Building _____Chemistry 091____________________
Room(s) ____0230, 0233, 0224
Department _Geology and ESSIC____
Signoff Sheet Not Shown
Table
of Contents
POLICY STATEMENT . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 4
(to
be completed by the Laboratory Supervisor)
CHEMICAL
HYGIENE PLAN ROSTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
(to
be completed by the Laboratory Supervisor)
DUTIES
AND RESPONSIBILITIES: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
LABORATORY SUPERVISOR OR PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL HYGIENE (BACH) COMMITTEE
INDIVIDUAL RESEARCHERS AND LABORATORY USERS
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES GUIDELINES . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
MEDICAL
CONSULTATION AND EXAMINATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . 10
IDENTIFICATION
OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 13
INFORMATION
AND TRAINING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
EXPOSURE
MONITORING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
LABORATORY
SAFETY GUIDE AND REFERENCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . 19
29 CFR
1910.1450
(Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories) . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . Appendix I
29 CFR
1910.1200 (OSHA Hazard Communication excerpts) . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . Appendix II
(Appendix A - Health Hazard Definitions)
(Appendix B - Hazard Determination)
UM
FIRE EMERGENCY PROCEDURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Appendix III
UM WORKERS' COMPENSATION REPORTING
PROCEDURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Appendix IV
(Not Shown) Available from the Department of Environmental Safety or from
the
STANDARD
OPERATING PROCEDURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . Appendix V
(to
be supplied by the Laboratory Supervisor)
CHEMICAL
INVENTORY AND MATERIAL SAFETY DATA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. Appendix VI
(to
be supplied by the Laboratory Supervisor)
A.Purpose.
This is a statement of official University policy to establish the process for compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulation "Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories."
B. Policy.
The University is dedicated to providing safe and healthy laboratory facilities for students and employees, and complying with federal and state occupational health and safety standards. Laboratory administrators, managers, faculty, staff and students all share responsibility for minimizing their exposure to hazardous chemical substances which, for purposes of this policy, shall be defined as chemicals which are carcinogens, toxic or highly toxic agents, reproductive toxins, irritants, corrosives, sensitizers, hepatotoxins, nephrotoxins, neurotoxins, agents which act on the hematopoietic systems, and agents which damage the lungs, skin, eyes, or mucous membranes.
The Chemical Hygiene Plan shall be implemented for all facilities at the University of Maryland at College Park where the referenced hazardous chemicals are handled or used under all of the following conditions: (i) chemical manipulations are performed in containers designed to be easily and safely manipulated by one person; (ii) multiple chemical procedures or chemicals are used; and (iii) demonstrably effective laboratory practices and equipment are available and in common use to minimize the potential for employee exposure to hazardous chemicals.
The Chemical Hygiene Plan shall be reviewed and evaluated for its effectiveness at least annually, and updated as necessary.
C. Responsibilities.
Department of Environmental Safety shall:
(a) Provide a Chemical Hygiene Officer to develop and coordinate administration of the UM Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP);
(b) Prepare the CHP with annual review and revisions as needed;
(c) Distribute CHP to each affected department for each Laboratory Supervisor or Principal Investigator (LS/PI);
(d) Provide consultation, worksite monitoring (sampling), advisory assistance and information concerning use of hazardous materials;
(e) Investigate, document and report to the BACH Committee, significant chemical exposure or contamination incidents;
(f) Collect and dispose of hazardous, radioactive and other regulated wastes;
(g) Direct periodic laboratory safety audits to determine regulatory compliance, and recommend action to correct conditions generating release of toxic chemicals;
(h) Provide training to all laboratory workers concerning:
Provisions of the Chemical Hygiene Plan;
Physical and health hazards of chemicals in the work area;
Measures to protect employees from chemical hazards;
Signs and symptoms associated with hazardous chemical exposure;
Location of reference materials on the hazards, safe handling, storage and disposal of laboratory chemicals;
The contents of the OSHA standard and its appendices;
The permissible exposure limits (PELs) for OSHA regulated substances or recommended exposure limits if no PEL is listed; and
The methods and observations used to detect the presence or release of a hazardous chemical.
Laboratory Supervisors/Principal Investigators (LS/PI) shall:
(a) Implement all provisions of the Chemical Hygiene Plan for laboratory facilities under their control;
(b) Prepare an alphabetired inventory of all hazardous chemical substances in laboratory facilities under their control;
(c) Prepare laboratory-specific Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to include work practices, protective equipment, engineering controls, emergency procedures and waste disposal procedures;
(d) Demarcate and indicate on SOP all areas designated for the use of select carcinogens, reproductive toxins and acute toxins;
(e) Train laboratory workers regarding the specific practices and provisions contained in the laboratory SOP; and
(f) Comply with necessary documentation requirements.
Biological and Chemical Hygiene (BACH) Committee shall:
Review and approve all aspects of the Chemical Hygiene Plan and provide technical guidance for implementation of campus policy concerning chemical and biological safety.
(a) Coordinate and direct all required or recommended medical surveillance programs;
(b) Provide medical consultations and examinations for laboratory workers who have been overexposed, or suspect overexposure, to hazardous chemical substances; and
(c) Maintain medical records relating to consultations, examinations and medical surveillance as required by law.
Individual Researchers and Laboratory Users shall:
(a) Adhere to the requirements of the Chemical Hygiene Plan and SOPs;
(b) Complete all safety training requirements and comply with documentation procedures; and
(c) Report all workplace injuries, chemical exposure incidents or unsafe conditions to their LS/PI as soon as possible.
D. Information
Assistance will be provided by the Department of Environmental Safety to any Department requesting guidance or training to satisfy implementation of this policy.
