1.1 Environmental Health and Safety Director

The Director of the Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) department at UCF has the ultimate responsibility for chemical hygiene throughout the laboratories and with assistance of other program administrators, will provide continued support for chemical hygiene.

The Chemical Hygiene Officer (CHO)  or designee shall:

1.2.1 work with administrators and other employees to develop and implement appropriate chemical hygiene policies and practices,

1.2.2 monitor procurement and use of chemicals in the lab, including determining that facilities and training levels are adequate for the chemicals in use,

1.2.3 maintain current knowledge concerning the legal requirements of regulated substances in the laboratory,

1.2.4 determine the proper level of personal protective equipment,

1.2.5 monitor the waste disposal program, and

1.2.6 perform regular, formal chemical hygiene and housekeeping inspections (at least annually) including routine inspections of emergency equipment. The form entitled "Checklist for Laboratory Safety Inspection", Appendix B to this plan, may be used for this purpose.
 

Principal Investigators (PI) and/or their designated Lab Manager have the overall responsibility for chemical hygiene throughout his or her laboratory. Responsibilities include:
 

1.3.1 ensure that employees know and follow the chemical hygiene rules,  

1.3.2 that protective equipment is available and in working order,

1.3.3 that appropriate training has been provided, and

1.3.4 maintain overall responsibility for the laboratory operation. 
 

1.4 Laboratory Employees

The laboratory employees are individually responsible for;

1.4.1 planning and conducting each laboratory operation in accordance with the CHP, and

1.4.2 developing good personal chemical hygiene habits.  

1.5 Chemical Hygiene Committee
 

1.5.1 A Chemical Hygiene Committee will be responsible for the compliance and implementation of the CHP. The Committee will have representatives from all affected departments and the CHO. 
 

1.5.2 The Committee will meet at least bi-annually.

2.1 Chemical Procurement

2.1.1 The decision to procure a chemical shall be a commitment to handle and use the chemical properly from initial receipt to ultimate disposal.

2.1.2 Information on proper handling, storage and disposal shall be known to all involved personnel prior to the use of the chemical. Chemicals utilized in the laboratory shall be those which are appropriate for the ventilation system.

2.1.3 All chemicals shall be received at Receiving.  Personnel who receive chemical shipments shall be knowledgeable of the proper procedures for receipt. Chemical containers shall not be accepted without accompanying labels and packaging in accordance with all appropriate regulations. All chemical shipments should be dated when received and opened.

2.1.4 The ordering department shall forward a monthly inventory of received chemicals to the CHO.

2.2.1 The ordering department shall inspect and date all chemical packages when received and opened.  The chemicals shall then be immediately moved to the designated department storage area. Large glass containers shall be placed in carrying containers or shipping containers during transportation.

2.2.2 The storage area shall be well-illuminated. Storage should be maintained below eye level. Where this cannot be accomplished, storage above eye level shall be limited to small quantities not to exceed half gallon container size. Proper means of retrieval shall be utilized for these containers (i.e., ladders, step stools, NO chairs). Large bottles (greater than one gallon) shall be stored no more than two feet from ground level.

2.2.3 The storage areas shall be accessible during working hours. The Chemical Storage Building for bulk storage is under the control of EH&S. Departmental storage areas are under the control of the Lab Manager. The storage areas should be inspected quarterly. The form entitled "Chemical Storage Inspection", Appendix C of this plan, may be used for this purpose. EH&S is responsible for the inspection of storage area(s) and retaining the inspection documentation.

2.2.4 Chemicals shall be segregated by hazard classification and compatibility in a well-identified area, with local exhaust ventilation available, if required.  

2.2.5 Flammable material containers larger than 5 gallons shall be electrically grounded.
 
2.2.6 Mineral acids should be separated from flammable and combustible materials. Separation is defined by NFPA 49 as storage within the same fire area but separated by as much space as practicable or by intervening storage from incompatible materials.

2.2.7 Acid-resistant trays shall be placed under bottles of mineral acids.

2.2.8 Acid-sensitive materials such as cyanides and sulfides shall be separated from acids or protected from contact with acids.

