UVM Environmental Safety Facility UVM Chemical Hygiene Plan

University of Vermont
November, 2001
Version 1.1

Foreword

1.0 Chemical Hygiene Responsibilities and Program Coverage

2.0 Employee Information and Training

3.0 Criteria for Implementation of Control Measures

4.0 Management of Engineering Controls

5.0 Standard Operating Procedures for Laboratory Chemicals

6.0 Special Precautions for Particularly Hazardous Work

7.0 Chemical Spills, Releases and Accidents

8.0 Medical Consultations and Examinations

9.0 Recordkeeping

10.0 Annual Chemical Hygiene Plan Review

11.0 References and Other Information Sources

Appendix A: Routine Work with Chemicals

Appendix B: Work with High Hazard Chemicals

Foreword

The protection of the safety and health of its employees, students and environment is a high priority of the University of Vermont. On January 31, 1990, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) promulgated a rule related to occupational exposures to hazardous chemicals in laboratories. This rule is designed to help protect laboratory workers from the hazards of the chemicals they use. Section 1 provides a definition of which campus workplaces are considered laboratories under this standard.

Included in the standard is a requirement that all employers covered by the standard develop a Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP). A CHP is a written program which sets forth work practices, equipment use and maintenance procedures, and personal protective equipment requirements that protect employees from the hazards presented by chemicals used in the lab.

According to OSHA, the CHP must include standard operating procedures, criteria for the implementation of chemical control measures, measures to ensure proper operation of engineering controls, provisions for the training of workers, provisions for medical consultation in the case of exposure, designation of responsible people in the lab, and identification of procedures for the use of particularly hazardous substances or procedures. This document satisfies this requirement.

It is up to each lab supervisor to supplement this plan with more detailed information about the proper use of the particular chemicals used in their lab. These supplements may be in the form of written procedures, literature libraries, video presentations, and/or group or individual training. The lab supervisor and Chemical Hygiene Officer, if one is appointed, are responsible for the interpretation and enforcement of policies described in this CHP. The Environmental Safey Facility staff is available to provide technical assistance with this effort. Contact us at 656-5400 or rstuart@esf.uvm.edu for more information

	From the UVM Risk Management web site File URL: http://esf.uvm.edu/uvmchp/index.html	HTML by Ralph Stuart rstuart@esf.uvm.edu	Version 5.0 Last Revised: December 28, 2001