North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH & SAFETY Safety Manual Subject: Chemical Hygiene Plan Number: 5-1 Date February 1, 2009 Amends: None Supersedes: None Page 1 of 8 Pages Approved By: Andrew A. Small Director of Environmental Health & Safety Signature: NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY Chemical Hygiene Plan OSHA published the statutory rule mandating this regulation on January 31, 1990 with mandatory compliance superseding the General Industry Rule slated for January 31, 1991. Although commonly referred to as the Laboratory Standard, OSHA refers to the regulation as the "Occupational Exposures to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories: 29 CRF 1910.1450, Subpart Z, "Toxic and Hazardous Substances." Mandated as a requirement of 29 CFR 1910, 1450 is the development and implementation of a written chemical hygiene plan, which applies to ALL employers engaged in the laboratory use of hazardous chemicals. However, the standard does not apply to the use of hazardous chemicals, which provide no potential for employee exposure, such as medical labs, which only use prepackaged test kits. In any event, it should be pointed out that anytime anyone is working with a chemical of unknown properties, that chemical shall be considered a hazardous chemical and handled as such. Fundamental to good safety practices is a good attitude about yourself and others. If you are encountering stressful moods due to course load or other difficulties, which may cause you not to function at your highest level of awareness, then you should inform your immediate supervisor. Your personal safety as well as the safety of others is invariably linked to your ability to concentrate on the task at hand. Do not take chances; Follow all instructions; Report any malfunctioning equipment or suspicious appearing equipment immediately; Read and understand your (University) Chemical Hygiene Plan; Take your time and concentrate on what you are doing; Post and heed all warning signs; Do not think that the "impossible" cannot happen to you. A. HAZARDOUS COMMUNICATION REQUIREMENTS 1. No student or staff member will begin any work experiment or handling of any hazardous chemical without prior notification to their department supervisor. 2. Before any student or staff member handles, transfers or uses any chemical in the laboratory environment, they shall review the MSDS and document review (no one will handle any chemical without MSDS review). Any unknown or unlabeled chemical shall be brought to the lab supervisor's immediate attention. 3. It shall be the lab supervisor's responsibility to maintain an up-to- date MSDS file in the lab as well as inform the EHS (Environmental Health and Safety) Office of any changes in the MSDS file. Moreover, it shall be the lab supervisor's responsibility to insure that all chemicals are properly labeled and identified.
Date February 1, 2009 Page 2 of 8 Pages 4. It shall be the department dean's responsibility to include this plan into the curriculum for each course in which any student may be exposed to health and safety hazards in the use of chemicals. It shall be mandatory that each student receive this information prior to working with any chemical at the University. The effective deadline for the finalization of this procedure is January 2, 1991. 5. It shall be each department dean's responsibility (or his designee) to provide each laboratory an up-to-date list of chemicals and amounts in pounds in use or stored in each laboratory and in other storage areas of the department. This list shall be updated on Fridays of each semester week and a copy of the list forwarded to the University Hazard Communication Officer. It shall also be the department dean's responsibility (or his designee) to insure up-to-date MSDS files in each lab as well as inform the HCO of additional stocks in inventories as well as transfer MSDS information of the central file in the EHS. If there is no change in the list of chemicals, then no notification is required. However, in the event of an uncontrolled release of any chemical where Haz-Mat Team response is requested, department deans will be held accountable for discrepancies which result in release of chemicals of unknown quantities, properties, etc. 6. No one staff or student shall handle, transfer or use any chemical without prior knowledge of emergency response notification procedures to include personal knowledge of pull box fire alarm stations, emergency eye wash stations and the location of fire fighting equipment. The University Police as well as the Chemical Hygiene Officer's phone numbers are 334-7675 and 334-7992. B. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS 1. Eye protection shall be furnished and worn by all students and staff personnel when handling any liquid or gaseous hazardous chemical (contact lens are not recommended for lab work). 2. Protective gloves shall be worn by all students and staff personnel when handling any liquid or gaseous hazardous chemical. 3. Appropriate dress for handling any hazardous chemical is required to include long sleeves, full foot protection, and hair protection. 4. Respirator protection shall be reviewed for each chemical and when required, documentation of user orientation for fit-test shall be recorded and sent to the EHS Office. C. FIRST-AID REQUIREMENTS 1. Review first-aid instructions regarding MSDS. 2. In the event of an unusual incident perform first aid as instructed by MSDS. 3. Report all unusual events with hazardous chemicals no matter how slight to the lab supervisor. 4. In extreme emergencies, follow basic emergency response procedures (activate pull box alarm, dial 911, etc.)