2.2.9 Highly toxic chemicals whose containers have been opened shall be stored in unbreakable secondary containers.  

2.2.10 When chemicals are taken from the storage area, during transport the containers shall be placed in an outside container or bucket.

2.2.11 Storage of chemicals at the lab bench or other work areas shall be limited to those amounts reasonably necessary for one operation or class. The container size shall be the minimum convenient. The amounts of chemicals at the lab bench shall be as small as practical. Chemicals in the workplace shall not be exposed to sunlight or heat.

2.2.12 Stored chemicals shall be examined at least annually by the CHO for replacement, deterioration, and container integrity. The inspection should determine whether any corrosion, deterioration, or damage has occurred to the storage facility as a result of leaking chemicals. The CHO will notify each department of the results of the inspection in writing.

Each laboratory employee shall develop and implement work habits consistent with this CHP to minimize personal and coworker exposure to the chemicals in the laboratory. Since all chemicals inherently present hazards in certain conditions, exposure to all chemicals shall be minimized.

General precautions which shall be followed for the handling and use of all chemicals are:

2.3.1 Skin contact with all chemicals shall be avoided.

2.3.2 All employees shall wash hands skin prior to leaving the laboratory.

2.3.3 Mouth suction for pipeting or starting a siphon is prohibited.

2.3.4 Eating, drinking, smoking, gum chewing, or application of cosmetics in areas where laboratory chemicals are present shall be avoided. Eating and drinking is allowed only in designated areas of the laboratories. No chemicals are allowed in the designated eating and drinking areas (ie., no chemicals allowed at the desk).

2.3.5 Storage, handling and/or consumption of food or beverages shall not occur in storage areas, refrigerators, glassware or utensils also used for laboratory operations.

2.3.6 Risk determinations shall be conservative in nature.

2.3.7 Any chemical mixture shall be assumed to be as toxic as its most toxic component.

2.3.8 Substances of unknown toxicity shall be assumed to be toxic.

2.3.9 Laboratory employees shall be familiar with the symptoms of exposure for the chemicals with which they work and the precautions necessary to prevent exposure. These symptoms can be found on the chemicals’ Materials Safety Data Sheet (MSDS).

2.3.10 The intent and procedures of this CHP shall be continuously adhered to.  

2.3.11 In all questions of chemical exposure, neither the Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) of OSHA or the Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) shall be exceeded.

2.3.12 The engineering controls and safety equipment in the laboratory shall be utilized and inspected  in accordance with Appendix B of this plan.
 

2.4 Laboratory Equipment and Glassware

In addition, the following procedures shall apply to the use of laboratory equipment:

2.4.1 All laboratory equipment shall be used only for its intended purpose.

2.4.2 All glassware will be handled and stored with care to minimize breakage; all broken glassware will be immediately disposed of in an appropriate labeled broken glass container.

2.4.3 All evacuated glass apparatus shall be shielded to contain chemicals and glass fragments should implosion occur.

2.4.4 Waste receptacles shall be identified as such.  
 

2.5 Personal Protective Equipment

2.5.1 Safety glasses with side shields meeting ANSI Z87.1 are required for employees and visitors to the laboratory and will be worn at all times when in the laboratory.

2.5.2 Chemical goggles meeting ANSI Z87.1 are to be worn during chemical transfer and handling operations as procedures dictate. A full faceshield may be worn over chemical goggles when severe exposure may occur.

2.5.3 Sandals, perforated shoes, canvas sneakers and bare feet are prohibited. Safety shoes, per ANSI 47 are required where employees routinely lift heavy objects, such as chemical containers at the Chemical Storage Building.

2.5.4 Lab coats, if provided, must be worn in the laboratory. Laboratory coats should be laundered on a periodic basis, not to exceed monthly. Laboratory coats shall be removed immediately upon discovery of significant contamination.

2.5.5 Appropriate gloves based on the Table in Appendix D shall be worn at all times when there may be skin contact with chemicals, waste water, sludge, and other materials which can expose an employee during skin contact.

