Environmental Health and Safety

High Hazard Chemicals

High hazard chemicals include select carcinogens, reproductive/developmental toxins, and those that have a high degree of acute toxicity. General requirements and guidelines for the use of high hazard chemicals are provided in the High Hazard Chemical Policy.pdficon_small  The OHSA Laboratory Standard (29 CFR 1450) and the Louisiana Office of Risk Management (ORM) require that written, chemical-specific Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) be developed and implemented for the safe use of high hazard chemicals. The SOPs are intended to include chemical-specific provisions for worker training, safe use, designated work areas, material handling and storage, emergency/ spill response, decontamination and waste management.

To assist with this requirement, EHS has developed SOPs for multiple high hazard and general class chemicals commonly used at LSUHSC. Each SOP is written to address the general use and hazards of the chemical and shall be reviewed and amended, as necessary, based on laboratory-specific use and conditions. A Blank SOP is available for downloading at the bottom of this page. General training for all laboratory personnel on high hazard chemicals shall be conducted at least annually per the LSUHSC Chemical Hygiene Plan.  pdficon_small  Principal Investigators shall review and ensure an understanding of each chemical-specific SOP with each laboratory staff member with the potential for contact with the material prior to the initial chemical use, upon changes to applicable processes, at any time personnel demonstrate a potential deficiency in regards to understanding and/or implementing the procedures, and at least annually thereafter. Review and revision, as necessary, to an SOP should be made any time the precautions and/or procedures are identified to be potentially inadequate to provide the maximum possible level of safety and health protection.

 

 

 blanksop