Date February 1, 2009 Page 3 of 8 Pages D. HANDLING, TRANSFERRING AND STORING HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS 1. Never carry hazardous chemicals between lab and storage rooms by hand. Use trays, racks and carts. 2. No student or staff member shall pour any chemical down the sink. 3. Chemicals shall be placed or stored in appropriate areas at all times. Do not place chemicals where they will cause trip hazards, or are liable to cause personal injury. Never place chemicals near substances, which may cause them to react. Never leave chemicals unattended (or "out" especially all night)." 4. Never use damaged or broken equipment when handling or experimenting with chemicals. 5. Report to the lab supervisor chemicals, which should be disposed or transferred or recycled. 6. Do not eat, drink, smoke, chew gum or apply make-up in any "designated area" of any lab. 7. Do not keep food, food containers, or drinking glasses in areas with chemicals. 8. Do not keep food in refrigerators with chemicals. 9. Do not drink from lab glasses. 10. Do not sniff or taste chemicals. 11. Do not use your mouth for suction. 12. Always wash exposed body areas prior to leaving the lab. 13. Always remove contaminated clothing immediately. 14. Always wash before eating, drinking, smoking or applying make-up. 15. Be cautious and follow procedures when using open flames, reactive and flammable. 16. Keep water and wet hands away from electrical equipment. 17. Check wires and plugs before using to make sure they are not frayed. E. SPECIFIC MEASURES THAT WILL BE TAKEN TO INSURE PROPER FUNCTIONING AND ADEQUATE PERFORMANCE OF FUME HOODS AND OTHER PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. 1. It shall be the lab supervisor's responsibility to insure that equipment is operating properly.
Date February 1, 2009 Page 4 of 8 Pages 2. Weekly inspections shall be performed by the Lab Supervisor or his designee of the lab equipment on EHS RMS form 018 on each Friday of every workweek. The inspection form shall be delivered to the EHS Office on Monday of each new workweek. 3. Monthly audits by the Safety Inspector shall be performed to monitor compliance to this section. A schedule of audit dates will be sent to each lab supervisor. F. EMPLOYEE INFORMATION AND TRAINING 1. Prior to assignment for any work related to hazardous chemicals associated with laboratory research, all students and employees must receive "Chemical Hygiene Plan" orientation as well as "Right to Know Communication" orientation as it relates to use and disposal of hazardous chemicals. Documentation on an employee training verification form must be signed and filed in the employee's personnel file. 2. The training must include methods by which each employee and student can utilize either personally or by mechanical aid detection or release of hazardous chemicals. (a) (b) Physical and health hazards of chemicals in the work area. Measures employees must take to protect themselves from these hazards. 3. It shall be the Lab Supervisor's or his designee's responsibility to insure proper training as well as orientation to the Chemical Hygiene Plan as it relates to working with chemicals in the Lab. Documentation of the Chemical Hygiene Plan Orientation must be forwarded to the EHS Office once the orientation is complete. The Lab Supervisor can request the Safety Plan orientation in the absence of a competent instructor. G. MEDICAL CONSULTATION AND MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS Under certain circumstances, an employer must provide employees who work with hazardous chemicals an opportunity to receive medical attention at no cost to the employee. Medical consultations or examinations must be provided by, or conducted under the direct supervision of a licensed physician. An opportunity to receive medical services must be made available if... (a) An employee develops signs or symptoms associated with a hazardous chemical to which he or she may have been exposed; (b) Monitoring reveals an exposure level routinely above the action level or permissible exposure limits (PEL) for an OSHA-regulated substance with requirements for exposure monitoring and medical surveillance in which case the requirements of the applicable standard apply; or (c) An event takes place in the work area, such as a spill, leak, or explosion that results in the likelihood of exposure. H. DISPOSAL OF CHEMICAL WASTE
Date February 1, 2009 Page 5 of 8 Pages The disposal of hazardous chemical waste at NC A&T State University is under the sole responsibility of the University Safety and Health/EHS Coordinator. Any transfer of hazardous chemical waste between departments or to hazardous waste storage must be reported to the Safety and Health/EHS Office immediately. All chemical waste for storage and disposal must be filed for inventory by the EHS Office prior to transfer to the storage facility. At the request of the lab supervisor, the EHS Office will coordinate the transfer of hazardous waste to the storage facility. *Unattended operations: Leave lights on, place an appropriate sign on the door and provide for containment of toxic substances in the event of failure of a utility service. NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY CHEMICAL RELEASE EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN A. This response plan covers all "employees" engaged in the laboratory use of hazardous chemicals and must be