Calvin College Chemical Hygiene Plan

The purpose of this Chemical Hygiene Plan is to define work practices and procedures to help ensure that laboratory workers at Calvin College & Seminary (Calvin) are protected from health hazards; and to provide guidelines for the use of the hazardous chemicals with which they work. The Chemical Hygiene Plan is part of Calvin's compliance with the regulations promulgated on January 31, 1990 by the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) entitled "Occupational Exposures to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories" (Code of Federal Regulations, 29 CFR 1910.1450) .

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), part of the Department of Labor, administers a variety of regulations. These regulatory requirements are published in and referred to as the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). The Code of Federal Regulations is a codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the Executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government. The Code is divided into 50 titles which represent broad areas subject to Federal regulation. Each title is divided into chapters with each chapter further subdivided into parts, subparts and sections. Part 1910 of Title 29 (cited as "29 CFR 1910"), section 1450 of subpart Z, "Occupational Exposures to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories", referred to as the "Laboratory Standard", specifically addresses mandated regulatory requirements. Many educational institutions, colleges, universities, industry, and other organizations that use hazardous chemicals in their laboratories are now required by the Laboratory Standard to develop Chemical Hygiene Plans.

The development of a detailed written chemical hygiene plan is necessary to establish continuity, to train personnel, and to help ensure that all employees recognize and comply with work place safety. It is extremely difficult to effectively communicate and enforce requirements without a detailed written chemical hygiene plan.

All laboratories are covered by this plan if:

• Chemical manipulations are performed;
• Multiple chemical procedures or chemicals are used;
• The procedures involved are not part of, or simulate, a production process;
• The potential for employee exposure to hazardous chemicals is minimized by protective laboratory practices and equipment.

An example of a laboratory worker would be a college teaching assistant or faculty member instructing an academic lab; the students in the academic laboratory would not be considered laboratory workers. If there is any confusion about whether a particular workplace is considered a laboratory which utilizes hazardous chemicals, or whether someone is considered a laboratory worker, the Chemical Hygiene Officer will, upon request, make this determination.

All laboratory workers should be familiar with this plan prior to the commencement of lab duties at the Calvin. A written record stating that each laboratory worker has reviewed the Calvin Chemical Hygiene Plan and related health and safety policies and guides shall be kept by the person in charge of the lab or his/her supervision.

This Chemical Hygiene Plan will be reviewed annually by the Chemical Hygiene Officer and/or the Campus Health and Safety Committee.

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