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UM Emergency (FIRE - POLICE - RESCUE) - 24 hour # 911
CALL IMMEDIATELY FOR ANY EMERGENCY INCLUDING
INJURED OR SICK PERSON, CHEMICAL SPILL OR FIRE
Environmental Safety (Main Office) (40)5-3960
(Industrial Hygiene, Hazardous Waste Management,
Fire Protection, Hazard Communication, Safety
Education)
Chemical Hygiene Officer (40)5-3980
(Program Consultation and Administration)
Biological Safety (40)5-3960
(Biological Safety, Regulated Pathogen Consultation)
Radiation Safety (40)5-3985
(Health Physics, Radioactive Materials Procurement)
University Health Center Occupational Health (31)4-8172
(Medical Consultation and Evaluation)
Workers' Compensation Office (31)4-8171
Facilities Management Work Control (40)5-2222
(Repair of Facility Equipment Deficiencies, e.g.,
fume hoods, emergency eyewashes, ventilation, etc.)
|
Laboratory Supervisors(s): |
Business-hours # |
After-hours # |
|
James Farquhar |
5-1434 |
3018643025 |
|
Jay Kaufman________ |
_______________ |
________________ |
|
Laboratory Personnel: |
Business-hours # |
After-hours # |
|
Boz Wing_ |
5-2149 |
________________ |
|
Katherine Young _______ |
5-4373 |
________________ |
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UM SAFETY OFFICER:
(40)5-3965
Director
Dept.
of Environmental Safety
UM CHEMICAL HYGIENE
OFFICER: (40)5-3980
Industrial
Hygienist
Dept.
of Environmental Safety
UM BIOLOGICAL SAFETY
OFFICER: (40)5-3960
Dept.
of Environmental Safety
MEDICAL
CONSULTATION: (31)4-8172
Occupational
Health
LABORATORY
SUPERVISOR(s)/PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR(s):
(Provide names and UM phone numbers)
James Farquhar
301 405 1434 (office) 5-8611 mass spec lab, 301 405 1116 Chem lab,
301 864 3025 (Home)____________
Jay Kaufman 301405 0395 (office), 301460 1845 (home)
_________________________________________
_____________
DEPARTMENTAL SAFETY
COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
(Provide names and UM
phone numbers)
Richard Ash 5-7504
_________________________________________
_____________
_________________________________________
_____________
_________________________________________
_____________
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DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY shall:
(a) Provide a Chemical
Hygiene Officer (CHO) to develop and coordinate administration of the UM
Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP);
(b) Prepare the CHP
with annual review and revisions as needed;
(c) Distribute CHP
to each affected department for each Laboratory Supervisor or Principal
Investigator (LS/PI);
(d) Provide
consultation, worksite monitoring (sampling), advisory assistance and
information concerning use of hazardous materials, processes or agents;
(e) Investigate,
document and report to the BACH Committee, significant chemical exposure or
contamination incidents;
(f) Collect and
dispose of hazardous, radioactive and other regulated wastes;
(g) Direct periodic
laboratory safety audits to determine regulatory compliance, and recommend
action to correct conditions generating release of hazardous chemicals;
(h) Provide training
to all laboratory workers concerning:
Provisions of the Chemical Hygiene Plan;
Contents
of the OSHA standard and its appendices;
Permissible
exposure limits (PELs) for OSHA regulated substances or recommended exposure
limits if no PEL is listed;
Methods
and observations used to detect the presence or release of a hazardous
chemical;
Physical
and health hazards of chemicals in the work area;
Measures
to protect employees from chemical hazards;
Signs
and symptoms associated with hazardous chemical exposure; and
Location
of reference materials on the hazards, safe handling, storage and disposal of
laboratory chemicals.
LABORATORY
SUPERVISORS/PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS (LS/PI) shall:
(a) Implement all
provisions of the Chemical Hygiene Plan for laboratory facilities under their
control;
(b) Inventory and
alphabetize all hazardous chemical substances in laboratory facilities under
their control;
(c) Prepare Standard
Operating Procedures (SOPs) relevant to safety and health considerations to be
followed in each laboratory, whenever laboratory work involves the use of
hazardous chemicals;
(d) Ensure that
facilities, equipment, and materials are adequate for their intended use;
(e) Train laboratory
workers regarding the specific practices and provisions contained in the
laboratory SOP; and
(f) Comply with
necessary documentation requirements, and ensure that laboratory workers comply
with the requirements of the SOPs.
BIOLOGICAL
AND CHEMICAL HYGIENE (BACH) COMMITTEE shall:
Review and approve
all aspects of the Chemical Hygiene Plan and provide technical guidance for
implementation of campus policy concerning chemical and biological safety.
(a) Coordinate and direct
all required or recommended medical surveillance programs;
(b) Provide
appropriate medical consultation and examinations to employees who develop
signs or symptoms associated with hazardous chemical exposure; and to employees
in work areas where significant exposure to hazardous chemicals may have
resulted from incidents such as spills, leaks, and explosions.
(c) Maintain medical
records relating to consultations, examinations and medical surveillance as
required by law.
INDIVIDUAL
RESEARCHERS AND LABORATORY USERS shall:
(a) Adhere to the
requirements of the Chemical Hygiene Plan and SOPs;
(b) Complete all
safety training requirements and comply with documentation procedures;
(c) Report all
workplace injuries, chemical exposure incidents or unsafe conditions to their
LS/PI as soon as possible; and
The Safety Committee
is most commonly used for peer review of SOPs (as deemed appropriate) and
discussion of relevant and timely safety topics. Committee members should have
the expertise and knowledge to recognize and assess potential chemical and
physical hazards associated with chemical use within the Department. The
Committee members should be able to identify and recommend prudent practices
and precautions which should be adopted to minimize hazardous exposures in the
handling of laboratory chemicals.
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A comprehensive health and safety program should include documents that provide descriptions of standard methods or operations used within the facility. They should describe in clear and precise language the means and methods to be used by laboratory workers to minimize the risk of hazardous exposure while using hazardous chemicals. These documents, commonly referred to as standard operating procedures (SOPs), should be followed by all laboratory employees.
