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HISTOLOGY LABORATORY

CHEMICAL HYGIENE PLAN

CONTENTS 1 Purpose of the Chemical Hygiene Plan .............................................3

2 General principles ...........................................................................................3 2.1 Chemical exposure 2.2 Estimation of risk 2.3 Control exposures 2.4 Chemical hygiene program 2.5 PELs and TLVs 3 Responsibilities...............................................................................................4 3.1 Chief executive officer 3.2 Chemical hygiene officer 3.3 Departmental safety officer 3.4 Laboratory supervisor 3.5 Laboratory workers 4 Chemical Hygiene Plan .................................................................................5 4.1 Basic rules and procedures 4.2 Procurement,distribution, and storage 4.3 Environmental monitoring 4.4 Inspections 4.5 Medical program 4.6 Records 4.7 Signs and labels 4.8 Training programs 5 References .........................................................................................................13

Chemical Hygiene Plan

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CHEMICAL HYGIENE PLAN 1 Purpose of the Chemical Hygiene Plan The Chemical Hygiene Plan is intended tosummarize policies and procedures regarding the use of chemicals in the histology laboratory. All personnel involved in the laboratory should be familiar with this manual and the policies which pertain to their work. Every employee is responsible to ensure these procedures and policies are followed. The complete Histology Safety Manual is available during all work times and to any employee of this workarea 2 General principles chemicals 2.1 for working with laboratory

Minimize all chemical exposures Precautions for handling all laboratory chemicals should be adopted. Exposure can occur by way of inhalation, skin absorption or ingestion. Do not smell or taste chemicals. Vent equipment which may discharge toxic chemicals (vacuum pumps, distillers, automatic stainers and coverslippers, andother equipment) into local exhaust devices. Inspect gloves before use. Use exhaust hoods when heating solutions. Estimation of risk Even for substances with no known significant hazard, exposure should be minimized. Unless known otherwise, assume any mixture w i l l be more toxic than its most toxic component and all substances of unknown toxicity are hazardous. Control exposures If possiblesubstitute less toxic materials, such as using xylene substitutes (aliphatic hydrocarbon clearants) instead of xylene. Minimize exposures by preventing their escape into the working atmosphere by the use of hoods and other ventilation devices. Keep lids on containers and staining dishes.

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Chemical Hygiene Plan

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Chemical hygiene program The chemical hygiene program isdesigned to minimize exposures and is required by law. It should be a regular, continuing effort, not merely a standby or short-term activity. Employees are trained at the time of hire. All employees attend additional training annually. Observe the PELs and TLVs The Permissible Exposure Limits (PEL) of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Threshold Limit Values (TLV) of theAmerican Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists should not be exceeded. Refer to MSDS for specific chemical information.

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3 Chemical hygiene responsibilities 3.1 Chief executive officer The chief executive officer is also the safety. The director of public safety responsibility for chemical hygiene within must, with other administrators, provide for institutional chemicalhygiene.

director of public has the ultimate the institution and continuing support

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Chemical hygiene officer The chemical hygiene officer is an environmental and chemical specialist from the Department of Public Safety. The chemical hygiene officer will • work with administrators and other employees to develop and implement appropriate chemical hygiene policies and practices; • monitor...