Understanding the UAF Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) Roles and Responsibilities
The UAF Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) is essential to protect lab personnel from hazardous chemical exposures. It outlines roles and responsibilities for the Principal Investigator (PI), lab employees, and Chemical Hygiene Officer (CHO). The PI is responsible for training workers, maintaining equipment, conducting inspections, and staying updated on legal requirements. Lab employees must follow CHP procedures, use equipment appropriately, and know emergency protocols. The CHP serves as an umbrella plan tailored to individual labs to ensure safety and compliance.
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Presentation Transcript
UAF Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) Overview University of Alaska Fairbanks Environmental, Health, Safety, and Risk Management Revised June 2022
Why do we have CHPs? Required by Federal law (OSHA) 29 CFR 1910.1450: Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) must be: capable of protecting employees exposed to lab chemical hazards readily available to all employees (at all times) specific to the lab reviewed at least annually Essentially, the CHP is designed to identify physical and chemical hazards, and ensure lab personnel are informed and protected. 2
UAF Chemical Hygiene Plan Intended to be an umbrella plan that can be tailored to each individual lab Covers the following: Roles and responsibilities of all lab members Information and training requirements Circumstances requiring prior approval Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) Control measures Exposure monitoring Medical consultations and examinations Select carcinogens and toxins 3
Roles and responsibilities The CHP outlines individual responsibilities of the: Principal Investigator (PI) Lab employees Chemical Hygiene Officer (CHO) 4
Roles and responsibilities: PI The PI has responsibility for implementation of the CHP in his/her laboratory The PI shall: ensure that workers are trained and follow the CHP outlined in this document ensure that the necessary protective and emergency equipment is available, in working order, and that appropriate training has been provided ensure that periodic laboratory inspections are performed know current legal requirements concerning regulated substances review and evaluate the effectiveness of the laboratory specific SOPs at least annually and update as necessary 5
Roles and responsibilities: Lab employees Laboratory employees are responsible for: planning and conducting each operation in accordance with practices and procedures established in this CHP using equipment only for its designed purpose being familiar with emergency procedures including knowledge of the location and use of emergency equipment for the laboratory how to obtain additional help in an emergency knowing the types of protective equipment available and using the proper type for each procedure being alert to unsafe conditions and actions and calling attention to them so corrections can be made as soon as possible 6
Roles and responsibilities: CHO The Chemical Hygiene Officer is responsible for: assisting PIs and other laboratory employees with development and implementation of appropriate chemical hygiene procedures and practices, including providing consultation and information keeping abreast of legal requirements concerning regulated substances and communicating any changes to PIs and laboratory employees seeking ways to improve the overall chemical hygiene program 7
Training In addition to training on the CHP, employees must receive the following training: UAF Laboratory Safety (renew every 3 years) UAF Introduction to Hazardous Waste Management (renew annually) All are available through www.uaf.edu/safety Note: Lab Safety training is general and does not include any laboratory-specific training that may be required 8
Training (cont.) Personnel need to be trained at the time of initial assignment (full training) before using any new hazardous chemical (chemical-specific training, SDS/SOP review) This training should be documented in case of: external inspections safety violations by employees 9
Additional lab-specific information that lab personnel need to know Exposure limits or recommended exposure levels for chemicals used in the lab Signs and symptoms of exposure to chemicals used in the lab Location of SDSs and other chemical references How to detect the presence or release of a hazardous chemical Information on the physical and health hazards of chemicals in the lab Protective measures in place such as fume hoods, personal protective equipment, work practices, etc. Training on the proper use and care of these measures should be included. 10
Summary of lab-specific training Personnel need training on lab-specific safety issues: Lab SOPs Circumstances requiring prior approval Conducting a hazard assessment Exposure control methods used in the lab Proper fume hood use Chemical storage Laboratory waste disposal Emergency notification procedures Spill response procedures Emergency preparedness 11
Circumstances requiring prior approval All employees must obtain prior approval to proceed when: Radioactive materials will be used Contact Tracey Martinson, the UAF Radiation Safety Officer, at 907-474-6771, or tamartinson@alaska.edu Recombinant DNA or infectious agents will be used Contact the Office of Research Integrity at 907-474-7832 for instructions Depending on the organism used, approval of the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) may be required 12
Circumstances requiring prior approval (cont.) Employees must obtain prior approval to proceed with a laboratory task from the PI or his/her designee when: It is likely that exposure limit concentrations could be exceeded or that other harm is likely There is failure of any equipment used in the process, especially of safeguards such as chemical fume hoods Members of the laboratory staff become ill, suspect that they or others have been exposed, or otherwise suspect a failure of any safeguards When required by the PI 13
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) SOPs shall be written for each hazardous procedure done in a lab SOPs shall cover: The hazards presented by the chemicals and equipment used in the procedure Personal protective equipment that must be used during the procedure Glove type, eye protection, fume hood, etc. Waste disposal information SOPs should contain detailed information on how to carry out lab-specific processes so that hazards are minimized 14
Control measures Control measures include: Ventilation Lab work shall be conducted in a chemical fume hood when volatile toxic chemicals are used, or when there is a possibility that the PEL will be exceeded Personnel shall be instructed in the proper use of a fume hood Spill clean up procedures Personnel shall be trained on how to respond to a chemical spill in their work area Personnel are encouraged to clean up spills only if they have the necessary training, equipment, and supplies, and feel comfortable doing so 15
Exposure monitoring Please request exposure monitoring when You suspect that exposures may be in excess of the action-level or the PEL Overexposures may require additional PPE or medical surveillance You are experiencing symptoms that you think may be a result of exposure to a particular chemical that you use Medical Surveillance: Personnel may be able to receive exams/vaccinations based on exposures (routine or accidental) 16
Other Considerations Chemical Inventories: You must have a current copy printed within of your chemical inventory in your lab at all times. EHSRM uses the web-based program Environmental Health and Safety Assistant (EHS Assist) Chemical inventories are electronically stored. All that is needed is an internet connection through the UAF or VPN network. Contact Kris Riley at 907-474-5617 for more information or to arrange a training appointment and obtain your username and password. 17
Other components of the CHP Appendix 1: Lab SOPs Appendix 2: Laboratory Inspection Checklist Appendix 3 Training record template Remember, you do not have to hand write these in. Your CHO (or EHSRM) may have a print out of training records to insert in this appendix. 18
Other components of the CHP (cont.) Appendix 4 Lab close-out checklist PIs are responsible for ensuring that their lab is cleaned out prior to leaving UAF or moving to another lab location. Close-out procedures include ensuring that: Arrangements are made to dispose of all chemicals and wastes All drawers and cabinets are emptied and cleaned Arrangements are made for the removal of surplus glassware, equipment, and furniture All tape, labels, and stickers are removed from surfaces 19
Other components of the CHP (cont.) Appendix 5 Emergency procedures Please complete with your lab-specific information and post a copy by the lab door Appendix 6 Disposal procedures This appendix provides an overview of disposal procedures at UAF. Additional training is required (UAF Hazardous Waste Management training) Appendix 7 List of select carcinogens 20
Other components of the CHP (cont.) Appendix 8 Power outage procedures Appendix 9 Handling and storage requirements for flammable and combustible liquids Appendix 10 Chemical inventory REMEMBER, chemical inventories are now entered online in EHS Assist. Contact EHSRM at 907-474-5617 21
Questions? Contact the UAF Industrial Hygienist at 907-474-6771. 22