The LS/PI is responsible for preparation of the SOP documents for attachment to the CHP. The LS/PI is responsible for determining the adequacy of the SOPs prepared. The SOPs shall be incorporated in the on-site copy of the Chemical Hygiene Plan and placed in a designated location within the laboratory for immediate access by employees.
A good SOP is one that is clearly stated and realistic in scope. A laboratory LS/PI should prepare SOPs for all routine and repetitive operations as well as for general laboratory operations. The format of all SOPs should be consistent and should incorporate:
Facility name, department and section affected by or using the procedure;
Subject;
Issue date of the original document or current revision;
Any indication that revisions replace an earlier procedure;
Signature or initials of the SOP preparer as well as any reviewing authority; and
Concise instructions for safe and healthful performance of laboratory activities and procedures.
SOPs should indicate the measures that will be used to reduce or prevent employee exposure to hazardous chemicals, including engineering controls, hygiene practices. and the use and maintenance of personal protective equipment.
SOPs should include provisions for additional employee protection for work with particularly hazardous substances, including select carcinogens, reproductive toxins, and substances which have a high degree of acute toxicity. (See "Identification of Hazardous Materials, below.) Where appropriate, these additional measures should include:
Establishment of a designated area;
Use of containment devices such as fume hoods or glove boxes;
Procedures for safe removal of contaminated waste; and
Procedures for site and personal decontamination.
SOPs shall also indicate circumstances under which certain laboratory procedures, operations or activities require prior approval from the LS/PI before implementation (e.g., use of radioactive materials, bench top manipulation of volatile carcinogenic solvents without use of engineering controls, night or weekend work performed alone, reagent substitutions, etc.).
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Employees who work
with hazardous chemicals in the laboratory should be referred for medical
consultation, examination, and/or surveillance (as appropriate to the
circumstances) whenever:
An employee develops signs or symptoms associated with
a hazardous chemical to which the employee may have been exposed in the
laboratory;
An
event takes place in the work area to create a likelihood of hazardous
exposure; or
Exposure
monitoring reveals an exposure level routinely above the action level (or in
the absence of an action level, the Permissible Exposure Limit) for an
OSHA-regulated substance for which there are exposure monitoring and medical
surveillance requirements. (See "Exposure Monitoring" section,
below.)
Examples of events
or circumstances which might result in hazardous exposure include:
A spill or leak which rapidly releases a hazardous
chemical in an uncontrolled manner;
Direct
skin or eye contact with a hazardous chemical;
Symptoms
such as headache, rash, nausea, tearing, irritation or redness of eyes,
irritation of nose or throat, dizziness, loss of motor dexterity or judgement
which disappear when the employee is removed from the exposure area and which
reappear when the employee returns to working with the same hazardous chemical;
Two
or more employees in the same laboratory work area exhibit similar symptoms; or
Exposure
monitoring indicates exposures above regulated or recommended limits.
The University has
established procedures for responding to job-related injuries. These procedures
should be followed in the event of hazardous exposure due to the use of
hazardous chemicals in the laboratory. (See Appendix IV.) In the event of
life-threatening injuries or illnesses, the UM Emergency Dispatcher should be
immediately notified. All injury or illness occurring as a result of work
activities should be reported to the Workers' Compensation Office, immediately
after the incident occurs or the injury is treated. All incidents of hazardous
exposure, including their disposition, should be reported to the Chemical
Hygiene Officer.
The following
information should be provided at the time that an employee is referred for
medical consultation and/or examination:
Identity of the chemical(s) to which the employee may
have been exposed;
Description
of the conditions under which the exposure occurred, including any quantitative
exposure data, if available; and
A
description of the signs and symptoms of exposure that the employee experienced,
if any.
A written report
must be provided to the employer from any physician to whom the employee is
referred for medical consultation or examination in connection with hazardous
exposure. The physician's report(s) should indicate ONLY the specific findings
of diagnoses related to occupational exposure and should include the following
information:
Any recommendation for further medical follow-up;
The
results of the medical examination and any associated test(s);
Any
medical condition which may be revealed in the course of the examination which
may place the employee at increased risk as a result of exposure to a hazardous
workplace; and
A
statement that the employee has been informed by the physician of the results
of the consultation or medical examination and any medical condition that may
require further examination or treatment.
As indicated above,
all incidents of hazardous exposure (including disposition) should be reported to,
and documented by, the Chemical Hygiene Officer (CHO). If no further assessment
of the incident is deemed necessary, the reason for that decision should be
included in the documentation. If the event is determined to require
investigation, a formal exposure assessment will be initiated by the CHO. The
purpose of an exposure assessment is not to determine whether there was a
failure to follow proper procedures, but to identify the hazardous chemical(s)
involved and determine whether an exposure might have caused harm to an
employee. An exposure assessment may include the following items:
Interviews with the employee and complainant (if
different);
Obtaining
the following information:
the names of chemicals which may be involved
other
chemicals used by the employee
all
chemicals used by others in the immediate area
other
chemicals stored in the immediate area
symptoms
exhibited or claimed by the employee
comparison
of symptoms with those referenced in the Material Safety Data Sheet for each
involved chemical
observation
of control measures and personal protective equipment in use during the event
notation
of any on-site exposure monitoring performed previous to or during event
Monitoring
or sampling the air in the area for suspect chemicals; and
Determination
of whether the current control measures were adequate during the time of the
incident.
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A hazardous chemical
is defined by the OSHA laboratory standard as "a chemical for which there
is statistically significant evidence based on at least one study conducted in
accordance with established scientific principles that acute or chronic health
effects may occur in exposed employees." Hazardous chemicals include
carcinogens, toxic or highly toxic agents, reproductive toxins, irritants,
corrosives, sensitizers, hepatotoxins, nephrotoxins, neurotoxins, agents which
act on the hematopoietic system and agents which damage the lungs, skin, eyes
or mucous membranes.
