Keeping our campus safe and healthy is one of our top priorities.

Our education and training programs are valuable tools for spreading an awareness of safety, health responsibilities, and accident prevention.

LEARN MORE

40+CLASS OPTIONS

provided by Environmental Health and Safety personnel.

4TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

for all OSU employees, mandated by State law.

OSHA 300A Logs

Record Keeping and Reporting Requirements

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers with more than 10 employees to keep a record of serious work-related injuries and illnesses. The records must be maintained at the worksite for at least five years.

300A Logs

New EPA Regulations on Methylene Chloride

Fact Sheets and Safety Info

The EPA has finalized a rule regarding methylene chloride, also known as dichloromethane (DCM) under the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA). Learn more via the links below.

Timeline of Changes

As a research institution, laboratories on campus are allowed to continue some use of DCM, contingent upon new requirements and compliance with the timeline of changes.

Initial monitoring by 05/05/2025 with periodic monitoring depending on results
Ensure new exposure limits are met by 08/2025 and provide PPE for affected employees
Development of an exposure control plan or Workplace Chemical Protection Program by 10/30/2025

Ensuring Compliance

If you are a PI on campus who uses DCM also known as methylene chloride in your lab spaces, please contact us to conduct air monitoring and an assessment of your current chemical hygiene plan.

Accidents and Injuries

Accident and near-miss reporting and contacts for emergency safety concerns.

Chemical Disposal

Tips for storing and requesting the removal of chemical and material wastes.

Customer Satisfaction Survey

Tell us how we did and help us improve our services.

Important Contact Information

OSU Police Department address and a list of important phone numbers on and off campus.

Online Chemical Inventory

The entry point for the OSU online chemical inventory program.

Open Flame Safety

Open Burn Permits, Grill Permits, and hot work information.

Stay in touch

Email us

Environmental health and safety

Tips for leaving your dorm

Service. Quality. Knowledge.

Student Employee Feature

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