Laboratory & Studio Safety
OSHA Standard 29CFR1910.1450 “The Laboratory Standard”
OSHA’s Laboratory Standard covers all personnel engaged in the “laboratory use of hazardous chemicals”. Laboratory use of hazardous chemicals means the handling or use of chemicals in which all of the following conditions are met:
- Chemical manipulations are carried out on a laboratory scale.
- Multiple chemical procedures or chemicals are used.
- The procedures involved are not part of a production process, nor in any way simulate a production process.
Protective laboratory practices and equipment are available to minimize the potential for employee exposure to hazardous chemicals.
A hazardous chemical is defined as a chemical for which there is statistically significant evidence, based on at least one study conducted in accordance with established scientific principles, that acute or chronic health effects may occur in employees who are exposed to the chemical. They include, but are not limited to, carcinogens, toxins, irritants, corrosives, sensitizers, hepatotoxins, nephrotoxins, neurotoxins as well as agents that may cause damage to the blood, lungs, skin, eyes or mucous membranes.
At Longwood University, this regulation is interpreted to apply to: teaching, research, and animal laboratories operated by the Science Departments.
Longwood University’s Chemical Hygiene Plan
The purpose of this Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) is to define work practices and procedures to help assure that faculty, staff and students working in Longwood University laboratory, shop and studio facilities are protected from the safety and health hazards associated with the chemicals with which they work.
The CHP addresses safety and health-related practices and policies common to all laboratories. Since few laboratory chemicals are without hazards, general precautions for handling all chemicals are presented here, rather than specific guidelines for particular chemicals. Individual laboratories shops and studios shall develop their own specific methods to augment this CHP when additional safety and health requirements are necessary.
More information on the Chemical Hygiene Plan can be found by logging into Longwood University’s Chemical information System, in the “Quick Links” box. Click on the “Longwood University Safety Documents.”