Chemical Hygiene

Chemical Hygiene Plan

The Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) contains procedures for working safely with chemicals as well as plans for emergency situations. Each CSB/SJU laboratory prepares CHP custom to its operation, following OSHA Laboratory Safety Guidance, including the following:

Roles and Responsibilities

Director of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) performs the role of institutional Chemical Hygiene Officer (CHO). Each Department working with hazardous chemicals in a manor that meets the definition of a laboratory will designate a department Laboratory Safety Coordinator (LSC) or establish a Department Safety Committee to prepare, maintain and coordinate laboratory-specific CHP and general laboratory safety activities within the department and with the EHS. The plan must address in details, the roles and responsibilities as provided in OSHA guidance.

Exposure Monitoring

Lab personnel may request the DSC, LSC or EHS to monitor a laboratory for exposure if there is reason to believe that chemical exposure levels have exceeded, or are likely to exceed, the allowable regulatory level or the PEL

Training

DSC, LSC or EHS provide general laboratory safety training for new employees or refresher for all laboratory employees as described in the CHP. This training covers the CHP, exposure monitoring, waste management, and emergency procedures. For refresher sessions, only changes to the CHP or concerns from the previous year activities are discussed. Laboratory Supervisors have overall responsibility for CHP in their specific laboratory as stipulated in department CHP and OSHA Guidance.

Inspections

DSC, LSC or EHS conduct formal or informal laboratory inspections. Inspection results and corrective actions are provided to designated laboratory supervisor and reviewed by the entire department.

Chemical Waste

Laboratories on both campuses manage chemical waste in accordance with their departmental waste stream plan and University of Minnesota chemical day program requirements. Copies of all waste manifest and invoices are submitted to the EHS office for review and filing.

Spills and Emergencies

Laboratory personnel are responsible for knowing the hazards of the materials they work with and how to safely clean up small chemical spills. If a large spill occurs, lab workers are to follow the Emergency procedures provided in the CHP or prepared for each campus.

References and Resources

The documents listed below may be obtained from the Environmental Health and Safety.

  • Laboratory Chemical Waste Management Guide