CHP Main
Instructions

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11

Appendix I
Appendix II
Appendix III
Appendix IV
Appendix V
Appendix VI
Appendix VII
Appendix VIII
Appendix IX
Appendix X
Appendix XI

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this model Chemical Hygiene Plan is to define work practices and procedures to help ensure that Laboratory Workers at the University of Kentucky are protected from health and safety hazards associated with the hazardous chemicals with which they work. The Chemical Hygiene Plan is part of the University's compliance with the regulations promulgated on January 31, 1990 by the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and adopted by Kentucky OSH. This standard entitled "Occupational Exposures to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories" is hereafter referred to as the Lab Standard. See Appendix I for information on obtaining or viewing a copy of the Lab Standard. The Chemical Hygiene Plan must include:

  • Standard Operating Procedures

  • Criteria to determine and implement specific control measures, such as engineering controls and personal protective equipment

  • An ongoing program be developed to ensure that fume hoods and other engineering controls are functioning properly

  • Information and training requirements

  • Circumstances under which a particular laboratory function will require "prior approval"

  • Provisions for medical consultation and medical exams

  • Designation of the Principal Investigator/Laboratory Supervisor as the Chemical Hygiene Officer

  • Additional precautions for work with select carcinogens, reproductive toxins, and extremely toxic substances

OSHA has defined a hazardous chemical as "a chemical for which there is statistically significant evidence based on at least one study conducted in accordance with established scientific principals that acute or chronic health effects may occur in exposed employees". In addition, OSHA defines a laboratory as "a workplace where relatively small quantities of hazardous chemicals are used on a non-production basis". Finally, the Laboratory Workers referred to in the Lab Standard are employees. OSHA defines an employee as "an individual employed in a laboratory workplace who may be exposed to hazardous chemicals in the course of his or her assignments." An example of a Laboratory Worker would be a University teaching assistant, research assistant or faculty member instructing an academic lab. OSHA would not consider students in an academic laboratory employees. However, as a matter of university policy, the principles outlined in this Chemical Hygiene Plan will apply to students in our laboratories. Also included, will be visiting professors and volunteers that might be working in the lab. Thus, Laboratory Supervisors must ensure that these groups that are in their laboratories are adequately instructed in relation to safe laboratory procedures. If there is any question about where the Lab Standard applies and whom it covers, the Occupational Health and Safety Department, upon request, will make this determination.

All Laboratory Workers prior to the commencement of lab duties must read this Chemical Hygiene Plan. In addition to the Plan, the Laboratory Workers must be familiar with and adhere to prudent laboratory safety guidelines developed by their Laboratory Supervisor, UK requirements and other relevant regulatory requirements (e.g. Radiation Safety).

A written record stating that each Laboratory Worker has reviewed the Chemical Hygiene Plan and related health and safety policies and guides must be kept by the person in charge of the lab. (See Appendix III for an example of a training record form.)

The University of Kentucky office of Environmental Health and Safety has professionals in several disciplines (e.g. Radiation Safety; Hazardous Materials Management; Fire Marshal; Occupational Health/Industrial Hygiene & Safety) that can be consulted related to laboratory safety. See Appendix II for an organizational chart.

This model Chemical Hygiene Plan (referred to as the Plan throughout this document) will be reviewed annually by the institutional Chemical Hygiene Officer and/or the Environmental Health and Safety Committee. Each laboratory's Chemical Hygiene Plan must be reviewed annually by the laboratory's Chemical Hygiene Officer and the "revised date" must be listed on the Plan. [For discussion of Institutional Chemical Hygiene Officer and Chemical Hygiene Officer see Chapter 9].

OHS | EHS

Last Modified on 09-13-2002
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