EHS 2025 Annual Report

The Environmental Health & Safety 2025 Annual Report highlights the work the EHS team is doing to support Mizzou.

"Our mission is simple," said EHS Director Dennis Elmore. "Provide practical, reliable service to our customers. When we help customers meet their obligations while minimizing costs and disruption, we are doing our best work. While we think of ourselves as a service unit first, we also lead on matters related to safety, compliance and risk management. ... 

Researcher Spotlight: Mizzou sustainable innovation driven by smart chemical inventory, pristine lab habits

Seeing Safety from Every Angle: EHS Adds 360-Degree Cameras to Hazardous Waste Pickup Vehicles

Environmental Health & Safety recently outfitted several hazardous waste pickup vehicles with 360-degree camera systems to improve driver awareness and reduce risk during campus service operations. This investment strengthens the safety of a critical service that supports Mizzou’s research, teaching and campus operations.

Warm Weather, Same PPE Standards

As warmer weather arrives, EHS reminds researchers that seasonal clothing choices such as shorts, sandals, and tank tops are not appropriate in laboratory spaces where hazards may be present. Proper lab attire, including full-length pants, closed-toe and closed-heel shoes, lab coats, and protective eyewear, remains an important part of PPE compliance. Laboratories are encouraged to use the EHS PPE Compliance Guide as a visible reminder to help reinforce expectations and support a safer research environment.

How Proper Waste Management Saves Research Dollars

Every research dollar matters, and smart laboratory operations can make those dollars go further than many realize. Effective waste management is not just a compliance obligation—it is an important opportunity to reduce costs, improve efficiency, and support sustainability. At the University of Missouri, thoughtful purchasing, chemical reuse, and responsible waste practices are helping researchers maximize resources while advancing safe science.

Safety MVP Award Winners: Wing-Cheung Lai and Anand Soorneedi

The Safety MVP Award celebrates individuals who go above and beyond in fostering a culture of safety within their research environments. This year's honorees, Wing-Cheung Lai and Anand Soorneedi, represent two distinct corners of the research world—one a staff scientist with twenty-five years of institutional memory, the other a virology researcher bringing federal safety standards to the university. Yet both share a common commitment: treating safety not as a checklist, but as a shared responsibility.

Lab Safety Awareness Week: Safety Is a Team Sport at Mizzou

Lab Safety Awareness Week brought together students, faculty, staff, and the research community to strengthen a shared culture of safety at the University of Missouri. Through hands-on training, vendor-led presentations, and meaningful outreach, Environmental Health & Safety highlighted practical tools that support safe and successful research. The week also celebrated individuals who lead by example—because at Mizzou, we are Safer Together.

Peroxide-Forming Chemicals: A Predictable and Preventable Laboratory Hazard

Peroxide-forming chemicals are widely used in academic research laboratories, yet they remain one of the most commonly overlooked explosion hazards. This article highlights major university laboratory incidents involving peroxide-forming chemicals and outlines practical steps—particularly routine testing and lifecycle management—that PIs and laboratory staff can take to prevent these incidents.

Mastering the Biological Safety Cabinet

Biological Safety Cabinets are essential engineering controls that protect personnel, research, and the laboratory environment, but their effectiveness depends on proper preparation, technique, and cleanup by each user. By consistently following BSC best practices and staying current on certification requirements, laboratories help maintain a safe, compliant workspace for everyone.

Safer Together: Strengthening Lab Safety One Bottle at a Time

MU EHS frequently finds improper chemical storage during lab inspections, often involving incompatible materials placed together. Following a few simple practices—such as labeling containers, maintaining an accurate inventory, understanding hazard classes, and storing chemicals by classification—helps prevent leaks, spills, and dangerous reactions while keeping your lab Safer Together.

The Receiving End: A Look at Mizzou's Hottest Deliveries

How does radioactive material safely arrive on a busy campus? It’s a key responsibility of Environmental Health & Safety (EHS), supervised and regulated by our dedicated Radiation Safety Staff. From the moment a package arrives to its final decommissioning, we have rigorous protocols in place. Our Radiation Safety Specialist explains the process.

Pressure Relief for Labs: Venting Caps

Environmental Health & Safety, in collaboration with MURR Safety Staff, is introducing venting caps to improve laboratory safety across campus. These specialized caps prevent dangerous pressure buildup in chemical waste containers, helping reduce the risk of spills, ruptures, and exposure incidents. By adopting this simple safeguard, researchers can better protect themselves, their work, and the university environment.

Protecting Discovery: What Every Researcher Should Know About PPE at Mizzou

At the University of Missouri, our laboratories are spaces of innovation and discovery — but also environments where safety must be prioritized. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is a fundamental part of that safety equation. Whether you're pipetting hazardous chemicals, analyzing samples under high pressure, or just walking through a lab space, your PPE choices matter — not only for your safety, but for the broader research community.

The Impact of Water Quality on Research: MU’s CCR Explained

At the University of Missouri, maintaining high-quality drinking water is essential not just for day-to-day campus operations but also for the integrity of scientific research. The Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), is an annual water quality summary that every community water system in Missouri must provide to its customers.

Streamline Your Lab Transition with EHS Resources