2.5.6 Thermal-resistant gloves shall be worn for operations involving the handling of heated materials and exothermic reaction vessels. Thermal-resistant gloves shall be non-asbestos and shall be replaced when damaged or deteriorated.

2.5.7 Respirator usage shall comply with UCF’s Environmental Health & Safety Respiratory Program.  Respirators shall not take the place of engineering controls or fumehoods for routine chemical use.

2.6.1 Laboratory supervision must ensure that each employee knows and follows the rules and procedures established in this plan.

2.6.2 All employees shall remain vigilant to unsafe practices and conditions in the laboratory and shall immediately report such practices and/or conditions to the PI. The PI must correct unsafe practices and or conditions promptly.

2.6.3 Long hair and loose-fitting clothing shall be confined close to the body to avoid being caught in moving machine/equipment parts.

2.6.4 Use only those chemicals appropriate for the ventilation system.

2.6.5 Avoid unnecessary exposure to all chemicals by any route.

2.6.6 Do not smell or taste any chemicals.

2.6.7 Encourage safe work practices in coworkers by setting the proper example. Horseplay is strictly forbidden.

2.6.8 Seek information and advice from knowledgeable persons, standards and codes about the hazards present in the laboratory. Plan operations, equipment and protective measures accordingly.

2.6.9 Use engineering controls. See Section 4 for Engineering Controls.  

2.6.10 Inspect personal protective equipment prior to use, and wear appropriate protective equipment as procedures dictate and when necessary to avoid exposure.

2.7.1 All containers in the laboratory shall be labeled. This includes chemical containers and waste containers. The label shall be durable, and at a minimum, will identify contents and indication of hazard.

2.7.2 Portable containers shall be labeled by the individual using the container.

2.7.3 Exemptions for labeling requirements shall be made for chemical transfers from a labeled container into a container which is intended only for the immediate use of the employee who performed the transfer.

2.7.4 The labeling program shall be periodically inspected by the CHO to ensure that labels have not been defaced or removed.

2.7.5  Hazard signage is to be posted at each entrance to individual laboratories. PI or lab manager must request update whenever changes to contact or hazard information occur.

3.1 Air Sampling

3.1.1 Air sampling for evaluating employee exposure to chemical substances shall be conducted periodically or as specified by specific codes or regulations by EH&S personnel and/or a consultant.

3.1.2 Upon addition of new chemicals or changes in control procedures, additional air sampling will be considered to determine the exposures. The CHO may conduct air sampling if there is reason to believe that exposure levels for regulated substances that require sampling routinely exceed the action level, or in the absence of an action level, the PEL.

3.2.1 Each laboratory employee is directly responsible for the cleanliness of his or her work space, and jointly responsible for common areas of the laboratory. Laboratory management shall insist on the maintenance of housekeeping standards.

3.2.2 The following procedures apply to the housekeeping standards of the laboratory:

3.2.2.1 All spills on lab benches or floors shall be immediately cleaned and properly disposed of.

3.2.2.2 The lab benches shall be kept clear of unnecessary equipment and chemicals.

3.2.2.3 The work area shall be cleaned at the end of each operation and each class.

3.2.2.4 All apparatus shall be thoroughly cleaned and returned to storage upon completion of usage.

3.2.2.5 All floors, aisles, exits, fire extinguishing equipment, eyewashes, showers, electrical disconnects and other emergency equipment shall remain unobstructed.

3.2.2.6 All labels shall face front.

3.2.2.7 Chemical containers shall be clean, properly labeled and returned to storage upon completion of usage.

3.2.2.8 All chemical wastes will be disposed of in accordance with UCF’s Hazardous Waste Procedures.

3.3.1 Telephone numbers of emergency personnel, supervisors and other employees as deemed appropriate have been posted.

3.3.2 Key laboratory personnel should be trained in the proper use of fire extinguishers. The CHO shall verify that existing extinguishers and other emergency equipment are appropriate for such chemicals.