Laboratory
supervisors have certain responsibilities for the management of these hazardous
chemicals, including:
Inventory of all hazardous chemical substances which
are used in their laboratories, and attaching the inventory to this CHP;
Maintenance
of the labels on incoming containers of hazardous chemicals to ensure that they
are not removed or defaced;
Maintenance
of any Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) that are received with incoming
shipments of hazardous chemicals, and ensuring that the MSDSs are readily
accessible to laboratory employees; and
Determination
of whether chemical substances which are developed in the laboratory are
hazardous chemicals within the definition of this CHP. If the chemical
substance is a byproduct for which the composition is unknown, the substance
should be deemed to be a hazardous chemical.
Laboratory
supervisors also are responsible for identifying the following hazardous
chemicals which are required to be used in an area specially designated for
such use:
Select carcinogens: Any substance which meets one of
the following criteria:
it is regulated by OSHA as a carcinogen;
it
is listed under the category, "known to be carcinogens," in the Annual
Report on Carcinogens published by the National Toxicology Program (latest
edition);
it
is listed under Group 1 ("carcinogenic to humans") by the
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monographs (latest
edition); or
it
is listed in either Group 2A or 2B by the IARC, or under the category,
"reasonably anticipated to be carcinogens" by NTP, and causes
statistically significant tumor incidence in experimental animals in accordance
with criteria specified in the OSHA laboratory standard.
Reproductive toxins: Chemicals which affect the
reproductive capabilities, including chemicals which are mutagenic and
teratogenic;
Acute
toxins; and
Unknowns:
Chemicals which are synthesized in the laboratory and which are byproducts for
which the composition is unknown.
Information
concerning the health effects of chemical substances can be located in the
following reference sources:
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
MSDSs are available
through:
(A) the
[From the main menu
select LOCAL APPLICATIONS; then select ADMIN DISPLAY; then select ENVIRONMENTAL
SAFETY - MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEETS]
(B) the UM Mainframe (inforM),
[From the main menu
select CAMPUS INFORMATION; then select GENERAL INFORMATION; then select
ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY - MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEETS]
(C) the Department
of Environmental Safety (DES) at x53960, via email at safety@accmail.umd.edu or after normal
hours through UM Emergency Dispatcher at 911), and
(D) the vendor,
manufacturer or distributor. (A MSDS must be provided at the time of initial
purchase by the vendor, manufacturer or distributor without charge. A nominal
fee may be assessed for additional copies.)
Registry
of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances (Chemistry Library or DES)
National
Toxicology Program (Chemistry Library or DES)
International
Agency for Research on Cancer (Chemistry Library or DES)
Use of any of the
following materials may be subject to specific occupational safety and health
standards as shown:
|
Asbestos, tremolite, anthophyllite and actinolite |
29 CFR 1910.1001 |
|
4-Nitrobiphenyl |
.1003 |
|
alpha-Naphthylamine |
.1004 |
|
4,4'-Methylene bis(2-chloroaniline) |
.1005 |
|
Methyl chloromethyl ether |
.1006 |
|
3,3'-Dichlorobenzidine (and salts) |
.1007 |
|
bis-Chloromethyl ether |
.1008 |
|
beta-Naphthylamine |
.1009 |
|
Benzidine |
.1010 |
|
4-Aminodiphenyl |
.1011 |
|
Ethyleneimine |
.1012 |
|
beta-Propiolactone |
.1013 |
|
2-Acetylaminofluorene |
.1014 |
|
4-Dimethylaminoazobenzene |
.1015 |
|
N-Nitrosodimethylamine |
.1016 |
|
Vinyl Chloride |
.1017 |
|
Arsenic (inorganic) |
.1018 |
|
Lead |
.1025 |
|
Cadmium |
.1027 |
|
Benzene |
.1028 |
|
Cotton dust |
.1043 |
|
1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane |
.1044 |
|
Acrylonitrile |
.1045 |
|
Ethylene oxide |
.1047 |
|
Formaldehyde |
.1048 |
|
4,4'-Methylenedianiline |
.1050 |
|
Non-Asbestiform tremolite, anthophyllite and actinolite |
.1101 |
These standards are
not replaced by the Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in
Laboratories standard. Users of these materials are expected to adhere to the
provisions of all applicable substance-specific standards if employee exposure
routinely exceeds the OSHA-mandated permissible exposure limit (or Action
Level, if specified). Copies of these standards may be obtained from the
Department of Environmental Safety.
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All UM employees must
assume an active role in maintaining a safe working environment by reporting
any problems or noncompliance with policies to the LS/PI. All employees should
fully utilize any information provided during formal and informal training
sessions. Any staff member who does not understand a policy or procedure should
consult the LS/PI, departmental safety committee or DES for clarification.
All employees shall
be provided with information and training regarding the hazards of the
chemicals in their work area. Employees shall be informed of:
The contents of the OSHA standard and its appendices;
The
location and availability of the CHP;
The
permissible exposure limits (PELs) for OSHA regulated substances or recommended
exposure limits if no PEL is listed;
The
methods and observations used to detect the presence or release of a hazardous
chemical;
The
physical and health hazards of chemicals in the work area;
The
measures employees can take to protect themselves from chemical hazards,
including specific procedures (SOPs) to be used;
Signs
and symptoms associated with exposures to hazardous chemicals used in the
laboratory; and
The
location of known reference material on the hazards, safe handling, storage,
and disposal of chemicals found in the laboratory.
Distribution of
training materials to LS/PIs and members of departmental safety committees is
coordinated through the Department of Environmental Safety. Training of
laboratory workers in general laboratory safety and the provisions of the OSHA
laboratory standard's requirements shall be conducted by UM Chemical Hygiene
Officer (or designee) during training sessions scheduled through the Department
of Personnel Services Employee Relations and Training or through special
arrangement with DES. The LS/PI shall be responsible for training of all
supervised laboratory employees as to specific operations, safety equipment,
emergency procedures, SOPs and chemical use which apply to the laboratory
facilities. Documentation of general laboratory safety and CHP training conducted
by the Department of Environmental Safety shall be maintained within each
department and by the Department of Personnel Services as part of the
employee's permanent record. Documentation of laboratory-specific training
provided by the LS/PI shall be maintained within each department and
laboratory.