implemented immediately upon an uncontrolled release of toxic chemicals into the environment which may cause harm or death to the environment or any living organism. B. First response: In the event of an "uncontrolled" release, contact the University Police, 334-7675 or the Emergency Coordinator for N. C. A&T State University 334-7992. You must give the following information: (1) Your name, department, location of department where contamination is (2) Identification of chemical, approximate amount uncontrolled. (3) Immediate effects, if any C. Once on the scene, the Emergency Coordinator (or his alternate) will determine the course of action to be taken. In all events involving uncontrolled releases of hazardous chemicals into the environment, the Emergency Coordinator must be informed of the incident as soon as possible. D. In incidents where people are immediately exposed to chemical releases (or spills) with threshold limit values (TLV) immediately dangerous to life or health, the pull box fire alarm system must be activated, or in the event no pull box station is accessible, 911 must be dialed immediately. The information in paragraph B of these procedures should be available for emergency response teams if requested. E. In the event an area must be evacuated, all windows and doors must be closed if possible. If a person in a "designated working area" goes down, do not attempt to rescue the injured person. If you enter a contaminated area without the proper training or personal protective equipment (PPE), you chances of survival are minimal especially if conditions indicate
Date February 1, 2009 Page 6 of 8 Pages contamination immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH). All persons should move away from the building at least 100 feet. Since prevailing winds in this area are from West to East under normal circumstances, evacuation reassemble points should normally be staged in a northwest area away from the source of contamination. F. As a "communication" procedure when a student or employee is engaged in an experiment while working alone, specifically after normal hours or on weekends in the laboratory, it is mandatory that the University Police be notified of reporting time in and estimated time out of laboratory. If the person does not report promptly the time out, University Police will inquire or investigate. G. Persons or the person reporting the uncontrolled release must stay in the area to give as much information to responders as possible. However, no one is required in this procedure to remain in a "hot" area. H. Only the ranking Police Officer and/or the EHS Coordinator will determine the course of action responding to an uncontrolled release. If practical, the EHS Department will respond to the uncontrolled release. If this is deemed impractical, then the University Police ranking officer or the EHS Coordinator shall seek outside assistance by contracting a local private Haz-Mart Team or seeking aid from the local fire department. In all cases involving an uncontrolled release away from N C A&T State University property, the release must be reported to state, local and federal authorities immediately. I. The appropriate CAS members will be notified immediately of any uncontrolled chemical release, which is away from the borders of N C A&T State University. A written report of the incident shall be on the Chancellor's desk no later than 8:30 a.m. on the next working day. It shall be the Safety and Health/EHS Coordinator's responsibility to file all reports. HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS EMERGENCY & INFORMATION PHONE NUMBERS University Police Department 334-7675 Environmental Health and Safety 334-7992 Guilford County Emergency Management Office 641-7565 NC Division of Emergency Management* 919-733-3867 State Warning Point (non-business hours)* 800-662-7956 NC Division of Environmental Management* 919-733-5291 National Response Center (for oil and hazardous substance spills) 800-424-8802 Poison Control Center (Duke University's 24-hour service) 800-672-1697 CHEMTREC (24 hour chemical emergency information service) 800-424-9300 INFORMATION NUMBERS - SARA TITLE III, HAZARD COMMUNICATION, RIGHT TO KNOW
Date February 1, 2009 Page 7 of 8 Pages NC Emergency Response Commission (Information on SARA Title III) 800-451-1403 C.E.P.P. Hotline (EPA), Washington (for free SARA Title III reprints) 800-535-0202 Section 313 (EPA), Atlanta Region (Information on Toxic Chemicals Release Reporting) 404-347-3222 Section 313 Hotline (EPA), Washington 202-554-1411 Hazard Communication and Emergency Response Standard, N.C. Department of Labor 919-733-2658 Right to Know Division, N.C. Department of Labor 919-733-2658 Southeast Waste Exchange 704-547-2307 (UNC-Charlotte Information on Industrial Waste Recycling) *State Warning Point relays non-business hours emergency reports to Emergency Management and/or Environmental Management. List prepared by Right to Know Division, N. C. Department of Labor, Raleigh 27603, (919) 733-2658. 1/06
Date February 1, 2009 Page 8 of 8 Pages NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF RISK MANAGEMENT AND SAFETY LABORATORY EQUIPMENT INSPECTION FORM Date Department Lab Room No. Department Dean Lab Tech Person Performing Inspection ITEMS: (1) Fume Hood (2) Emergency Eye Wash Station (3) Miscellaneous LIST ITEMS BELOW DESCRIBING PROBLEMS 1. 2. 3. 4. ITEM INFORMATION OKAY NOT OKAY TAGGED OUT