College Responsibilities

• Keep records of employee exposures to hazardous chemicals:
  • Records should include measurements made to monitor exposures, if any, as well as any medical consultations and examinations, including written opinions.
  • These records shall be kept by Environmental Health & Safety Officer, and the laboratory or Department in which the exposure occurred. Records should be indexed according to the employee's social security number.
  • Maintain these records as mandated in 29 CFR 1910.20 - Access to Employee Exposure and Medical Records.

• Provide College employees with:
  • Training and information regarding chemical and physical hazards.
  • Identification of other hazards (see Subparts D through T of 29 CFR).
  • Access to medical consultation and examinations.
  • Respirators when necessary (see item below)

• For incoming hazardous chemicals:
  • Require that the incoming hazardous chemicals have adequate labels. Do not allow the removal or defacement of these labels.
  • Require that the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) for incoming hazardous chemicals be on hand prior to, or as soon after as possible, of the receipt of hazardous chemicals whenever possible. Require that MSDSs be acquired for all hazardous chemicals on hand whenever possible.
  • Keep all MSDSs that the College receives.
  • Make MSDSs accessible to employees.
  • Maintain an inventory of all chemicals in College laboratories.

• When hazardous chemicals are generated in College laboratories:
  • If the hazardous properties are known, train College employees.
  • If the hazardous properties are not known, treat the chemical as though it is hazardous and provide protection as described in the Chemical Hygiene Plan.
  • If there is reason to believe that the action level, or PEL if there is no action level, has been exceeded for any chemical for which a substance-specific standard has been established, the College must measure the concentration of that chemical in the air.

• If the level measured is greater that the PEL or action level, then:
  • Notify all affected laboratory employees of the results of the measurement, and
  • Comply with the OSHA exposure-monitoring provisions for that chemical, as stated in 29 CFR 1910.1000 through 1910.1199.

• If respirators are necessary to keep exposures below the PEL or action level, follow the requirements of the Respiratory Protection Standard 1910.134.

• If select carcinogens, reproductive toxins, or acute toxins that are very highly toxic are used in the laboratory, identify and post one or more areas as "designated area(s)."

• Require that the College appoint a Chemical Hygiene Officer (CHO).
  • This individual should be qualified by training and experience to provide technical guidance in the development and implementation of the Chemical Hygiene Plan.
  • The College President has the ultimate responsibility for chemical safety. The Chemical Hygiene Officer acts as the representative of the College President in this capacity.
  • Assign to the CHO the duty to prepare, implement, and maintain a written program for the College called a chemical hygiene plan (CHP), setting forth the work practices, procedures, personal protective equipment, and other equipment that will protect employees from harm arising from hazardous chemicals used in the laboratories.
  • The CHP must be capable of keeping employee exposures below the PEL of chemicals as listed in Table Z-1 Limits for Air Contaminants. 29 CFR 1910.1000 Subpart Z
  • The CHP must be readily accessible to employees.
  • The CHP must be reviewed at least annually and updated as necessary.

Individual Responsibilities

• College President, who has ultimate responsibility for chemical hygiene within Calvin College and must, with other administrators, provide continuing support for the college chemical hygiene.

• Chemical Hygiene Officer, who has overall responsibility for chemical hygiene in all laboratories including responsibility to:
  • Work with administrators and other employees to develop and implement appropriate chemical hygiene policies and practices;
  • Help project directors develop precautions and adequate facilities;
  • Ensure that workers know and follow the chemical hygiene rules and document that appropriate training has been provided;
  • Determine the required levels of protective apparel and equipment and insure that this equipment is available and in working order;
  • Monitor procurement, use, and disposal of chemicals in the lab;
  • Ensure that copies of all MSDSs received are properly stored and maintained. (See College Hazard Communications Program.)
  • Insure that a Departmental Chemical Inventory List is maintained.
  • Provide regular, formal chemical hygiene and housekeeping inspections including routine inspections of emergency equipment;
  • Know the current legal requirements concerning regulated substances; and
  • Seek ways to improve the chemical hygiene program.

• Lab Manager, Lab Steward or Lab Assistant, who has primary responsibility for chemical hygiene procedures for that operation, and is responsible for:
  • Insuring that the Chemical Hygiene Officer receives copies of all MSDSs received. (See College Hazard Communications Program.)
  • Maintaining an Laboratory Chemical Inventory List. Insure that the Chemical Hygiene Officer receives copies of this list as necessary.
  • Ensuring that workers know and follow the chemical hygiene rules,
  • Ensuring that protective equipment is available and in working order,
  • Ensuring that all containers in the work area are properly labeled,
  • Ensuring that MSDS's are maintained for each hazardous substance in the laboratory and ensuring that they are readily accessible to laboratory employees,
  • Providing regular, formal chemical hygiene and housekeeping inspections including routine inspections of emergency equipment,
  • With help from the CHO, determin the required levels of protective apparel and equipment, and
  • Ensuring that facilities for use of any material being ordered are adequate.

• Laboratory worker, who is responsible for:
  • Planning and conducting each operation in accordance with safe procedures; and
  • Developing and maintaining good personal chemical hygiene habits.

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