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OSHA
has established "Permissible Exposure Limits" (PELs) for laboratory
employees' exposures to certain regulated substances. Exposure levels must be
determined and monitored under certain circumstances. A medical surveillance
program has been established for certain specified employees whose work
assignments involve regular and frequent handling of toxicologically significant
quantities of a chemical. In addition, the Department of Environmental Safety
is responsible for making determinations regarding the requirements for area
and/or personal exposure monitoring in specific circumstances.
PELs are specified
in the OSHA regulation 29 CFR 1910, Subpart Z Toxic and Hazardous Substances.
In addition, PELs are usually indicated on the MSDSs, and can be obtained from
the Department of Environmental Safety.
These limits are
defined as:
Eight-hour
time weighted average (TWA)
The average
concentration to which an employee may be exposed to a particular chemical for
up to eight hours per day, five days per week.
Short
Term Exposure Limit (STEL)
The average
concentration to which an employee may be exposed to a particular chemical for up
to fifteen minutes per day.
Ceiling
(C)
The maximum
concentration to which an employee may be exposed to a particular chemical at
any time.
Often, a notation of
"Skin" is printed with an exposure limit. This indicates that skin
absorption of that chemical occurs readily which would contribute to an
employee's overall exposure. Employee exposure to dermal absorption of chemical
substances can often be monitored through the use of biological testing.
Employee exposure
should be monitored in the following circumstances:
Initially, where there is reason to believe that
exposure levels to any chemical substance regulated by a standard routinely
exceed the action level (or in the absence of an action level, the PEL) for an
OSHA-regulated substance for which there are exposure monitoring and medical
surveillance requirements; and
Periodically,
where the initial monitoring discloses employee exposure over the action level
(or in absence of an action level, the PEL).
The general
training provided by the Department of Environmental Safety will include
information regarding the identification of situations where employee exposure
might exceed the PEL, TLV or STEL. TLVs (Threshold Limit Values) are eight-hour
time-weighted average inhalation exposure limits recommended by the American
Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists. The Department of
Environmental Safety will perform area and/or personal exposure monitoring at
the request of any LS/PI or laboratory worker. The employee will be provided
written notification of monitoring results, within 15 working days after
receipt of monitoring results by the University.
Where initial
monitoring discloses employee exposure over the action level (or in the absence
of an action level, the PEL), the affected employee must be provided with
personal protective equipment, unless engineering controls are available as a
feasible means of controlling exposure.
Monitoring will be
terminated when appropriate in accordance with the relevant standard.
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The Laboratory Safety Guide is a separate document prepared and distributed by the Department of Environmental Safety. It was assembled to assist laboratory supervisors and workers in their daily operations at UM and to provide a means to lower employee exposure to hazardous materials and operations. It can supply much of the information needed to provide laboratory workers a safe working environment. However, laboratory workers should not assume that this guide will supply sufficient information to prevent injury and protect the environment. The nature of the work that is performed in many research and testing laboratories increases the necessity for safety planning and awareness. The Principal Investigator and other faculty often have special expertise in the unique or specific experimental processes used in laboratories under their control, and the prepared SOP may supersede general laboratory safety guidelines.
Recommended reference sources concerning safe operations in laboratories include:
CRC Handbook of
Laboratory Safety
CRC Press, Inc.
Guide for Safety in the Chemical Laboratory
Van Nostrand Reinhold Company
Improving Safety in the Chemical Laboratory
John Wiley and Sons
Prudent Practices for Handling Hazardous
Chemicals in
Safe Storage of Laboratory Chemicals
John Wiley and Sons
Safety in Academic Chemistry Laboratories
American Chemical Society
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Federal
Occupational Safety and Health Standard (OSHA) 29 CFR 1910.1450.
Title: Occupational
Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories.
(a) Scope and application.
This section shall apply to all employers engaged in
the laboratory use of hazardous chemicals as defined below.
Where
this section applies, it shall supersede, for laboratories, the requirements of
all other OSHA health standards in 29 CFR part 1910, subpart Z, except as
follows:
(i) For any OSHA health standard, only the requirement to
limit employee exposure to the specific permissible exposure limit shall apply
for laboratories, unless that particular standard states otherwise or unless
the conditions of paragraph (a)(2)(iii) of this section apply.
(ii) Prohibition of eye and skin contact where specified
by any OSHA health standard shall be observed.
(iii) Where the action level (or in the absence of an action
level, the permissible exposure limit) is routinely exceeded for an OSHA
regulated substance with exposure monitoring and medical surveillance
requirements paragraphs (d) and (g)(1)(ii) of this section shall apply.
This
section shall not apply to:
(i) Uses of hazardous chemicals which do not meet the
definition of laboratory use, and in such cases, the employer shall comply with
the relevant standard in 29 CFR part 1910, subpart 2, even if such use occurs
in a laboratory.
(ii) Laboratory uses of hazardous chemicals which provide
no potential for employee exposure.
Examples of such
conditions might include:
Procedures using chemically-impregnated test media
such as Dip-and-Read tests where a reagent strip is dipped into the specimen to
be tested and the results are interpreted by comparing the color reaction to a
color chart supplied by the manufacturer of the test strip; and
Commercially
prepared kits such as those used in performing pregnancy tests in which all of
the reagents needed to conduct the test are contained in the kit.
(b) Definitions -
"Action
level" means a concentration
designated in 29 CFR part 1910 for a specific substance, calculated as an eight
(8)-hour time-weighted average, which initiates certain required activities
such as exposure monitoring and medical surveillance.
"Assistant
Secretary" means the Assistant
Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and
"Carcinogen" (see "select carcinogen").
"Chemical
Hygiene Officer" means an
employee who is designated by the employer, and who is qualified by training or
experience, to provide technical guidance in the development and implementation
of the provisions of the Chemical Hygiene Plan. This definition is not intended
to place limitations on the position description or job classification that the
designated individual shall hold within the employer's organizational
structure.
