TESTIMONY
Rae Moore, Senior Quality Research and Training Specialist at Safety Partners on Laboratory Safety and Compliance in New York City
5:40:08
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127 sec
Rae Moore delivers testimony supporting the City of Gas Zoning for Economic Opportunity proposal, emphasizing the importance of laboratory safety and compliance with regulations in New York City.
- Moore represents Safety Partners, which creates safety programs for life science companies working with hazardous materials.
- The testimony highlights the multiple layers of government oversight and unique requirements in New York City to ensure safety and compliance.
- Key points include the FDNY's lab unit permits, the DEP's annual reporting and sewer use regulations, and oversight from the DSNY and state-level DECER.
- Federal OSHA regulations, such as hazard communication and lab standards, are critical components of maintaining a safe lab environment.
- The goal of these regulations is to protect employees, the public, and the environment from lab-related hazards.
Rae Moore
5:40:08
Great.
5:40:09
Good afternoon.
5:40:09
My name is Ray Moore, and I'm a senior quality research and training specialist at Safety Partners.
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We create environmental health and safety programs for the life science companies working with hazardous materials.
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And in the past 30 plus years, we have implemented some programs for more than 900 companies in chooses New York and throughout the United States.
5:40:26
Safety Partners is providing this testimony about lab safety and regulations in support of the city of gas zoning for economic opportunity proposal late.
5:40:34
Life science work involves hazardous materials, and there are risks associated with it.
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On the other hand, there's oversight from all levels of government to keep the workers' environment and public safe and a regulator can inspect a facility at any time.
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The FDNY requires a lab unit permit and certificate of fitness in order to store used chemicals.
5:40:51
The permit involves a thorough review of DOV approved floor plans to confirm that facility is constructed in accordance with and fire codes, and the certificate holder must demonstrate competency with safe chemical practices.
5:41:02
And this requirement is unique to New York City.
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The DEP oversees the community right to know program, which requires annual reporting of hazardous material that exceeds the reporting thresholds, which are much lower than federal thresholds, and the DP conducts annual inspections.
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The DP also regulates sewer use, and the regulations outline what is prohibited from charge and can require pretreatment before it's discharged into the sewer system.
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The DSNY requires annual reports from generators of biomedical waste.
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At the state level, the DECER Department of Environmental Conservation Regulates biomedical waste generated in research labs and along with EPA regulates hazardous chemical waste.
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At the federal level, OSHA standards, such as hazard communication, lab and global pathogens cover specifics of hazardous material safety and include training and documents of procedures.
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There's also Osh's general duty clause, which require employees employers to provide a place as an employment that is free from recognized hazards that can cause harm.
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That can cause harm to employees.
5:42:00
Excuse me.
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At the end of the day, employees want to go home at the end of each workday.
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They are at greatest risk to hazards in the lab.
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And by implementing safe and compliant work practices, they are keeping everyone safe.
UNKNOWN
5:42:12
Your time has expired.
5:42:14
Thank you.
Rae Moore
5:42:14
Thank you.
