OSHA’s Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in
Laboratories standard (29 CFR 1910.1450) describes the requirements for a
chemical hygiene plan. There are eight requirements for a chemical hygiene
plan. There must be written standard operating procedures that are relevant to
safety and health considerations for each activity involving the use of
hazardous chemicals. The second requirement listed the criteria that the
employer must implement measures to reduce exposures to hazardous materials.
The exposures are prevented with either engineering controls, the use of
personal protective equipment or PPE, and administrative controls. The third
requirement states that fume hoods and personal protective equipment must be
functioning properly and ensure the proper maintenance of the equipment. The
fourth requirement is that there needs to be the proper information to be
available to the lab personnel: the contents of the laboratory standard, the
location of the chemical hygiene plan, the permissible exposure limits for OSHA
regulated substances or recommend exposure limits for other hazardous chemicals
where no standard exists, the signs and symptoms associated with exposures to
hazardous chemicals used in the laboratory, and the location of the Material
Safety Data Sheets. The fifth requirement describes the circumstances under
which a particular laboratory procedure requires prior approval from the
employer before being implemented. The sixth requirement states that there
needs to be a person appointed for the position of the Chemical Hygiene Officer
and a Chemical Hygiene Committee. The
seventh requirement is for provisions for additional worker protection for
those that work with hazardous substances. These hazardous substances are under
the title of “select carcinogens,” reproductive toxins and substances that have
a high degree of acute toxicity. Employees must use a fume hood or glove boxes
when using these kinds of chemicals. There must be strict directions for the safe
removal of contaminated waste. The eighth and final requirement is that the
employer must evaluate the effectiveness of the chemical hygiene plan.
Employees must have the correct training, this includes: the
physical and health hazards of the chemicals that are used in the work area,
methods that are used to detect the presence of hazardous chemicals in the
workspace, and training on the proper use of personal protective equipment and
other ways to protect themselves from the hazards. If an accident were to
happen the workers need the opportunity to have medical consultation to
determine the need for further medical attention. An accident could be a spill,
leak, explosion, or another occurrence.
Most colleges have their Chemical Hygiene Plan on their main
screen of their laboratory page ever since the accident at UCLA. This has set a
standard for all colleges and having students in the labs for them to be safe.
These plans normally all cover the same areas and some can be as long as 1,500
pages. These plans are supposed to be reviewed every year however, this is not
always done since they are so extensively detailed and long. In reality not
much is to be changed from year to year when they are reviewed.
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