1. Introduction

A. Purpose

This Chemical Hygiene Plan describes policies, procedures, equipment, personal protective equipment and work practices that are capable of protecting employees from the health hazards presented by many hazardous chemicals used in laboratories. This Plan is intended to meet the requirements of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard, Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories, a copy of which is found in Appendix A.

This Chemical Hygiene Plan is intended to safely limit laboratory workers' exposure to OSHA-regulated substances. Laboratory workers must not be exposed to substances in excess of the permissible exposure limits (PEL) specified in OSHA rule 29 CFR 1910, Subpart Z, Toxic and Hazardous Substances. PELs for regulated substances are provided in Appendix B. PELs refer to airborne concentrations of substances and are averaged over an eight hour day. A few substances (listed under Individual Chemical Standard in the Federal Column in Appendix C) also have "action levels". Action levels are air concentrations below the PEL which nevertheless require that certain actions such as medical surveillance and workplace monitoring take place.

An employee's workplace exposure to any regulated substance must be monitored if there is reason to believe that the exposure will exceed an action level or a PEL. If exposures to any regulated substance routinely exceed an action level or permissible exposure level there must also be employee medical exposure surveillance. If monitoring is needed to quantify airborne concentrations of any hazardous chemical, call the UMD Environmental Health and Safety Office at 218-726-7139.

B. Scope and Application

This standard applies where "laboratory use" of hazardous chemicals occurs. Laboratory use of hazardous chemicals means handling or use of such chemicals in which all of the following conditions are met: i) the handling or use of chemicals occurs on a "laboratory scale", that is, the work involves containers which can easily and safely be manipulated by one person, ii) multiple chemical procedures or chemical substances are used, and iii) protective laboratory practices and equipment are available and in common use to minimize the potential for employee exposures to hazardous chemicals.

At a minimum, this definition covers employees (including student employees, technicians, supervisors, lead researchers and physicians) who use chemicals in teaching, research and clinical laboratories at the University of Minnesota. Certain non-traditional laboratory settings may be included under this standard at the option of individual departments within the University. Also, it is the policy of the University that laboratory students, while not legally covered under this standard, will be given training commensurate with the level of hazard associated with their laboratory work.

This standard does not apply to laboratories whose function is to produce commercial quantities of material. Also, where the use of hazardous chemicals provides no potential for employee exposure, such as in procedures using chemically impregnated test media and commercially prepared test kits, this standard will not apply. When laboratory work is limited to use of these commercially available kits, a Chemical Hygiene Plan is not required.

C. Coordination With Other Standards and Guidelines

Although this standard deals only with use of hazardous chemicals, employees may also encounter potential physical, biological or radioactive hazards in the laboratory. Regulations and guidelines for these situations that are in effect at the University of Minnesota are listed in Appendix C.

In the unlikely event that there is a conflict between provisions of various standards, the Department of Environmental Health and Safety should be contacted to assist in resolving the discrepancy.

D. Responsibilities

1. Employer
   1. University-Wide
      
      The University of Minnesota, in conjunction with its colleges and departments, is responsible for developing and supporting a broad-based chemical hygiene program that will protect its laboratory employees from health effects associated with hazardous chemicals. Management is responsible for integrating safety into all of its activities, for promoting the same attitude among all levels of employment at the University, and for providing adequate time and recognition for employees who are given laboratory safety responsibilities.
      
      
   2. Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Science and Engineering
      
      The College of Science and Engineering at UMD has determined that the Department of Chemical Engineering will identify one laboratory safety officer to serve as a focal point for laboratory health and safety activities within the unit and as liaison with the Department of Environmental Health and Safety. The UMD Department of Chemical Engineering has identified the Laboratory Services Coordinator as the laboratory safety officer.
      
      This plan is a modified version of the generic chemical hygiene plan provided by the Department of Environmental Health and Safety, University of Minnesota and includes location specific information. The Department will submit to the Chemical Hygiene officer the name of the Department's laboratory safety officer and a copy of this modified plan for approval.
      
      
2. Department of Environmental Health and Safety (DEHS)
   
   The Department of Environmental Health and Safety is responsible for preparing and updating the University's Chemical Hygiene Plan, for distributing it to departments who will implement the Plan, and for monitoring the progress of departments toward achieving compliance. Dawn Errede will serve as the Chemical Hygiene Officer for the University, and the entire DEHS staff will participate in providing resources for departments in the development of their individual health and safety programs.
   
   At UMD, Norbert Norman will serve as the Chemical Hygiene Officer, All UMD departmental CHP's, names of laboratory safety officers, and yellow copies of training forms should be forwarded to 31 DAdB.
   
   
3. Supervisor
   
   The immediate supervisor (faculty or staff) of a laboratory employee is responsible for scheduling time for the employee to attend designated training sessions and for assuring that potential hazards of specific projects have been identified and addressed before work is started. The supervisor is also responsible for enforcing safe work practices and for reporting hazardous conditions to the department's laboratory safety officer.
   
   
4. Employee
   
   Each laboratory employee is responsible for attending safety training sessions, following safety guidelines applicable to the procedures being carried out, assuring that required safety precautions are in place before work is started, and reporting hazardous conditions as they are discovered. Employees who have significant responsibility for directing their own laboratory work are responsible for assuring that potential hazards of specific projects have been identified and addressed before work is started.