CSS supports several Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) campuses throughout the U.S. On-site CSS personnel are trained in hazardous material spill response and clean-up and provide this support within buildings and throughout campuses. As part of our contract with the CDC Hazardous Waste Program, CSS hazmat-trained employee owners are responsible for safely collecting, storing, and shipping hazardous and universal waste, as well as training laboratorians in spill control procedures, universal waste, and the Center for Disease Control’s online waste ticketing system.
A recent automobile collision on the CDC Atlanta campus caused battery acid, oil, transmission fluid, windshield wiper fluid, and antifreeze to spill into the roadway. Following the scene being secured by first responders, CSS hazmat-trained staff responded to and cleaned up the hazardous material to prevent further contamination. They used absorbent pads specifically designed for use in hazmat clean-up, and universal absorbent pillows to prevent chemicals from spreading and running into storm drains.
See More CSS Insights
Developing a Decontamination Line Guide for EPA Responders
CSS employee owners supporting the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Scientific and Technical Assistance for Consequence Management (STACM) contract have been working with the National Chemical Preparedness Workgroup and Sub Workgroups to create a decontamination (decon) line guide and detailed drawing for EPA on-scene coordinators and EPA’s special teams to use for emergency responses and incidents. The…
New Heavily Desired High Resolution Land Cover Data for the U.S.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently announced the launch of the long desired high-resolution coastal land cover data. This highly anticipated data are available for most coastal areas of the U.S., including Alaska and the U.S. territories. CSS employee owners contributed to the release of this data set by participating in production activities and…
An Approach to Assessing Laboratory Space
CSS employee owners were part of a team of scientists at the National Institutes of Health who developed an approach to evaluating new laboratory space to determine if the space will fit operational needs. This concept, titled The BaseLINE Approach, combines traditional safety processes with additional safety and environmental factors to assess before operations begin.…