EHS 104: Laboratory Use of Hazardous Chemicals

To protect laboratory employees from exposure to hazardous chemicals in the workplace; to inform about hazardous chemicals in the workplace and appropriate personal protection; and to avoid employee work-related injuries and illnesses from hazardous chemicals

29 Code of Federal Regulations § 1910.1450

Arizona State University Laboratory Chemical Safety Compliance Guidelines

Arizona State University Chemical Hygiene Plan

Laboratory employees who may be exposed to hazardous chemicals while performing their duties

ASU has instituted and maintains a chemical hygiene program for laboratory employees who may be exposed to hazardous chemicals during the performance of their duties. The chemical hygiene program is designed to achieve regulatory compliance and to inform laboratory employees about hazardous chemicals.

Environmental Health & Safety develops, implements, and maintains the university’s chemical hygiene program, provides laboratory employee training (see the Environmental Health & Safety Training Schedule, on the Environmental Health & Safety Web site), conducts annual laboratory safety audits to determine compliance status, and promotes regulatory compliance and a safe laboratory environment.

Departments and units must identify laboratory employees who may be exposed to hazardous chemicals and require these employees to attend laboratory chemical safety training prior to initial assignment and to provide the protections required by the chemical hygiene program.

Laboratory employees who use chemicals during the performance of their duties must use safe work practices, use appropriate personal protective equipment, attend laboratory safety training (see the Environmental Health & Safety Training Schedule), and comply with all provisions of the chemical hygiene program.

The core element of the university’s chemical hygiene program is the Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP). The plan contains the following elements:

1. general standard operating procedures
2. criteria for the use of Material Safety Data Sheets (see Related Web Links on the Environmental Health & Safety Web site)
3. control measures to reduce the potential for employee exposure(s)
4. requirements for the use of fume hoods and other engineering controls
5. provisions for laboratory safety training and communication of potential hazards to employees
6. permit and authorization system for laboratory operations, procedures, or activities that pose a significant hazard
7. check-in/check-out procedures
8. provisions for medical consultations and medical examinations
9. identification of designated personnel responsible for the implementation and facilitation of the CHP

   and

10. provisions for additional protective measures for employees who work with particularly hazardous chemicals, e.g., highly reactive, acutely toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, or teratogenic substances.

This plan must be readily available to laboratory employees, employee representatives, and appropriate regulatory agencies.

The provisions of the CHP must be implemented within individual laboratories to fulfill the requirements mandated under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Occupational Exposures to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories standard (29 Code of Federal Regulations § 1910.1450).

Environmental Health & Safety conducts annual laboratory safety audits to determine compliance with the CHP and the OSHA Laboratory Standard. Laboratories are responsible for obtaining a written copy of the CHP and maintaining compliance with the provisions of the CHP. To obtain a current copy of the CHP, access the Chemical Hygiene Plan, a guidance document on the Environmental Health & Safety Web site.

The department’s laboratory supervisor or principal investigator is responsible for obtaining a written copy of the Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP), a guidance document on the Environmental Health & Safety Web site, and complying with all requirements:

1. maintain a current and complete chemical inventory and provide a copy to Environmental Health & Safety at least annually
2. provide Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) (see Related Web Links on the Environmental Health & Safety Web site) for every chemical present in the laboratory
3. label all containers of hazardous materials properly
4. implement specific standard operating procedures for each laboratory
5. determine whether university training requirements have been completed and provide individual employees with training specific to the area in which they will be working
6. establish criteria for control measures to reduce/minimize employee exposure(s)
7. identify the need for chemical fume hoods and other engineering controls
8. implement a permit system for particular laboratory operations, procedures, or activities of significant hazard
9. require employees to follow established check-in/check-out procedures
10. establish provisions for medical consultation and medical examinations
11. designate a responsible party for implementation and facilitation of the CHP
12. set criteria provisions for additional personal protective equipment
13. implement corrective action for all violations addressed on laboratory safety audit report
14. provide Environmental Health & Safety with a current Responsible Party Information Form (available on the Environmental Health & Safety forms Web page) annually or as changes occur

    and

15. prepare accident reports and forward copies to Environmental Health & Safety.

Environmental Health & Safety’s responsibilities are the following:

1. provide training, information, and technical assistance with regard to chemical use in laboratories
2. conduct annual laboratory safety audits and provide the responsible party with a written copy of the report detailing safety violations and recommendations for change

   and

3. issue a “Laboratory Certification” for every laboratory that successfully fulfills the requirements of the CHP.

The employee’s responsibilities are the following:

1. read and comply with the requirements of the CHP
2. notify supervisor if there is any reason to believe that there has been an exposure or over-exposure to a hazardous chemical
3. know the location of MSDSs and be familiar with the safety information for each hazardous chemical in use
4. attend a training session provided by Environmental Health & Safety prior to initial laboratory assignment

   and

5. prior to leaving the university, all chemicals, samples, and hazardous wastes must be identified, properly disposed of, or transferred to another responsible party.

For more information, see:

1. EHS 103, “Hazard Communication Program”
2. EHS 105, “Personal Protective Equipment”
3. EHS 108–01, “Health and Safety Training”
4. EHS 205, “Storage of Hazardous Chemicals”

   and

5. EHS 403, “Chemical Release Emergency Response.”

See also the Police Department Policies and Procedures Manual—PDP 104–01, “Laboratory Emergencies.”
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