Chemical Hygiene Plan

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulation 29 CFR 1910.1450, "Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories” mandates the development of a Chemical Hygiene Plan which is capable of protecting employees from health hazards associated with hazardous chemicals in the laboratory and capable of keeping exposures below OSHA Permissible Exposure Limits.

The Cornell University Chemical Hygiene Plan is developed and coordinated by Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS). This Chemical Hygiene Plan is designed to supplement department and laboratory specific safety manuals and procedures that already address chemical safety in laboratories.

As per the OSHA Laboratory Standard, the following are elements of the Chemical Hygiene Plan:

Standard Operating Procedures

Control Measures

• Engineering controls: There are a variety of engineering controls that can be used in the laboratory to control exposures to hazardous chemicals. Some of the engineering controls that will be used in laboratories at Cornell may include dilution ventilation, local exhaust ventilation (fume hoods), and proper storage facilities.
• General laboratory practices: EHS provides laboratories with information about general laboratory work practices and rules that are recognized as effective control measures to minimize exposure to hazardous chemicals in the laboratory. The information is referenced from Prudent Practices in the Laboratory, Safety in Academic Chemistry Laboratories, and other references. These general procedures include guidelines on use of chemicals, accidents and spills, personal protection, use of fume hoods and other good laboratory practice information.
• Specific laboratory practices: Individual departments or laboratories must develop additional written safety procedures whenever necessary to protect laboratory workers from specific chemical hazards that are unique to their particular area of research. Particular attention should be given to control measures for operations that involve the use of particularly hazardous substances such as select carcinogens, reproductive toxins, or acutely toxic chemicals. EHS can assist researchers in developing safety procedures for specific hazards.
• Personal protective equipment: Personal protective equipment (PPE) will be available to laboratory workers for use to reduce exposures to hazardous chemicals in the laboratory. Common PPE such as goggles, gloves, face shields, and aprons are required for use with hazardous chemicals. Other PPE such as respirators will be available and are required for use, if necessary. EHS will assist in the proper selection, use, and care of PPE. PPE will be readily available and most equipment is provided at no cost to the employee.
• Other: Other control methods that will be used to determine and reduce employee exposures to hazardous chemicals in the laboratory may include exposure monitoring, testing eyewash and emergency shower facilities, developing emergency procedures, proper container selection, and substitution of less toxic chemicals whenever possible.

Fume Hoods and Other Protective Equipment

Information and Training

Prior Approval for High Hazard Work

Medical Consultations and Medical Examinations

• Whenever an employee develops signs or symptoms associated with a hazardous chemical to which the employee may have been exposed in the laboratory.
• Where airborne exposure monitoring reveals an exposure level routinely above the action level (or in the absence of an action level, the Permissible Exposure Limit) for an OSHA regulated substance for which there are exposure monitoring and medical surveillance requirements. Action level means the airborne concentration of a specific chemical, identified by OSHA, and calculated as an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA).
• Whenever an event such as a spill, leak, explosion or other occurrence takes place and results in the likelihood of a hazardous exposure. Upon such an event, the affected employee shall be provided an opportunity for a medical consultation. The consultation shall be for the purpose of determining the need for a medical examination.
• All records of medical consultations, examinations, tests, or written opinions shall be maintained at Cornell Health in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1020 - Access to employee exposure and medical records. The Cornell Health (607-255-5155) is located at 10 Central Avenue. Exposure monitoring records of contaminate levels in laboratories will be maintained at EHS 395 Pine Tree Road, Suite 210. For more information, contact EHS at 607-255-8200.

Personnel Responsible for the Chemical Hygiene Plan

Provisions for Additional Employee Protection for Work with Particularly Hazardous Substances

• Establishment of a designated area.
• Use of containment devices such as fume hoods or glove boxes.
• Procedures for safe removal of contaminated waste.
• Decontamination procedures.
• The provision for additional controls may require the expertise and recommendations of various groups including EHS, Facilities Engineering, technical committees and outside consulting companies. These groups have all been previously involved with review and implementation of controls for high hazard research. All additional provisions for work with particularly hazardous substances must be incorporated into the lab’s standard operation procedures for those materials.

This Chemical Hygiene Plan is reviewed annually. Last Date Reviewed: 11/20/2023