What is a Chemical Hygiene Plan?
A chemical hygiene plan (CHP) is a written program stating the policies, procedures, and responsibilities that serve to protect employees from the health hazards associated with the hazardous chemicals used in that particular workplace.
- OSHA’s Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories Standard (Title 29, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1910.1450, specifies the mandatory requirements of a CHP to protect persons from harm due to hazardous chemicals). The Standard can be viewed on the OSHA Web site at www.osha.gov.
- It applies to school employees who work in laboratory settings (i.e., science teachers and lab assistants); indirectly it may serve to protect students.
- The school superintendent, science department chairperson, and/or chemistry teacher(s) are typically responsible for developing the CHP for the school.
- Appendix A of 29 Code of Federal Regulations 1910.1450 provides non-mandatory recommendations to assist in the development of a CHP.
Chemical Hygiene Plan Required Elements
- Standard Operating Procedures: Defined and detailed standard operating procedures (SOPs) relevant to safety and health considerations for each activity involving the use of hazardous chemicals.
- Exposure Control Measures: Determine and implement control measures to reduce worker exposure to hazardous materials (i.e., engineering controls, the use of personal protective equipment, administrative controls, and hygiene practices) with particular attention given to the selection of control measures for extremely hazardous materials.
- Protective Equipment Maintenance: A requirement to ensure laboratory chemical hoods, safety showers, eyewash stations, and other protective equipment are installed, functioning properly, and regularly inspected.
- Employee Information and Training: Training for persons working with hazardous substances that includes methods and observations to detect the presence or release of a hazardous chemical, the physical and health hazards of the chemicals used, the measures to be taken to protect against these hazards (i.e., personal protective equipment, appropriate work practices, emergency response actions), and applicable details of the CHP. Training for workers includes:
- the hazards of the chemicals in the work area,
- the location of the CHP,
- signs and symptoms associated with hazardous chemical exposures,
- the permissible or recommended exposure limits (PELs) of the chemicals, and
- the location and availability of information on the hazards, safe handling, storage, and disposal of hazardous chemicals [not limited to Safety Data Sheets (SDSs)].
- Prior Approval Protocols: The circumstances under which a particular laboratory operation or procedure requires prior approval from the appropriate administrator including high-risk experiments, or exceptionally dangerous materials that require supervisor or committee sign-off before starting.
- Medical Consultations & Examinations: Provisions for free medical evaluations and follow-ups when exposures exceed limits or after accidental spills, leaks, or symptoms. Requirements for medical consultation and medical examination whenever (1) a person develops signs or symptoms associated with a hazardous chemical, (2) exposure monitoring reveals an exposure level routinely above the action level, or (3) an event takes place in the work area such as a spill, leak, explosion or other occurrence resulting in the likelihood of a hazardous exposure.
- Designation of Responsible Personnel: Designates a qualified Chemical Hygiene Officer (CHO) to provide technical guidance and implement the plan, alongside setting up a Chemical Hygiene Committee if applicable.
- Particularly Hazardous Substances: Requirements for additional protection when working with particularly hazardous substances including “select carcinogens,” reproductive toxins, and substances with a high degree of acute toxicity.
- Annual 9.Review & Evaluation: Systematic re-evaluation of the CHP by the employer or CHO at least once a year to ensure effectiveness of the written CHP at least once a year and update to reflect changing facility layouts, personnel, and chemical inventories.
Of particular note for teachers:
- Hazard identification including proper labeling of containers of hazardous chemicals and maintaining SDSs in a readily accessible location. This can include science chemicals, art supplies, and CTE supplies. See the restricted chemical list provided by the American Chemical Society, CPSC School Chemistry Laboratory Safety Guide, Appendix C and Appendix D.
- Create a digital or hard copy of the chemical inventory which includes beginning and current chemical quantity, date purchased, and storage location. Update the amount of remaining chemicals as they are used for laboratory activities. Classroom cabinets and drawers are not the safest or most secure storage option.
- Don’t forget to contact the “most likely to respond” fire station and share the chemical inventory. They benefit from having the current chemical inventory, amount, and storage location of chemicals and the current SDSs. This information impacts decision-making and how quickly they can respond to an accident.
Safer Science Everyday
While teachers, students, and lab safety are a requirement, it is also a mindset. Safety is an integral part of daily planning for educators. For assistance determining the safety status of your classroom and/or chemical storage area, visit Lab Safety Institute, a proud partner of Carolina, where you will find a K-12 Safer Science Self-Assessment, and Small University, College, Community College Safer Science Self-Assessment. Additionally, if you need to schedule safety training, LSI provides a wide array of training courses and webinars which can be found here and K-12 specific resources and services are available here. Carolina also offers free safety resources for teachers on the Carolina Knowledge Center.
