CHEMICAL HYGIENE PLAN Template The following plan must be completed for each laboratory or lab group Training for new employees
Chemical HYGIENE PLAN Template (VERSION: September 2008) The following plan must be completed for each laboratory or lab group. Training for new employees must be done and documented prior to first use of chemicals within the lab. There must a written inventory of Chemicals within the lab with a corresponding Material safety data sheet available. Review of the written plan and safety training should be part of the initial orientation for new individuals in your lab. ****************************************************************************************** INSTRUCTIONS: To tailor the Chemical Hygiene Plan for a specific laboratory, laboratory supervisors (PI, faculty member, etc.) need to fill in information in closed parentheses. PAGE 1; general intent-- Describe specific physical area(s) the plan will cover, the physical location of the plan itself in the laboratory, and the location of the MSDS for the area. Make this specific enough that someone unfamiliar with the area can find them. Also, identify who will be responsible for compliance with the plan. PAGE 4; II--If you have procedures that must be performed in either fume hoods, glove boxes or biological safety cabinets, describe them in the appropriate sections. Delete the sections that do not apply. PAGE 6; Prior Approval. If you have a procedure that requires notification of the lab supervisor prior to initiation, it should be described here. Other than the input required on the above three pages, the plan may be used "as is". Faculty or other lab supervisors are encouraged to read the plan draft carefully and make any additions deemed appropriate to best meet the laboratory needs. Sections that do not apply to the current needs of a laboratory may be deleted, as long as there is a safeguard that those sections are returned to the plan if relevant procedures come into use in a lab in the future. ******************************************************************************************
Chemical HYGIENE PLAN FOR (fill in work area [building, room, or other lab ID]) (Updated [fill in date]) Principal Investigator: GENERAL The general intent of the Chemical hygiene plan is to protect laboratory employees from health hazards associated with the use of hazardous Chemicals in our laboratory. The plan will be available to all employees for review and a copy will be located in the following areas: (describe the location ) MSDS are located: (describe the location). (insert name) is designated as the Laboratory Supervisor. The laboratory supervisor may be the Principal Investigator or a designee. This plan will be reviewed annually by the laboratory supervisor and updated as necessary. I. STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES to be followed in the laboratory relevant to safety and health when using Chemicals. 1. General Rules The following should be used for essentially all laboratory work with Chemicals: (a) Accidents and spills - Eye Contact: Promptly flush eyes with water for a prolonged period ( minimum 15 minutes) and seek medical attention. Ingestion: Encourage the victim to drink large amounts of water unless contraindicated by the MSDS or a physician.. Skin Contact: Promptly flush the affected area with water and remove any contaminated clothing. If symptoms persist after washing, seek medical attention. Clean-up. Promptly clean up spills, using appropriate protective apparel and equipment and proper disposal. (b) Avoidance of "routine" exposure: Develop and encourage safe habits; avoid unnecessary exposure to chemicals by any route; Do not smell or taste chemicals. Vent apparatus which may discharge toxic chemicals (vacuum pumps, distillation columns, etc.) into local exhaust devices. Inspect gloves and test glove boxes before use. Do not allow release of toxic substances in cold rooms and warm rooms, since these have contained recirculated atmospheres. (c) Choice of chemicals: Use only those chemicals for which the quality of the available ventilation system is appropriate. (d) Eating, smoking, etc.: Eating, drinking, smoking, gum chewing, or application of cosmetics in areas where laboratory chemicals are present is prohibited except in designated and marked areas; wash hands before conducting these activities. Do not store, handle, or consume food or beverages in storage areas, refrigerators, glassware or utensils which are also used for laboratory operations. (e) Equipment and glassware: Handle and store laboratory glassware with care to avoid damage; do not use damaged glassware. Use extra care with Dewar flasks and other evacuated glass apparatus; shield or wrap them to contain chemicals and fragments should implosion occur. Use equipment only for its designed purpose. (f) Exiting: Wash areas of exposed skin well before leaving the laboratory. (g) Horseplay: Practical jokes or other behavior which might confuse, startle or distract another worker is prohibited. (h) Mouth suction: Do not use mouth suction for pipetting or starting a siphon. (i) Personal apparel: Confine long hair and loose clothing. Wear shoes at all times in the laboratory but do not wear sandals or perforated shoes. (j) Personal housekeeping: Keep the work area clean and uncluttered, with chemicals and equipment being properly labeled and stored; clean up the work area on completion of an operation or at the end of each day. (k) Personal protection: Assure that appropriate eye protection is worn by all persons, including