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The Laboratory Standard requires that the employer designate a Chemical Hygiene Officer and have a written Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP), and actively verify that it remains effective. The CHP must include provisions for worker training, chemical exposure monitoring, where appropriate, medical consultation when exposure occurs, criteria for the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and engineering controls, special precautions for particularly hazardous substances, and a requirement for a Chemical Hygiene Officer responsible for implementation of the CHP.
Laboratory personnel must receive training regarding the Laboratory Standard, the CHP, and other laboratory safety practices, including exposure detection, physical and health hazards associated with chemicals, and protective measures.
Use the following compliance checklist to review your policies and procedures in light of the requirements of the Laboratory Standard (29 CFR 1910.1450).
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General
- Do you monitor employee exposure to any substance regulated by an OSHA standard if there’s reason to believe that exposure levels for that substance routinely exceed the action level (or in the absence of an action level, the PEL)? [(d)(1)]
- If initial monitoring discloses exposure over the action level (or PEL), do you comply with the monitoring requirements of the relevant standard and conduct periodic tests as required? [(d)(2)]
- Do you notify employees in writing of monitoring results within 15 days of receipt of such results either by individual letter or posting? [(d)(4)]
- Do you have a written Chemical Hygiene Plan that spells out the provisions for protecting employees from health hazards associated with chemicals in the laboratory? [(e)(1), (e)(1)(i)]
- Is your Chemical Hygiene Plan readily available to employees? [(e)(2)]
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Chemical Hygiene Plan
Does your Chemical Hygiene Plan contain the following elements?
- Standard operating procedures relevant to safety and health considerations to be followed when lab work involves the use of hazardous chemicals? [(e)(3)(i)]
- Criteria you use to determine and implement control measures to reduce employee exposure to hazardous chemicals, including engineering controls, PPE, and hygiene practices? [(e)(3)(ii)]
- A requirement that fume hoods and other protective equipment are functioning properly?[(e)(3)(iii)]
- Provisions for employee information and training? [(e)(3)(iv)]
- Circumstances under which a particular laboratory procedure or activity requires prior approval from a supervisor? [(e)(3)(v)]
- Provisions for medical consultation and examinations for employees whenever called for under paragraph g (see below)? [(e)(3)(vi)]
- Procedures for safe removal of hazardous waste? [(e)(3)(viii)(C)]
- Decontamination procedures? [(e)(3)(viii)(D)]
- Do you review and evaluate the effectiveness of your plan at least once a year? [(e)(4)]
But wait, there’s more! See tomorrow’s Advisor for the rest of the checklist.