West Virginia University Laboratory Training Module 1. OSHA Laboratory Standard

1. West Virginia UniversityLaboratory TrainingModule 1. OSHA Laboratory Standard

2. OSHA Laboratory Standard This standard requires employers to maintain a safe working environment for laboratory workers

3. The Laboratory Standard Requires Every Laboratory To: • Develop A Chemical Hygiene Plan • Designate A Chemical Hygiene Officer • Provide Employee Information & Training • Provide Medical Consultation • Conduct Record Keeping • Monitoring-Exposure Level Determination • Identify Hazards • Monitor Permissible Exposure Limits • Where Necessary Use Respirators

4. 1. Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) A written plan that describes how exposure to hazardous chemicals will be reduced in the laboratory. Refer to it any time you have a question about your lab or need to review particular information!

5. Required elements of the CHP • Criteria for reducing employee exposure to hazardous chemicals. • Use of personal protective equipment. • ensure fume hoods and other protective equipment are functioning properly. • Provisions for employee training.

6. Required elements continued: • Circumstances requiring employer approval of certain laboratory operations, procedures, or activities before implementation. • Provisions for medical consultation. • Measures to protect employees from particularly hazardous substances. • Assignment of a Chemical Hygiene Officer.

7. 2. Chemical Hygiene Officer • Develops and implements appropriate chemical hygiene policies and practices. • Conducts monthly checks of safety equipment • Ensures that laboratory users are educated on all elements of the chemical hygiene plan. • The CHO will be available to answer any questions the laboratory users might have.

8. 3. Provide Employee Information & Training Laboratory users are required to receive information and training concerning the hazards that they will encounter in the laboratory prior to engaging in laboratory work.

9. What information is required? • The contents of the Laboratory Standard shall be made available to employees • The location and availability of the employer's Chemical Hygiene Plan • The permissible exposure limits

10. What information is required? • Signs and symptoms associated with exposures to hazardous chemicals used in the laboratory • MSDS

11. What training is required? • Methods and observations that may be used to detect the presence or release of a hazardous chemical • The physical and health hazards of chemicals in the work area

12. What training is required? • Measures employees shall take to protect themselves from hazards. • The employee shall be trained on the applicable details of the laboratory's written Chemical Hygiene Plan.

13. 4. Medical Consultations • The employer shall provide all employees who work with hazardous chemicals an opportunity to receive medical consultations

14. The employer shall provide the following information to the physician: • The identity of the hazardous chemical(s) to which the employee may have been exposed • A description of the conditions under which the exposure occurred

15. What will a medical consultation cost the employee? • All medical examinations shall be provided without cost to the employee, without loss of pay and at a reasonable time and place

16. 5. Recordkeeping. • The employer shall establish and maintain for each employee an accurate record of any measurements taken to monitor employee exposures and medical consultations

17. 6. Monitoring-Exposure Level Determination • Initial monitoring. The employer shall measure the employee's exposure to any substance if there is reason to believe that exposure levels for that substance routinely exceed the action level (or in the absence of an action level, the PEL). • Periodic monitoring. Periodic monitoring must be conducted if initial monitoring finds that a hazardous exposure has occurred.

18. Monitoring-Exposure Level Determination • Termination of monitoring. Monitoring may be terminated when PEL’s or action levels are maintained at an acceptable level • Employee notification of monitoring results. The employer shall, within 15 working days after the receipt of any monitoring results, notify the employee of these results.

19. 7. Hazard Identification • labels on incoming containers of hazardous chemicals shall not be removed or defaced. • Material safety data sheets must be maintained with incoming shipments of hazardous chemicals.

20. The following provisions shall apply to chemical substances developed in the laboratory: • If the composition of the chemical substance which is produced exclusively for the laboratory's use is known, the employer shall determine if it is a hazardous chemical

21. The following provisions shall apply to chemical substances developed in the laboratory: • If the chemical is determined to be hazardous, the employer shall provide appropriate training for the substance.

22. 8. Permissible Exposure Limits • The employer shall assure that laboratory employees' exposures to hazardous substances do not exceed the permissible exposure limits

23. 9. Respirators • Where the use of respirators is necessary to maintain exposure below permissible exposure limits, the employer shall provide, at no cost to the employee, the proper respiratory equipment. • Prior to using any respirator you must first be medically monitored, fit tested and trained.