The Micro Gram: PSU's Lab Safety Newsletter
Welcome The Micro Gram's landing page! Below you will find the archive of previously released Micro Grams from over the years.
May is a great time to look out of the lab and into the field, if that is where your research may take you.
Learn more about these topics in this edition:
- Field work safety training will be offered virtually May 2nd, from 10am-1pm. Register today!
- All about labeling! Start to incorporate best practices and avoid common pitfalls when it comes to chemical, sample and specimen labeling.
- New from the Chemical Hygiene Committee: Guidance for working with service animals and their handlers in labs and shop spaces on campus.
February houses Lab Safety Awareness Week (February 10-14, 2025)! Learn more about these topics in this edition:
- Annual chemical inventory review - how to get started!
- How to safely navigate in icy conditions
- How to prepare your lab for an earthquake
- Meet the new Chemical Hygiene Committee Chair: Nic Meier!
October is Biosafety Awareness month! Learn more in this edition:
- *New* things coming your way, if you work with dichloromethane (DCM)/methylene chloride
- October is Biosafety Awareness month!
- Chemical storage tips
- Upcoming lab safety training dates
It's Metal Health Awareness month. Learn more in this edition:
- How to prepare for hot weather and potential wildfire smoke
- May is Mental Health Awareness month
- Is your lab prepared for a planned or unexpected lab closure?
- Upcoming lab safety training dates
It's Lab Safety Awareness Week! Learn more in this edition:
- Proper Chemical Storage
- Lab Safety Awareness Week events
- Field Work Safety Training - May 3rd, 2024
- Upcoming lab safety training offerings
In this digest, you will learn a bit more about:
- How to report a lab incident that occurs on campus or while performing field work
- The brand new field work safety manual and resources
- Lessons Learned: freezer turned off due to alarms sounding - 20 years of research lost
- Upcoming lab safety training offerings
Exciting things you can learn a bit more about in this edition are:
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and General Lab Attire
- When and how to sign up for the upcoming Lab Safety Trainings
- Lessons Learned: Nitrogen Dewar Tip-over Incident
- PSU Green Lab Tip of the Spring
Springtime is a great time of year to take a good look at what is currently being stored in your lab's fridge/freezer.
Are there:
- things that can go?
- things to be inventoried?
- areas that need cleaning/defrosted?
- ways to decrease the impact on the environment?
A shortened version of this flier can be found here: Spring Laboratory Freezer Cleanout (short)
Featured in this edition:
- Help PSU be More Green
- Freezer Challenge
- Laboratory Safety Leads
- Become a My Green Lab Ambassador
- Upcoming virtual lab safety training schedule
Featured in this edition:
- Laboratory Hot Plate Safety Tips
- PPE for the Laboratory
- Lessons Learned: Peroxide Explosion
- Upcoming Winter Term events
- Upcoming Lab Safety Training Dates
Featured in this edition:
- Lessons Learned: PSU Lab Incident Review 2017-2018
- New Training: Undergraduate Laboratory Safety Training
- Chemical Fume Hood Use
- Science News: The Chemistry Grad School Experience
- Tips for Avoiding the Flu
- Upcoming Events
- Upcoming Lab Safety Training Dates
Featured in this edition:
- Lessons Learned: Flash Fire
- Shut the Sash
- Be Aware of Peroxide Forming Chemicals
- Proper way to Smell a Chemical
- Upcoming Lab Safety Training Dates
- Message from the Chemical Hygiene Committee
Featured in this edition:
- Lessons Learned: Understanding Procedures
- Five Steps to a Greener Lab
- Message from the Chemical Hygiene Committee
- Preventing Winter Slips, Trips and Falls
- Fume Hood Operation Tip
Featured in this edition:
- Lessons Learned: Incompatible Waste Containers
- Chemical Storage Tips
- Prevent Lab Electric Hazards
- Thanksgiving Pet Safety Tips
- New Training Opportunity: Formaldehyde
- Got Waste