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NPARL Safety Info
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NPARL's Safety Information


NPARL is committed to protecting our employees, our workplace, the community, and the environment.  Below is both information and additional pages that contain further details, as well as, materials to download.

 

 

E-rase Your E-waste!   Check out our latest e-cycling results! 

 

Environmental Management System Plan

 

Weather Related Safety Information

 

Helpful Links

 

Employee Assistance Program

 

Awards

 

For questions, comments, or more information contact NPARL's Safety Officer, Maureen O'Mara, by email: maureen.o'mara@usda.gov or phone: 1.406.433.9497.

   

E-rase Your E-waste!


Photograph from Ewaste event.This web page provides planning and other information to anyone interested in recycling electronic waste in their local community. It describes how a small town in eastern Montana developed and hosted its own "E-rase your E-waste" event, and how you can do it, too. It even provides some ready-made promotional materials for general use, as well as samples of letters, brochures and posters from the original event to spur your own ideas.  Click here for the E-rase Your E-waste page!

     

Environmental Management System Plan (EMS)


The USDA-ARS Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory (NPARL) in Sidney, MT conducts research on soil and water stewardship and the biological and cultural management of insects, pathogens and weeds within production systems that enhance profitability and environmental quality. In keeping with this stewardship emphasis, NPARL established its Environmental Management System (EMS) in October 2005 and updates it annually in accordance with Executive Order (E.O.) 13423 entitled "Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management, ensuring that it also conforms to International Standard Organization (ISO) 14001 standards. On this page you will find more information regarding the EMS policy statement, employee responsibilities, and helpful links. 
Click here for the Environmental Management System (EMS) page!

 

Weather Related Safety Information


Information on this site regarding staying safe all year from natural hazards:

 2016 Safety and EMS Awards to NPARL Employees

Safety/EMS Award WinnersSafety Award - Jeannie Lassey
assisted Safety Specialist to complete annual physical assessments in all work areas including the safety shower, fire extinguisher/fire exit testing, recycling, testing emergency eyewashes, autoclaving biological materials from retired scientists, various chemical inventories from retired scientist labs or workspaces and placed global harmonizing labels or hazardous material information system put on secondary chemical containers throughout the workplace to help keep in compliance all state, local and federal requirements.

EMS Award - Eric Steinbeisser
Endlessly searching for all environmental projects to help save location not only funding spent on energy cost but saving energy. Examples: requesting funding from HQ to switch T-12 lighting to T-8 lights saving dollars and energy, having all laboratory air and lights be on occupant sensors saving energy and dollars; energy efficient boilers installed in both main buildings, use of climate friendly refrigerants and water.

Montana ARS Lab Recognized As NWS StormReady Supporter
Storm Ready logo.

NPARL was recognized August 10, 2006 as a "StormReady Supporter by the National Weather Service (NWS). In announcing the award, Tanja Fransen of the Glasgow, MT weather forecast office noted: "The USDA station in Sidney has been extremely pro-active over the last few years in being prepared, not just for hazards within the facility but also to help with preparedness activities within the community. USDA safety officer Jackie Couture is the chair of the Richland County Local Emergency Planning Committee and actively involved with the Community Emergency Response Team. This is just a natural extension of all the great work they have been doing to help with preparedness in their workplace and the community." The Sidney, MT, ARS lab regularly hosts severe weather training courses and winter weather safety programs for both its employees and the community at large. Fifteen NPARL employees have been certified as NWS weather spotters. NPARL completed a series of rigorous warning criteria necessary to earn the distinction of being the first Storm Ready Supporter in Montana and only the 17th in the nation. The Sidney, MT, research facility is also the only ARS facility in the nation to be recognized.

 

Helpful Links

Biosafety:

  MSDS for Infectious Substances

Emergency Management:

  ARS Emergency Preparation

  American Red Cross

  Montana Disaster & Emergency Services

  Richland Disaster & Emergency Services   

 

Environmental Management System:

  Calculate your Household Carbon Footprint

  Carbon Footprint Calculator

  Energy Star

  Energy Saver Guides

  EPEAT_Green_Electronics_Council_Program

  Great Green Goods

  Green Power Partnership

  Green Home Guide

  National Local Technical Assistance Program

  Tribal Technical Assistance Program

  Bio-based Procurement Programs
 

Hazardous Materials:

  EPA: Occupational Pesticide Safety and Health

  Haz-Map

  Hazmat Safety and Training

 Material Safety Data Sheets (SDS)

  MSDS Search

  Montana Hazardous Materials Program
  National Highway Traffic Safety Admin. 

