Part V – Employee Information and Training
A. Information
Accessibility of information on the hazards of chemicals and procedures for working safely are essential for the laboratory employee. The following information sources must be accessible to all employees engaged in the laboratory use of hazardous chemicals:
1. This Chemical Safety Plan, which is based on information contained in the OSHA standard, Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories, and its appendices (29 CFR 1910.1450).
2. Safety in Academic Chemistry Laboratories published by the American Chemical Society is a very useful text. This manual presents information similar to that found in Prudent Practices in the Laboratory, but in a considerably condensed format.
3. Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) for OSHA regulated substances can be found at:
4. Signs and symptoms associated with exposure to hazardous chemicals, as well as information on the hazards, safe handling, storage and disposal of hazardous chemicals found in the laboratory are found in Prudent Practices in the Laboratory. The following topics are covered:
· Procedures for Working with Substances that Pose Hazards Because of Acute Toxicity
· Chronic Toxicity, or Corrosiveness Procedures for Working with Substances that Pose Hazards Because of Flammability or Explosion
· Procedures for Working with Compressed Gases and for Working at Pressures Above or Below Atmospheric
· Known Hazards of and Specific Precautions for a Selected Group of Laboratory Chemicals
5. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) are available online at: http://siri.org/
6. Hard copies of MSDS for many laboratory chemicals are also available from EH&S or departmental offices. Individual laboratories are encouraged to keep hard copies in an easily accessible location for materials that are used in large quantities, that are used frequently, or which are particularly toxic.
7. Information on chemical waste disposal and spill response can be found by contacting EH&S.Departments should also have posted disposal and spill response guidelines.
B. Training
Each laboratory supervisor is responsible for ensuring that laboratory employees are provided with training about the hazards of chemicals present in their laboratory work area, and methods to control exposure to such chemicals. Such training must 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 potential exposure situations. Refresher training must be provided annually.
Academic and non-academic departments that engage in the laboratory use of hazardous chemicals are responsible for identifying employees who require training and for developing and delivering training programs for such employees. EH&S can provide training that covers general laboratory safety issues, hazardous waste management, and bio-hazardous materials handling. However, laboratory supervisors must provide additional training on laboratory-specific hazards to ensure all the OSHA-required training topics have been adequately addressed.
Employee training programs will include, at a minimum, the following subjects:
· Methods of detecting the presence of hazardous chemicals including visual observation, odor, real-time air monitoring, time-weighted air sampling, etc;
· Basic toxicological principles including toxicity, hazard, exposure, routes of entry, acute and chronic effects, dose-response relationship, threshold limit values and permissible exposure limits, exposure time, and health hazards related to classes of chemicals;
· Good laboratory practice including general techniques designed to reduce personal exposure and to control physical hazards, as well as specific protective mechanisms and warning systems used in individual laboratories. Appropriate use of fume hoods is to be specifically addressed;
· Description of available chemical information including container labeling, Material Safety Data Sheets, etc;
· Emergency response actions appropriate to individual laboratories including listing of emergency phone numbers, location of fire extinguishers, emergency showers, eyewashes, etc;
· Applicable details of the this Chemical Safety Plan;
· An introduction to the Hazardous Waste Management Program.
Part VI – Required Approvals
Certain laboratory operations, procedures or activities may warrant prior approval from the departmental or laboratory supervisor. The supervisor must consider the toxicity of the chemicals used, the hazards of each procedure, and the knowledge and experience of the laboratory workers, and decide which will require pre-approval.
The
requirements to obtain special approval prior to laboratory use of certain
hazardous chemicals will be based on the nature of the material list. A list of
chemicals requiring pre-approval will be developed. Factors to be considered in
developing this list include chemical, physical and toxicological
characteristics of the material, as well as quantity,
concentration, and
potential for exposure during actual use.
The procedure for obtaining special approval will be determined as the list of chemicals is being developed. The granting of approval for laboratory use must include consideration of the actual procedure to be carried out, the availability of adequate laboratory facilities, and the capabilities of the persons proposing to perform the work.