Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories

H. Safety considerations. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), US Department of Labor, standard entitled Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories (29 CFR 1910.1450) makes it necessary to address safety issues in the SOP. The standard requires laboratories that use hazardous chemicals to maintain employee exposures at or below the permissible exposure limits specified for these chemicals in 29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart Z. Hazards associated with any specific chemicals used in a method must be addressed so that the user has the information needed to follow the Chemical Hygiene Plan for their laboratory. The method developer should limit the use of hazardous chemicals where feasible. The use of toxic and/or carcinogenic reagents should be avoided or eliminated as much as possible. Additionally, the cost of disposal is increasing and could impact the practicality of a method. Material Safety Data Sheets for the analyte(s) and any unusual or hazardous reagents should be provided for the user. 

Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories Yes OSHA 1974... 

Of importance is the OSHA Laboratory Standard, 29 CER 1910.1450, which is similar to the UK COSHH regulations (see below), and deals with occupational exposure to hazardous chemicals in laboratories. Information on various aspects of this Laboratory Standard is found at ... 

All laboratories must have a written plan—the Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP)— which describes the provisions that have been made for safety by the laboratory managers. This requirement is regulated by OSHA under standard 29 CFR 1910.1450, Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories. The CHP sets out the specific procedures, work practices, safety equipment and personal protective equipment that have been selected to provide employee protection for the hazards found in each laboratory. An individual university or college laboratory will follow the CHP of the institution, which applies to all laboratories on campus the laboratory may also have a CHP that is specific to its individual conditions. College students should follow the provisions of the applicable CHP to ensure their safety. The CHP must include ... 

CFR1910.1200, Occupational Safety and Health Standards - Hazard Communication . 29CFR1910.1450, Occupational Safety and Health Standards - Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories . 

In addition, all researchers should be familiar with the principal provisions and concepts of the most important laws and regulations that affect laboratories across the country. The two most important are the Occupational Safety and Health Administration s regulation. Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories (the OSHA Laboratory Standard) and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), under which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates hazardous waste. Because of its importance, the text of the OSHA Laboratory Standard is reprinted in Appendix A. Researchers, laboratory workers, and, in particular, laboratory managers and supervisors should read and understand these regulations. 

C THE OSHA LABORATORY STANDARD OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS IN LABORATORIES... 

Per Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulation 29 CFR 1910.1450, Occupational Exposures to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories, is a written plan that includes specific work practices, standard operating procedures, equipment, engineering controls, and policies to ensure that employees are protected from hazardous exposure levels to all potentially hazardous chemicals in use in their work areas. The OSHA standard provides for training, employee access to information, medical consultations, examinations, hazard identification procedures, respirator use, and record-keeping practices. 

Air Contaminants 29 CFR 1910.1000, Table Z-1, Limits for Air Contaminants 1910.1450, Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories 29 CFR 1910.1450, App A, National Research Council Recommendations Coneeming Chemical Hygiene in Laboratories (Non-Mandatory) and 29 CFR 1910.1450, App B, References (Non-Mandatory). Laboratory safety is also addressed by NFPA 45, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard on Fire Protection for Laboratories, and the International Codes by the International Code Council (ICC). Laceration... 

There are 50 titles in the CFR and to get a sense of the range of the CFR it is best to simply examine the 50 titles at http //www.access.gpo.gOv/nara/cfr/cfr-table-search.html pagel. Title 29 deals with Labor (see Figure 1.3.3.1). There are nine volumes in 29 CFR and Volume 5 contains Part 1910, which is where the laws and regulations associated with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are listed. Within 29 CFR 1910, there are 26 subparts labeled with the letters A-Z. Subpart Z has the title Toxic and Hazardous Substances and is the location of the Hazard Communication standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) and the Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories standard (29 CFR 1910.1450—commonly called the Lab Standard ). (See Figure 1.3.3.1.)... 

In 1990 the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), recognizing that laboratories require a different approach from industrial settings in managing exposures, issued the regulation Occupational Exposures to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories, known today as the Lab Standard. This Lab Standard is a performance standard, meaning that OSHA does not tell an employer how to prevent exposure to its employees, but rather each employer can use his/her own methods to control exposures... 

Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Occupational Exposures to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories, 29 Code of Federal Regulations Part 1910.1450 available at http //www.osha.gov/ pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show document p table=STANDARDS p id =10106 accessed March 25, 2008). 

U.S. Department of Labor. (1996). Occupational exposure to hazardous chemicals in laboratory environments. Title 29 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1910.1450. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, D.C. 

Utility laboratories have hazards that are discussed in the following section. Occupational exposure to hazardous chemicals in laboratories is covered in 29 CFR 1910.1450. 

In February, 1993, New Jersey s Public Employees OSHA adopted 29 CFR 1910. 1450, Federal OSHA s "Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories Rule", (also known as the Lab Standard ) (I). The standard provides for the health and safety of employees in the laboratory by generally requiring the components listed below. 

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