B Risk and Regulation

The basic laws-the Occupational Safety and Health Act, governing worker safety and health, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, governing the safe generation, storage, transport, and disposal of hazardous chemical waste, and the Clean Air Act and Federal Water Pollution Control Act, protecting puhhc health and the environment- 

The research chemist might ask, Why do 1 have to label all tbe cbemicals in my laboratory I know what s in those bottles. Why can t 1 pour this chemical down the drain It s such a small quantity that it will be diluted to harmlessness. Why must I fill out detailed labels for tbe waste containers in my laboratory Who needs all this paperwork and so forth. 

The regulator would answer, Yes, but if your cbemicals aren t labeled, new workers in the laboratory won t know what is in those containers. If they don t know the contents, how can they properly use, store, or dispose of the unlabeled chemicals Also, what happens if there s a fire or other emergency The emergency crew responding won t know what s in your laboratory. Or, If everyone poured just a little bit of that chemical down the drain, it could, cumulatively, seriously degrade water quality in sensitive rivers, lakes, or streams.  

Those managing and working in laboratories should also recognize that violation of environmental health and safety laws and regulations not only may pose unnecessary risks to those in the laboratory and the surrounding community, but also can result in serious collateral consequences-imposition of civil penalties (fines of up to 25,000 per day per violation), as well 

TABLE 9.1 Federal Laws and Regulations Affecting Laboratories  

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