visitors, where chemicals are stored or handled. Wear appropriate gloves when the potential for contact with toxic Materials exists; inspect the gloves before each use, wash them before removal, and replace them periodically. Use appropriate respiratory equipment when air contaminant concentrations are not sufficiently restricted by engineering controls, inspecting the respirator before use. Use any other protective and emergency apparel and equipment as appropriate. Remove laboratory coats immediately on significant contamination. (l) Planning: Seek information and advice about hazards, plan appropriate protective procedures, and plan positioning of equipment before beginning any new operation. (m) Unattended operations: Leave lights on, place an appropriate sign on the door, and provide for containment of toxic substances in the event of failure of a utility service (such as cooling water) to an unattended operation. (n) Use of hood: Use the hood for operations which might result in release of toxic Chemical vapors or dust. As a rule of thumb, use a hood or other local ventilation device when working with any appreciably volatile substance with a TLV of less than 50 ppm. Confirm adequate hood performance before use; keep hood closed at all times except when adjustments within the hood are being made; keep Materials stored in hoods to a minimum and do not allow them to block vents or air flow. Leave the hood "on" when it is not in active use if toxic substances are stored in it or if it is uncertain whether adequate general laboratory ventilation will be maintained when it is "off". (o) Vigilance: Be alert to unsafe conditions and see that they are corrected when detected. (p) Waste disposal: Assure that the plan for each laboratory operation includes plans and training for waste disposal. Deposit Chemical waste in appropriately labeled receptacles and follow all other waste disposal procedures of the Chemical Hygiene Plan. Do not discharge to the sewer malodorous or lachrymatory substances in large volumes, or any substances which might interfere with the biological activity of waste water treatment plants, create fire or explosion hazards, cause structural damage or obstruct flow. (q) Working alone: Avoid working alone in a building; do not work alone in a laboratory if the procedures being conducted are hazardous. 2. Working with Allergens and Embryotoxins (a) Allergens (examples: diazomethane, isocyanates, bichromates): Wear suitable gloves to prevent hand contact with allergens or substances of unknown allergenic activity. (b) Embryotoxins (examples: organomercurials, lead compounds, formamide): If you are a woman of childbearing age, handle these substances only in a hood whose satisfactory performance has been confirmed, using appropriate protective apparel (especially gloves) to prevent skin contact. Review each use of these materials with the research supervisor and review continuing uses annually or whenever a procedural change is made. Store these substances, properly labeled, in an adequately ventilated area in an unbreakable secondary container. Notify supervisors of all incidents of exposure or spills; consult a qualified physician when appropriate. II. CRITERIA FOR USE OF CONTROL MEASURES TO REDUCE EMPLOYEE EXPOSURE TO HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS A. The following operations shall be performed in LABORATORY FUME HOODS: ( ) B. The following operations shall be performed in BIOLOGICAL SAFETY CABINETS: ( ) C. The following operations shall be performed in GLOVE BOXES: (If you don't have or use biological safety cabinets or glove boxes, please delete these sections) D. Respirators shall be used in accordance with the respiratory protection policy of The University of Montana. This policy and associated documentation is available for employee review from Environmental Health at 243-4503 or at: http://www.umt.edu/research/eh/occhealthsafety.htm E. Appropriate protective apparel compatible with the required degree of protection for substances handled shall be used. Either the laboratory supervisor or the Chemical Hygiene Officer will advise employees on glove, gown, eye protection, barrier creams, etc. use. F. Employees will be instructed on the location and use of eye wash stations and safety showers. The laboratory supervisor is responsible for this instruction. III. MAINTENANCE OF FUME HOODS AND OTHER PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT A. FUME HOODS will be inspected every 6 months by Environmental Health staff; adequacy of face velocity will be determined by use of an ALNOR velometer; reports of hood inspections are filed in the Environmental Health and Risk Management Office for employee review. B. SAFETY SHOWERS AND EYEWASH STATIONS will be inspected every 6 months by Environmental Health staff. A tag affixed to each shower and eyewash will have the last date of inspection recorded on it. It is the responsibility of the individual lab employees to keep the eyewash station clear and to run the eyewash each week to ensure water flow and quality. IV. EMPLOYEE INFORMATION AND TRAINING A. Each employee covered by the laboratory standard will be provided with information and training so that they are apprised of the hazards of chemicals present in their work area. B. The training/information sessions shall include: 1. The contents of the OSHA Chemical Hygiene Standard (CFR1910.1450 and its appendices). These shall be available to employees as part of the laboratory safety manual. |
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