3.3.3 All employees who might be exposed to chemical splashes shall be instructed in the location and proper usage of emergency showers and eyewashes.  Inspections of shower and eyewash equipment shall be performed at least quarterly by Physical Plant employees. An inspection tag attached to the emergency equipment will be used to document the routine inspections. These inspections shall be in accordance with ANSI Z358.1 and manufacturer's specifications.

3.3.4 Location signs for safety and emergency equipment have been posted.

3.3.5 Each lab is to be equipped with chemical spill response equipment.

4.1 Intent

The engineering controls installed in the laboratory are intended to minimize employee exposure to chemical and physical hazards in the workplace. These controls must be maintained in proper working order for this goal to be realized.

No modification of engineering controls will occur unless justified to the CHO and/or testing by the CHO indicates that employee protection will continue to be adequate.

Improper function of engineering controls must be reported to the CHO immediately.

All employees shall follow proper work practices when using the engineering controls.

Hood fans shall operate when hoods are being used.

4.4.2 Laboratory Hoods

The following work practices shall apply to the use of hoods:

4.4.2.1 Clear the sash on the face of the hood prior to usage.  

4.4.2.2 After using hoods, operate the fan for an additional thirty (30) minutes to clear residual contaminants from the ductwork.  

4.4.2.3 Hoods must be operating prior to opening chemical containers inside the hood. An inward flow of air can be confirmed by holding a piece of tissue or paper at the face of the hood and observing the movement of the paper. If the hood is not operational, contact Work Management and post a sign. The sign should be clearly visible to all users of the hood and state that the hood is not operational.

4.4.2.4 Keep the sash of the hood closed at all times except when adjustments within the hood are being made. At these times, maintain the sash height as low as possible.

4.4.2.5 Storage of chemicals and equipment inside the hood shall be kept to a minimum.

4.4.2.6 Minimize interference with the inward flow of air into the hood.

4.4.2.7 Leave the hood operating when chemicals are contained inside the hood or if it is uncertain whether adequate general laboratory ventilation will be maintained when the hood is non-operational.

4.4.2.8 The ventilation system shall be inspected every six months. The hood face velocity shall be maintained at 100 feet per minute, with a mininum sash height of 18 inches. A record of each inspection shall be maintained by EH&S.

4.4.2.9 The hood shall not be used as a means of disposal for volatile chemicals.

Water spray shall be turned on whenever perchloric acid is being heated in the hood
 
 4.4.4 Glove Boxes and Isolation Rooms

Contaminated exhaust air from a glove box or isolation room shall pass through scrubbers, filters, or other treatment before release into the regular exhaust system.

In event of electrical failure, the following provisions will be followed:  

The departmental lab manager or the person in charge of the lab shall check cold rooms and warm rooms to ensure that the loss of cooling/heating will not cause a release of chemicals or odors. The CHO should be notified if any problems arise.

Storage cabinets for hazardous chemicals will be ventilated as needed.

5.1 Hazard Information

All laboratory employees will be appraised of the hazards presented by the chemicals in use in the laboratory. Each employee shall receive training at the time of initial assignment to the laboratory and as needed.

Training shall include methods of detecting the presence of a hazardous chemical, physical and health hazards of chemicals in the lab, and measures employees can take to protect themselves from these hazards. The training shall present the CHP, and shall include;

5.3.1  the location and availability of the CHP and other reference material;

5.3.2 physical and health hazards;

5.3.3 engineering controls and safety equipment

5.3.4 spill, fire and injury procedures

5.3.5 additional training for environmental management practices (hazardous waste) is required annually.

A system should be used for laboratory activities which present specific, foreseeable hazards to the employees. These activities include off-hours work, sole occupancy of building, and unattended operations.
 

The system options are: the permit system with the permit being interdepartmental (i.e., Department Chair, PI, Lab Manager); a buddy system; or verbal notification to Police, Department Chair, PI, and/or Lab Manager. At least one of the systems should be utilized. The permit entitled "Chemical Hygiene Permit" is included in Appendix J to this plan and may be utilized if the permit option is selected.