  Niosh Pocket Guide

  Organic Solvents 

  Occupational Chemical Database  

   (OSHA/EPA)

  Pesticide Information - Greenbook Label
   Database is for general use information only

  Pesticide Labels/MSDS

  Pesticide Waste Disposal Program   

  Radiation Safety (USDA)
  

Health:

  Agricultural Health-USDA APHIS
  Back Health & Safety Links  

  Brown Recluse Spider

  COVID-19

  Infectious Diseases

  West Nile Virus

  Flu Activity & Surveillance

  Food Safety Inspection Service (USDA)

  Hantavirus Information - Montana

  Healthy Computing

  Healthy Weight/BMI

  Men's Health & Safety 

  MT West Nile Surveillance Project
  PandemicFlu.Gov

  PBS-The Meth Epidemic 
 

Labor Laws:

  REE Issuances (P&P's)

  Office of Workers' Compensation Programs

  Child Labor Law ( MT DOL)

  Employing Teen Workers (OSHA) 

  Employing Youth (U.S. DOL)

  Federal Employee's Compensation (U.S. DOL)

MT Dept. of Environmental Quality

  MT Dept. of Environmental Quality

  Household Hazardous Waste | Mercury

  Environmental Health

  Pollution Prevention

  Today's Air Quality Info
 

Safety:

  ARS: Safety, Health & Environ. Mgmt.

  ARS: Biosafety Awareness

  ASSP-American Soc Safety Professionals

  Centers For Disease Control/Prevention

  Construction Safety Council

  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

  Ergonomics

  Ergonomics for Farmers

  Fire Center - University of Montana

  Grain & Silage Safety

  Hazardous Waste Manifest System

  Latex Safety

  Montana Fire Conditions

  Montana Safety & Health Bureau

  National Safety Council

  National Fire Protection Agency

  Nat'l Institute for Occupational

     Safety & Health (NIOSH)   

  Occupational Safety & Health Admin.

    • OSHA Ergonomics

    • OSHA eTools

    • OSHA Occup. Chem. Database

    • OSHA Training 

    • OSHA Safety Health Bulletins

   Safety Alerts: Recalls

   Skid Steer Safety

   USDA Safety & Health Office

   US Dept. of Homeland Security

   USDA REE Work Life Programs

   Women's Health & Safety

   Work Safe MT
 

Travel:

   Montana Dept. of Transportation

   USDOT-National Traffic/Road Closure 

   Security - Dept. of Homeland Security

   TSA: Travel Information
   Weather Forecast

   

Weather:

   Public Fire Information Websites

   Montana Road Condition Reports/Maps

   National Weather Service-Glasgow, MT

   North Dakota Road Conditions Map

   NOAA Storm Ready Supporters

   Sun Safety 

   U.S. Forest Service: Active Fire Map
   Weather Forecast  

 

 
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)


We all experience personal problems, but many people don't know where to go for help to solve them.  The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) was established to give employees the necessary resources to cope with life's difficulties.  You are the more important asset to our business and for that reason we want to help you solve your problems both on and off the job so that you are happier, more focused and consequently more productive.

EAP counselors are prepared to help you deal with a multitude of problems.  Whether you visit us for emotional, relationship, alcohol, drug, financial or job concerns, we are here to help you solve them.  All EAP services are free to you, and in most cases your immediate family members.  If you need additional resources, we will help you find affordable care through your health plan or community. 

EAP services are confidential within the limits of the law and in most cases, information will only be released with your written permission.  Your counselor will review confidentiality issues with you during your first visit.  Remember the EAP is ready to help and all you have to do is:

Call 1-800-222-0364 or Visit our Website at http://www.foh4you.com/

 

It's free and confidential.

Provided by Federal Occupational Health a component of the U.S. Public Health Service Department of Health and Human Services.