Lab Safety Equipment from Carolina
Carolina offers an extensive line of chemicals, chemistry sets, lab safety products, and equipment.
- Chemicals, Chemistry Kits, and More
- Eye Protection Equipment
- Body Protection
- Chemical Storage Equipment
- Fume Hoods
- First-Aid Kits
- Spill Control Equipment
For additional information on developing a CHP consult the following sources:
- The Laboratory Safety Institute’s Model Chemical Hygiene Plan , School and Community College Edition
- CHP document Review
- Handbook of Chemical Health and Safety (ACS Handbooks) by Robert J Alaimo (2001)
- Prudent Practices in the Laboratory: Handling and Disposal of Chemicals, The National Research Council (1995)
- Prudent Practices in the Laboratory: Handling and Management of Chemical Hazards, The National Research Council (2011)
This information is from the School Chemistry Laboratory Safety Guide created by the U.S. Consumer Safety Product Commission (CPSC), Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
Looking for lab safety products?
We have everything you need to outfit or replenish your lab.
A chemical hygiene plan (CHP) is a written program stating the policies, procedures, and responsibilities that serve to protect employees from the health hazards associated with the hazardous chemicals used in that particular workplace.
- OSHA’s Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories Standard (Title 29, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1910.1450, specifies the mandatory requirements of a CHP to protect persons from harm due to hazardous chemicals). The Standard can be viewed on the OSHA Web site at www.osha.gov.
- It applies to school employees who work in laboratory settings (i.e., science teachers and lab assistants); indirectly it may serve to protect students.
- The school superintendent, science department chairperson, and/or chemistry teacher(s) are typically responsible for developing the CHP for the school.
- Appendix A of 29 Code of Federal Regulations 1910.1450 provides non-mandatory recommendations to assist in the development of a CHP.
Chemical Hygiene Plan Required Elements
- Defined standard operating procedures relevant to safety and health considerations for each activity involving the use of hazardous chemicals.
- Criteria to use to determine and implement control measures to reduce exposure to hazardous materials (i.e., engineering controls, the use of personal protective equipment, administrative controls, and hygiene practices) with particular attention given to the selection of control measures for extremely hazardous materials.
- A requirement to ensure laboratory chemical hoods and other protective equipment are installed and functioning properly. Information for persons working with hazardous substances specifying the hazards of the chemicals in the work area, the location of the CHP, signs and symptoms associated with hazardous chemical exposures, the permissible or recommended exposure limits of the chemicals, and the location and availability of information on the hazards, safe handling, storage, and disposal of hazardous chemicals [not limited to Safety Data Sheets (SDSs)].
- Training for persons working with hazardous substances that includes methods and observations to detect the presence or release of a hazardous chemical, the physical and health hazards of the chemicals used, the measures to be taken to protect against these hazards (i.e., personal protective equipment, appropriate work practices, emergency response actions), and applicable details of the CHP.
- The circumstances under which a particular laboratory operation or procedure requires prior approval from the appropriate administrator. Requirements for medical consultation and medical examination whenever (1) a person develops signs or symptoms associated with a hazardous chemical, (2) exposure monitoring reveals an exposure level routinely above the action level, or (3) an event takes place in the work area such as a spill, leak, explosion or other occurrence resulting in the likelihood of a hazardous exposure.
- Designation of personnel responsible for the implementation of the CHP, including the assignment of a Chemical Hygiene Officer.
- Requirements for additional protection when working with particularly hazardous substances including “select carcinogens,” reproductive toxins, and substances with a high degree of acute toxicity.
- Provisions for yearly re-evaluation of the CHP.
Other Suggested Elements of a Chemical Hygiene Plan
- Hazard identification including proper labeling of containers of hazardous chemicals and maintaining SDSs in a readily accessible location.
- Requirements to establish and maintain accurate records monitoring employee exposures and any medical consultation and/or examinations, and to assure the confidentiality of these records.
For additional information on developing a CHP consult the following sources:
- Handbook of Chemical Health and Safety (ACS Handbooks) by Robert J Alaimo (2001)
- Prudent Practices in the Laboratory: Handling and Disposal of Chemicals by The National Research Council (1995)
This information is from the School Chemistry Laboratory Safety Guide created by the U.S. Consumer Safety Product Commission (CPSC), Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
Lab Safety Equipment from Carolina
Carolina offers an extensive line of chemicals, chemistry sets, lab safety products, and equipment.