"Chemical
Hygiene Plan" means a written
program developed and implemented by the employer which sets forth procedures,
equipment, personal protective equipment and work practices that
are capable of protecting employees from the health
hazards presented by hazardous chemicals used in that particular workplace and
meets
the requirements of paragraph (e) of this section.
"Combustible
liquid" means any liquid having
a flashpoint at or above 100 deg. F (37.8 deg. C), but below 200 deg. F (93.3
deg. C), except any mixture having components with flashpoints of 200 deg. F
(93.3 deg. C), or higher, the total volume of which make up 99 percent or more
of the total volume of the mixture.
"Compressed
gas" means:
A gas or mixture of gases having, in a container, an
absolute pressure exceeding 40 psi at 70 deg. F (21.1 deg. C); or
A
gas or mixture of gases having, in a container, an absolute pressure exceeding
104 psi at 130 deg. F (54.4 deg C) regardless of the pressure at 70 deg. F
(21.1 deg. C); or
A
liquid having a vapor pressure exceeding 40 psi at 100 deg. F (37.8 C) as
determined by ASTM D-323-72.
"Designated
area" means an area which may be
used for work with "select carcinogens," reproductive toxins or
substances which have a high degree of acute toxicity. A designated area may be
the entire laboratory, such as a laboratory hood.
"EMERGENCY" means any occurrence such as, but not limited to,
equipment failure, rupture of containers or failure of control equipment which
results in an uncontrolled release of a hazardous chemical into the workplace.
"Employee" means an individual employed in a laboratory workplace
who may be exposed to hazardous chemicals in the course of his or her
assignments.
"Explosive" means a chemical that causes a sudden, almost
instantaneous release of pressure, gas, and heat when subjected to sudden
shock, pressure, or high temperature.
"Flammable" means a chemical that falls into one of the following
categories:
"Aerosol, flammable" means an aerosol that,
when tested by the method described in 16 CFR 1500.45, yields a flame
protection exceeding 18 inches at full valve opening, or a flashback (a flame
extending back to the valve) at any degree of valve opening;
"Gas,
flammable" means:
A gas that, at ambient temperature and pressure, forms
a flammable mixture with air at a concentration of 13 percent by volume or
less; or
A
gas that, at ambient temperature and pressure, forms a range of flammable
mixtures with air wider than 12 percent by volume, regardless of the lower
limit.
"Liquid,
flammable" means any liquid having a flashpoint below 100 deg F (37.8 deg.
C), except any mixture having components with flashpoints of 100 deg. C) or
higher, the total of which make up 99 percent or more of the total volume of
the mixture.
"Solid,
flammable" means a solid, other than a blasting agent or explosive as
defined in 1910.109(a), that is liable to cause fire through friction,
absorption of moisture, spontaneous chemical change, or retained heat from
manufacturing or processing, or which can be ignited readily and when ignited
burns so vigorously and persistently as to create a serious hazard. A chemical
shall be considered to be a flammable solid if, when tested by the method
described in 16 CFR 1500.44, it ignites and burns with a self-sustained flame
at a rate greater than one-tenth of an inch per second along its major axis.
"Flashpoint" means the minimum temperature at which a liquid gives
off a vapor insufficient concentration to ignite when tested as follows:
Tagliabue Closed Tester (See American National
Standard Method of Test for Flash Point by Tag Closed Tester, Z11.24 - 1979
(ASTM D 56-79)) - for liquids with a viscosity of less than 45 Saybolt
Universal Seconds (SUS) at 100 deg. F (37.8 deg. C), that do not contain
suspended solids and do not have a tendency to form a surface film under test;
or
Pensky-Martens
Closed Tester (See American National Standard Method of Test for Flashpoint by
Pensky-Martens Closed Tester, Z11.7 - 1979 (ASTM D 93-79)) - for liquids with a
viscosity equal to or greater than 45 SUS at 100 deg. F (37.8 deg. C ), or that
contain suspended solids, or that have a tendency to form a surface film under
test; or
Setaflash
Closed Tester (see American National Standard Method of test for Flash Point by
Setaflash Closed Tester (ASTM D 3278-78)).
* Organic peroxides, which undergo autoaccelerating
thermal decomposition, are excluded from any of the flashpoint determination
methods specified above.
"Hazardous
chemical" means a chemical for
which there is statistically significant evidence based on at least one study
conducted in accordance with established scientific principles that acute or
chronic health effects may occur in exposed employees. The term "health
hazard" includes chemicals which are carcinogens, toxic or highly toxic
agents, reproductive toxins, irritants, corrosives, sensitizers, hepatotoxins,
nephrotoxins, neurotoxins, agents which act on the hematopoietic systems, and
agents which damage the lungs, skin, eyes, or mucous membranes. Appendices A
and B of the Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) provide further
guidance in defining the scope of health hazards and determining whether or not
a chemical is to be considered hazardous for purposes of this standard.
"Laboratory" means a facility where the "laboratory use of
hazardous chemicals" occurs. It is a workplace where relatively small
quantities of hazardous chemicals are used on a non-production basis.
"Laboratory
scale" means work with
substances in which the containers used for reactions, transfers, and other
handling of substances are designed to be easily and safety manipulated by one
person. "Laboratory scale" excludes those workplaces whose function
is to produce commercial quantities of materials.
"Laboratory-type
hood" means a device located in
a laboratory, enclosure on five sides with a movable sash or fixed partial
enclosed on the remaining side; constructed and maintained to draw air from the
laboratory and to prevent or minimize the escape of air contaminants into the
laboratory; and allows chemical manipulations to be conducted in the enclosure
without insertion of any portion of the employee's body other than hands and
arms. Walk-in hoods with adjustable sashes meet the above definition provided
that the sashes are adjusted during use so that the airflow and the exhaust of
air contaminants are not compromised and employees do not work inside the
enclosure during the release of airborne hazardous chemicals.
