Yesterday, we describe eight elements that must be included in chemical hygiene plans. Today, we review more facts about the plans required under OSHA’s lab standard.
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OSHA’s Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories Standard (29 CFR 1910.1450) applies to all laboratories that use hazardous chemicals on a laboratory scale.
- A laboratory is defined as a workplace where relatively small quantities of hazardous chemicals are used on a non-production basis.
- “Laboratory scale” is defined by OSHA as: “Work with substances in which the containers used for reactions, transfers, and other handling of substances are designed to be easily and safely manipulated by one person. Laboratory scale excludes those workplaces whose function is to produce commercial quantities of materials.”
Laboratory use of hazardous chemicals means handling or use of such chemicals in which all of the following conditions are met:
- Chemical manipulations are carried out on a laboratory scale. Multiple chemical procedures or chemicals are used.
- The procedures involved are not part of a production process, nor in any way simulate a production process.
- Protective laboratory practices and equipment are available and in common use to minimize the potential for employee exposure to hazardous chemicals.
The uses of chemicals in the laboratory that do not meet the requirements above fall under the Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom).
Developing a chemical hygiene plan (CHP) that addresses all concerns and possibilities can be very challenging. But worry not! BLR’s upcoming live webinar will provide a tested approach for crafting an OSHA-compliant CHP. Click here for details.
Lab Standard vs. HazCom
There are similarities and differences between the Laboratory Standard and the HazCom.
- The Hazard Communication Standard was developed to inform employee who work with hazardous chemicals of the risks associated with those substances.
- The Laboratory Standard was specifically developed for laboratory operations because these environments often differ from industrial environments in their use and handling of hazardous chemical.
- A chemical hygiene plan (CHP) essentially combines both these requirements in order to establish a standardized framework for chemical hygiene practices, information dissemination, and training.
Both HazCom and the Lab Standard mandate that the employer make a “plan”:
- HazCom mandates a Hazard Communication Program (HCP).
- The Laboratory Standard mandates a CHP.
Many employers/workplaces require both a HCP and a CHP.
Join us on May 27 for an in-depth webinar on chemical hygiene plans—how to create one and how to make sure it is in compliance with recent changes to the hazard communication standard. Learn More.
Learn More About Requirements
Recent regulatory changes to the hazard communication standard, which will require a chemical hygiene plan to address and include the new changes, are key developments EHS managers need to keep up with.
Couple all this with the fact that setting up a comprehensive CHP can be very challenging, and you’ve got your work cut out for you.
You’ve got many questions to address. For instance:
- How can you best identify and assess all of the hazardous chemical exposures?
- Who will need to manage the program?
- What requirements will they have to meet?
- How do you decide what methods are best for controlling employee exposure?
- What needs to be included in an effective training program?
It’s clear that developing a plan that addresses all concerns and possibilities can be very challenging especially if you aren’t familiar with the requirements.
Join us on May 27. The presenter, an experienced health and safety professional who has developed and implemented CHPs and trained many other safety professionals on how to create their own CHP, will provide a tested approach for crafting a CHP. He will review key OSHA regulations including the recently revised hazard communication standard and will provide you with a tested approach for developing and implementing a compliant chemical hygiene.
You and your colleagues will learn:
- What you need to know about OSHA’s hazard communication standard and how it impacts your daily operations
- How to make certain that you’re in compliance with the federal standards, and who in your workplace is covered
- What your CHP must include
- How to create effective standard operating procedures
- What are the specific control measures—from engineering to PPE—you must include in your CHP
- How to source information on chemicals, and how to be sure your library of material safety data sheets/safety data sheets is complete and current
- The procedures for working with hazardous chemicals in the workplace
- How to designate a chemical hygiene officer
- How best to assign responsibilities for all associated staff
- How to set up a process to routinely review the CHP to make needed modifications
- How to provide site-wide annual training for employees and create the complete training documentation needed during OSHA inspections
- The particular precautions you must take when dealing with toxic substances, carcinogens, and other hazardous chemicals in the workplace
- Ways to identify and evaluate resources to assist you in developing your comprehensive CHP
About Your Speaker
Michael Lawrence is principal of Summit Safety Technologies based in Long Beach, California. Mr. Lawrence is an accomplished safety manager and technical trainer, and has been training adult workers and safety professionals for many years. He is a frequent speaker and is recognized for his expert knowledge of safety regulations, safety management systems, business continuation planning, emergency preparedness, and quality management systems.
Mr. Lawrence has more than 30 years experience in safety management, technical training, instructional design, and quality management, with skills that were honed during his 16 years in the semiconductor manufacturing industry and 14 years in Naval Aviation. This experience includes many years in electronics/electrical technology and maintenance. With more than three decades of experience as a frontline worker, supervisor, manager, and business owner, he brings a refreshing down-to-earth approach in the effective sharing of knowledge and experience.
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