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Updated January 2003 Chemical Hygiene Plan
The OSU Laboratory Safety Chemical Policy applies only to certain laboratories. Many laboratories use hazardous chemicals. OSHA defines a hazardous chemical as a substance for which there is a statistically significant evidence, based on at least one scientific study, showing that acute or chronic harm may result from exposure to that chemical. This broad definition clearly applies to almost all, of the chemicals typically used in laboratories. The purpose of the OSU Laboratory Safety Chemical Policy is to protect laboratory employees, while they are working in a laboratory, from harm due to potential exposure of hazardous chemicals. In addition to employees who ordinarily spend their full time working in a laboratory space, for the purposes of this policy "laboratory employee" also includes office, custodial, maintenance, and repair personnel, and others who, as part of their duties, regularly spend a significant amount of their time within a laboratory environment. The appropriate University administrative units shall determine what constitutes a "significant amount" of working time. This definition is subject to review at the time of an OSHA visit. The OSU Laboratory Chemical Safety Policy does not apply to all places where hazardous chemicals are used. Only laboratories meeting the following four criteria are subject to the OSU Laboratory Chemical Safety Policy:
This fourth criterion would normally exclude quality control laboratories in industrial operations because they "are usually adjuncts of production operations which typically perform repetitive procedures for the purpose of monitoring a product or a process" [FR 55, 3312 (January 31, 1990)]. This criterion also would normally exclude pilot plant operations, which are typically closely connected with production processes. However, if pilot plant operations are an integral part of a research function for the purpose of evaluating a particular effect (for example, "the operations do not proceed to production but remain part of the research activity"), then that pilot plant operation may be covered under the OSU Laboratory Chemical Safety Policy. Some laboratories may also be required to meet the requirements of substance-specific federal standards in addition to the Laboratory Standard. One set of such standards is contained in OSHA's 29 CFR 1910.1000 - 1999. Action level - A concentration for a specific substance, calculated as an eight (8) hour time-weighted average, which initiates certain required activities such as exposure monitoring and medical surveillance. Typically it is one-half that of the PEL for that substance. Acute - Severe, often dangerous conditions in which relatively rapid changes occur. Carcinogen - Any substance that causes the development of cancerous growths in living tissue, either those that are known to induce cancer in man or animals or experimental carcinogens that have been found to cause cancer in animals under experimental conditions. Designated Area - An area which may be used for work with "select carcinogens, reproductive toxins, or substances which have a high degree of acute toxicity." A designated area may be the entire laboratory, an area of a laboratory, or a device such as a laboratory hood. A designated area shall be placarded to reflect the designated hazard. Employee - An individual employed in a laboratory work place who may be exposed to hazardous materials in the course of his or her assignments. Health Hazard - A substance for which there is statistically significant evidence based on at least one study conducted in accordance with established scientific principles that acute or chronic health effects may occur in exposed employees. This term includes carcinogens, toxic agents, reproductive toxins, irritants, corrosives, sensitizers, hepatotoxins, nephrotoxins, neurotoxins, agents which act on the hematopoietic systems, and agents which damage the lungs, skin, eyes, or mucous membranes. MSDS - Material Safety Data Sheet. (PEL) Permissible Exposure Limit - An exposure limit that is published and enforced by OSHA as a legal standard. PEL may be either a time-weighted-average (TWA) exposure limit (8 hour), a 15-minute short term exposure limit (STEL), or a ceiling (C). The PELs are found in Tables Z-1, Z-2, or Z-3 of 29 CFR 1910.100. This level of exposure is deemed to be the maximum safe concentration and is generally the same value as the threshold limit value (TLV). (PPE) Personal Protective Equipment - Any devices or clothing worn by the worker to protect against hazards in the environment. Examples are respirators, gloves, and chemical splash goggles. Respirator - A device which is designed to protect the wearer from inhaling harmful contaminants. (STEL) Short Term Exposure Limit - Represented as STEL or TLV-STEL, this is the maximum concentration to which workers can be exposed for a short period of time (15 minutes) for only four times throughout the day with at least one hour between exposures. (TLV) Threshold Limit Value - Airborne concentrations of substances devised by the ACGIH that represents conditions under which it is believed that nearly all workers may be exposed day after day with no adverse effect. TLVs are advisory exposure guidelines, not legal standards, that are based on evidence from industrial experience, animal studies, or human studies when they exist. There are three different types of TLVs: Time Weighted Average (TLV-TWA), Short Term Exposure Limit (TLV-STEL) and Ceiling (TLV-C). (See also PEL.) Time Weighted Average - (TLV-TWA, Threshold Limit Value-Time Weighted Average) The time weighted average airborne chemical concentration for a normal eight hour work day and a 40 hour work week to which nearly all workers may be repeatedly exposed, day after day, without adverse effect. Toxic - Substances such as carcinogens, irritants, or poisonous gases, liquids, and solids which are irritating to or affect the health of humans. |
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Chemical Hygiene Plan  University & Individual
Responsibilities |
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