"Laboratory
use of hazardous chemicals"
means handling or use of such chemicals in which all of the following
conditions are met:
Chemical manipulations are carried out on a
"laboratory scale;"
Multiple
chemical procedures or chemicals are used;
The
procedures involved are not part of a production process, nor in any way
simulate a production process; and
"Protective
laboratory practices and equipment" are available and in common use to
minimize the potential for employee exposure to hazardous chemicals.
"Medical
consultation" means a
consultation which takes place between an employee and a licensed physician for
the purpose of determining what medical examinations or procedures, if any, are
appropriate in cases where a significant exposure to a hazardous chemical may
have taken place.
"Organic
peroxide" means an organic
compound that contains the bivalent -O-O- structure and which may be considered
to be a structural derivative of hydrogen peroxide where one or both of the
hydrogen atoms has been replaced by an organic radical.
"Oxidizer" means a chemical other than a blasting agent or
explosive as defined in 1910.109(a), that initiates or promotes combustion in
other materials, thereby causing fire either of itself or through the release
of oxygen or other gases.
"Physical
hazard" means a chemical for
which there is scientifically valid evidence tat it is a combustible liquid, a
compressed gas, explosive, flammable, an organic peroxide, an oxidizer
pyrophoric, unstable (reactive) or water-reactive.
"Protective
laboratory practices and equipment"
means those laboratory procedures, practices and equipment accepted by laboratory
health and safety experts as effective, or that the employer can show to be
effective, in minimizing the potential for employee exposure to hazardous
chemicals.
"Reproductive
toxins" means chemicals which
affect the reproductive chemicals which affect the reproductive capabilities
including chromosomal damage (mutations) and effects on fetuses
(teratogenesis).
"Select
carcinogen" means any substance
which meets one of the following criteria:
It is regulated by OSHA as a carcinogen; or
It
is listed under the category, "known to be carcinogens," in the
Annual Report on Carcinogens published by the National Toxicology Program
(NTP)(latest edition); or
It
is listed under Group 1 ("carcinogenic to humans") by the
International Agency for research on Cancer Monographs (IARC)(latest editions);
or
It
is listed in either Group 2A or 2B by IARC or under the category,
"reasonably anticipated to be carcinogens" by NTP, and causes
statistically significant tumor incidence in experimental animals in accordance
with any of the following criteria:
After inhalation exposure of 6 - 7 hours per day, 5
days per week, for a significant portion of a lifetime to dosages of less than
10 mg/m(3);
After
repeated skin application of less than 300 (mg/kg of body weight) per week; or
After
oral dosages of less than 50 mg/kg of body weight per day.
"Unstable
(reactive)" means a chemical
which is the pure state, or as produced or transported, will vigorously
polymerize, decompose, condense, or will become self-reactive under conditions
of shocks, pressure or temperature.
"Water-reactive" means a chemical that reacts with water to release a
gas that is either flammable or presents a health hazard.
(c) Permissible exposure limits. For laboratory uses of
OSHA regulated substances, the employer shall assure that laboratory employees'
exposures to such substances do not exceed the permissible exposure limits
specified in 29 CFR part 1910, subpart Z.
(d) Employee exposure determination -
Initial monitoring. The employer shall measure the
employee's exposure to any substance regulated by a standard which requires
monitoring if there is reason to believe that exposure levels for that
substance routinely exceed the action level (or in the absence of an action
level, the PEL).
Periodic
monitoring. If the initial monitoring prescribed by paragraph (d)(1) of this
section discloses employee exposure over the action level (or in the absence of
an action level, the PEL), the employer shall immediately comply with the
exposure monitoring provisions of the relevant standard.
Termination
of monitoring. Monitoring may be terminated in accordance with the relevant
standard.
Employee
notification of monitoring results. The employer shall, within 15 working days
after the receipt of any monitoring results, notify the employee of these
results in writing either individually or by posting results in an appropriate
location that is accessible to employees.
(e) Chemical hygiene plan - General. (Appendix A of this section is non-mandatory but
provides guidance to assist employers in the development of the Chemical
Hygiene Plan).
Where hazardous chemicals as defined by this standard
are used in the workplace, the employer shall develop and carry out the
provisions of a written Chemical Hygiene Plan which is:
(i) Capable of protecting employees from health hazards
associated with hazardous chemicals in that laboratory and
(ii) Capable of keeping exposures below the limits
specified in paragraph (c) of this section.
The
Chemical Hygiene Plan shall be readily available to employees, employee
representatives and, upon request, to the Assistant Secretary.
The
Chemical Hygiene Plan shall include each of the following elements and shall
indicate specific measures that the employer will take to ensure laboratory
employee protection;
(i) Standard operating procedures relevant to safety and
health considerations to be followed when laboratory work involves the use of
hazardous chemicals;
(ii) Criteria that the employer will use to determine and
implement control measures to reduce employee exposure to hazardous chemicals
including engineering controls, the use of personal protective equipment and
hygiene practices; particular attention shall be given to the selection of
control measures for chemicals that are known to be extremely hazardous;
(iii) A requirement that fume hoods and other protective
equipment are functioning properly and specific measures that shall be taken to
ensure proper and adequate performance of such equipment;
(iv) Provisions for employee information and training as
prescribed in paragraph (f) of this section;
(v) The circumstances under which a particular laboratory
operation, procedure or activity shall require prior approval from the employer
or the employer's designee before implementation;
(vi) Provisions for medical consultation and medical
examinations in accordance with paragraph (g) of this section;
(vii) Designation of personnel responsible for
implementation of the Chemical Hygiene Plan including the assignment of a
Chemical Hygiene Officer, and, if appropriate, establishment of a Chemical
Hygiene Committee; and
(viii) Provisions for additional employee protection for
work with particularly hazardous substances. These include "select
carcinogens, "reproductive toxins and substances which have a high degree
of acute toxicity. Specific consideration shall be given to the following
provisions which shall be included where appropriate:
Establishment of a designated area;
Use
of containment devices such as fume hoods or glove boxes;
Procedures
for safe removal of contaminated waste; and
Decontamination
procedures.
