UMES is dedicated to providing safe and healthful laboratory facilities for students and employees, and complying with federal and state occupational health and safety standards. Laboratory administrators, managers, faculty, staff and students all share responsibility for minimizing their exposure to hazardous chemical substances which include carcinogens, toxic or highly toxic agents, reproductive toxins, irritants, corrosives, sensitizers, hepatotoxins, nephrotoxics, neurotoxins, agents which act on the hematopoietic systems, and agents which damage the lungs, skin, eyes, or mucous membranes.
University Policy
It is a policy of UMES to comply with all federal, state, and local regulations.
Regulatory Authority
- 29 CFR 1910.1450 Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories
- 29 CFR 1910.1200 Hazard Communication (portions)
Summary of Requirements
- Each laboratory must implement the written UMES Chemical Hygiene Plan that addresses all pertinent health and safety considerations.
- All employees working in laboratories subject to the regulation must receive training.
- The employer must periodically monitor the employee’s exposure to any substance regulated by a standard which requires monitoring if there is reason to believe that exposure levels for that substance exceed the PEL or specified Action Level. The employer must notify the employee of the monitoring results within 15 working days after receipt of the monitoring results.
- Employees who work with hazardous materials must be given the opportunity to receive medical attention, including any follow-up examinations deemed necessary by the examining licensed physician, when there is cause to believe that a significant chemical exposure has occurred. Medical examinations and follow-ups must be provided without cost to the employee, without loss of pay and at a reasonable time and place.
- Labels on containers of hazardous materials must not be removed or defaced until the container is empty or if refilled with a different substance.
- Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) must be made available for all hazardous substances in the laboratory. If MSDSs are received by the laboratory, they must be retained and made available to the laboratory employees.
- Standard Operating Procedures addressing specific health and safety considerations for processes involving hazardous substances must be developed and implemented; copies must be forwarded to EHS.
- Where the use of respirators is necessary to maintain exposures below PELs, the employer must provide, at no cost to the employee, the proper respiratory protection equipment and comply with provisions of the Respiratory Protection Standard.
Consistent with regulations of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Maryland Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MOSHA), UMES maintains a written Chemical Hygiene Plan. This plan includes the requirements for chemical hygiene, hazard communication, and laboratory safety.