Laboratory personnel are not permitted to work after hours in the lab, except when at least one of the systems referenced above is activated.

At no time shall work be performed in the laboratory when the only person in the building is the laboratory person performing the work, unless at least one of the systems referenced above is activated.

When laboratory operations are performed that will be unattended by laboratory personnel (continuous operations, overnight reactions, etc.), the following procedures will be employed:

6.3.1 The person responsible for the operation will review work procedures to ensure for the safe completion of the operation.

6.3.2 An appropriate sign will be posted at all entrances to the laboratory.  Apparatus (or area surrounding apparatus)  with hazardous chemicals must be labeled to indicate content.

6.3.3 When possible, the overhead lights in the laboratory will be left on.

6.3.4 The person responsible for the operation will return to the laboratory at the conclusion of the operation to assist in the dismantling of the apparatus.

7.1 An opportunity to receive medical attention is available to all employees who work with hazardous chemicals in the laboratory. The opportunity for medical attention will be made available to employees under the following circumstances:

7.1.1 Whenever an employee develops signs or symptoms associated with a hazardous chemical to which the employee may have been exposed in the laboratory,

7.1.2 Medical surveillance programs will be established where exposure monitoring reveals an exposure level above the action level for an OSHA regulated substance for which there are exposure monitoring and medical surveillance requirements, and/or,

7.1.3 Whenever an event takes place in the laboratory such as a spill, leak, explosion or other occurrence resulting in the likelihood of a hazardous exposure the employee will be provided an opportunity for medical consultation for the purpose of determining the need for medical examination.

7.3 These medical consultations and examinations shall be administered by or under the direct supervision of a licensed physician. Employees requiring medical consultation due to the above mentioned circumstances must report all details of the exposure or occurrence to the CHO.

When laboratory procedures change to require the use of additional classifications of chemicals (allergens, embryotoxins, teratogens, carcinogens, etc.), additional special precautions shall be implemented as deemed necessary by the CHO. The Material Safety Data Sheets should always be referenced when working with any hazardous chemical.

Allergens: a wide variety of substances that can produce skin and lung hypersensitivity.

examples: diazomethane, chromium, nickel, dichromates, formaldehyde, isocyanates, and certain phenols.
 
Embroyotoxins: substances that act during pregnancy to cause adverse effects to the fetus.

examples: organomercurials, lead compounds, and formamides.
 
 

8.1.1 Suitable gloves to prevent hand contact shall be worn when exposed to allergens or substances of unknown allergen activity.

8.1.2 Women of child-bearing age will handle embryotoxins only in a hood with confirmed satisfactory performance and will use protective equipment to prevent skin contact as prescribed by the supervisor and CHO.

8.1.3 These substances will be stored in adequately ventilated areas in unbreakable secondary containers.

8.1.4 The supervisor and CHO will be notified of spills and other exposure incidents. A physician will be consulted when appropriate.

8.2 Working with Chemicals of Moderate Chronic or High Acute Toxicity

examples: diisopropylfluorophosphate, hydrofluoric acid, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen sulfide.  
 

8.2.1 Areas where these chemicals are stored and used are of restricted access and have special warning signs.

8.2.2 Usage of a hood with a minimum face velocity of 100 feet per minute or other containment device for procedures which may result in the generation of aerosols or vapors containing the substance. Trap released vapors to vent their discharge with the hood exhaust.

8.2.3 Gloves and long sleeves shall be used. Hands and arms will be washed immediately after working with these chemicals.

8.2.4 Two people will always be present during work with these chemicals.

examples: dimethylmercury and nickel carbonyl, benzo-a-pyrene, N-nitrosodiethylamine, and other human carcinogens or substances with high carcinogenic potency in animals.

8.3.1 All transfer and work with these substances shall be in a designated area: a restricted access hood, glove box or portion of lab.

8.3.2 Glove boxes should trap the exit gases or filter them through a HEPA filter and then release them into a hood.

8.3.3 Approval of the supervisor will be obtained before use.

8.3.4 Protect vacuum pumps against contamination by scrubbers or HEPA filters and vent them into the hood.

8.3.5 Any contaminated equipment or glassware will be decontaminated in the hood before removing them from the designated area.