The
employer shall review and evaluate the effectiveness of the Chemical Hygiene
Plan at least annually and update it as necessary.
(f) Employee information and training.
The employer shall provide employees with information
and training to ensure that they are apprised of the hazards of chemicals
present in their work area.
Such
information shall be provided at the time of an employee's initial assignment
to a work area where hazardous chemicals are present and prior to assignments
involving new exposure situations. The frequency of refresher information and
training shall be determined by the employer.
Information.
Employees shall be informed of:
(i) The contents of this standard and its appendices
which shall be made available to employees;
(ii) the location and availability of the employer's
Chemical Hygiene Plan;
(iii) The permissible exposure limits for OSHA regulated substances
or recommended exposure limits for other hazardous chemicals where there is no
applicable OSHA standard;
(iv) Signs and symptoms associated with exposures to
hazardous chemicals used in the laboratory; and
(v) The location and availability of known reference
material on the hazards, safe handling, storage and disposal of hazardous
chemicals found in the laboratory including, but not limited to, Material
Safety Data Sheets received from the chemical supplier.
Training.
(i) Employee training shall include:
Methods and observations that may be used to detect
the presence or release of a hazardous chemical (such as monitoring conducted
by the employer, continuous monitoring devices, visual appearance or odor of
hazardous chemicals when being released, etc.);
The
physical and health hazards of chemicals in the work area; and
The
measures employees can take to protect themselves from these hazards, including
specific procedures the employer has implemented to protect employees from
exposure to hazardous chemicals, such as appropriate work practices, emergency
procedures, and personal protective equipment to be used.
(ii) The employee shall be trained on the applicable
details of the employer's written Chemical Hygiene Plan.
(g) Medical consultation and medical examinations.
The employer shall provide all employees who work with
hazardous chemicals an opportunity to receive medical attention, including any
follow-up examinations which the examining physician determines to be
necessary, under the following circumstances:
(i) Whenever an employee develops signs or symptoms
associated with a hazardous chemical to which the employee may have been
exposed in the laboratory, the employee shall be provided an opportunity to
receive an appropriate medical examination.
(ii) Where exposure monitoring reveals an exposure level
routinely above the action level (or in the absence of an action level, the
PEL) for an OSHA regulated substance for which there are exposure monitoring
and medical surveillance requirements, medical surveillance shall be
established for the affected employee as prescribed by the particular standard.
(iii) Whenever an event takes place in the work area such
as a spill, leak, explosion or other occurrence resulting in the likelihood of
a hazardous exposure, the affected employee shall be provided an opportunity
for a medical consultation. Such consultation shall be for the purpose of
determining the need for a medical examination.
All
medical examinations and consultations shall be performed by or under the
direct supervision of a licensed physician and shall be provided without cost
to the employee, without loss of pay and at a reasonable time and place.
Information
provided to the physician. The employer shall provide the following information
to the physician:
(i) The identity of the hazardous chemical(s) to which
the employee may have been exposed;
(ii) A description of the conditions under which the
exposure occurred including quantitative exposure data, if available; and
(iii) A description of the signs and symptoms of exposure
that the employee is experiencing, if any.
Physician's
written opinion.
(i) For examination or consultation required under this
standard, the employer shall obtain a written opinion from the examining
physician which shall include the following:
Any recommendation for further medical follow-up;
The
results of the medical examination and any associated tests;
Any
medical condition which may be revealed in the course of the examination which
may place the employee at increased risk as a result of exposure to a hazardous
workplace; and
A
statement that the employee has been informed by the physician of the results
of the consultation or medical examination and any medical condition that may
require further examination or treatment.
(ii) The written opinion shall not reveal specific
findings of diagnoses unrelated to occupational exposure.
(h) Hazard identification.
With respect to labels and material safety data
sheets:
(i) Employers shall ensure that labels on incoming
containers of hazardous chemicals are not removed or defaced.
(ii) Employers shall maintain any material safety data
sheets that are received with incoming shipments of hazardous chemicals, and
ensure that they are readily accessible to laboratory employees.
The
following provisions shall apply to chemical substances developed in the
laboratory:
(i) If the composition of the chemical substance which is
produced exclusively for the laboratory's use is known, the employer shall determine
if it is a hazardous chemical as defined in paragraph (b) of this section. If
the chemical is determined to be hazardous, the employer shall provide
appropriate training as required under paragraph (f) of this section.
(ii) If the chemical produced is a byproduct whose
composition is not known, the employer shall assume that the substance is
hazardous and shall implement paragraph (e) of this section.
(iii) If the chemical substance is produced for another
user outside of the laboratory, the employer shall comply with the Hazard
Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.120) including the requirements for
preparation of material safety data sheets and labeling.
(iv) Use of respirators. Where the use of respirators is
necessary to maintain exposure below permissible exposure limits, the employer
shall provide, at no cost to the employee, the proper respiratory equipment.
Respirators shall
be selected and used in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.134.
(j) Recordkeeping.
The employer shall establish and maintain for each
employee an accurate record of any measurements taken to monitor employee
exposures and any medical consultation and examinations including tests or
written opinions required by this standard.
The
employer shall assure that such records are kept, transferred, and made
available in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.20.
(k) Dates -
Effective date. This section shall become effective
Start-up
dates.
(i) Employers shall have developed and implemented a
written Chemical Hygiene Plan no later than
(ii) Paragraph (a)(2) of this section shall not take
effect until the employer has developed and implemented a written Chemical
Hygiene Plan.
(l) Appendices. The information contained in the
appendices is not intended, by itself, to create any additional obligations not
otherwise imposed or to detract from any existing obligation.
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Appendix
A to 1910.1450 - National Research
Council Recommendations
Concerning Chemical
Hygiene in Laboratories (Non-Mandatory)