8.3.6 For powders, a wet mop or vacuum with a HEPA filter will be used for cleanup.

8.3.7 The designated area will be marked with warning and restricted access signs.

8.3.8 Containers will be stored in a ventilated, limited access area in labeled, unbreakable, chemically resistant, secondary containers.

9.1 All accidents which cause damage to property or health (requiring more than first-aid treatment) will be investigated by the immediate supervisor with assistance from other personnel as deemed necessary. All accidents must be reported to the CHO as soon as possible (telephone extension 3-0071).

9.2 Accidents reports will be retained by EH&S for 30 years.

9.3 Exposure records for hazardous chemicals and harmful physical agents will be maintained by EH&S for 30 years per 29 CFR 1910.20.

9.4 Medical records for employees exposed to hazardous chemicals and harmful physical agents will be maintained by the Human Resources Department at UCF for the duration of employment plus 30 years per 29 CFR 1910.20.

9.5 Chemical inventory records (chemical name, amounts of chemical on-hand, and names of employees involved) for the laboratories will be maintained by EH&S for 30 years.

9.6 Records of inspections of equipment will be maintained by EH&S for 3 years.

9.7 Records of employee training will be maintained by EH&S for 30 years.

In the event of a chemical spill, release or other accident, UCF will adhere to the procedures outlined in the UCF Emergency Management Plan.

10.1 For SMALL hazardous material spills/leaks that are less than 4 L and which do NOT involve acutely hazardous materials, unknowns, or multiple containers:

10.1.1 Notify Environmental Health and Safety at (407) 823-6300 (Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.). If no answer, report the spill to the UCF Police Department at (407) 823-5555.

10.1.2 Notify the appropriate building manager and laboratory manager or principal investigator (PI).

10.1.3 Use available spill kits (see list below for locations and contents) to clean up the spill under the supervision of your PI or Environmental Health & Safety. Save all spill materials and waste, and label all containers as accurately as possible. Turn waste over to EH&S for disposal.

10.2  For spills or leaks that are LARGER than 4 liters and/or which involve acutely hazardous materials, unknowns, or multiple containers:

10.2.1 Leave the scene of the spill, alert and assist others in exiting the area. Do not use elevators. Shut off lab electrical equipment and close doors as you leave. Leave fume hoods on.

10.2.2 Pull the nearest fire alarm pull station (if available). This sounds a building alarm and alerts UCF Police Department or an alarm monitoring station. Fire alarm pull stations are usually located near the main building exits.

10.2.3 Exit the building. From a safe location, call 911 to report the spill. Stay on the line to give the dispatcher the exact location of the spill, the name and quantity of the material spilled, and any other details.

 

11.0 Hazardous Waste/Environmental Management

See http://www.environment.ucf.edu/Plan/WP-001Laboratory.pdf


 

12.0 References and Recommended Reading

National Research Council, Prudent Practices for Handling Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories, National Academy Press, Washington, D.C. 1981.

National Research Council, Prudent Practices for Disposal of Chemicals from Laboratories, National Academy Press, Washington, D.C., 1983.

Freeman, N.T., Introduction to Safety in the Chemical Laboratory, Academy Press, 1982.

Manufacturing Chemists' Association, Inc., Guide For Safety In The Chemical Laboratory, D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc., 1954.

Green, Michael E., Safety In Working With Chemicals, MacMillan Publishing Co., Inc. 1978.

Pipitone, David A., Safe Storage of Laboratory Chemicals, Wiley & Sons, Inc. 1984.

Code of Federal Regulations, 29 CFR part 1910 subpart Z section 1910.1450, Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories, 1990.
 
 

Environmental Health and Safety Department safety manuals in print:

· Accident Prevention Manual

· Radiation Safety Manual

· Hazard Communication Standard/Florida Right-To-Know Manual

· Laboratory Safety Manual

· Biological Safety Guide Book

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