CHEMICAL HYGIENE
PLAN
CCR, TITLE 8
Division 1, Chapter 4
Subchapter 7. General Industry Safety
OrdersGroup 16. Control of Hazardous SubstancesArticle 109. Hazardous
Substances and Processes
§§5191.
Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories.
http://www.dir.ca.gov/Title8/5191.html
a) Scope and application
This section shall apply to all
employers engaged in the laboratory use of hazardous chemicals as defined
below.
b) Definitions
Chemical Hygiene Officer: An employee who is designated by
the employer, and who is qualified by training or experience, to provide
technical guidance in the development and implementation of the provisions of
the Chemical Hygiene Plan. This definition is not intended to place limitations
on the position description or job classification that the designated
individual shall hold within the employer's organizational structure.
Chemical Hygiene Plan: A
written program developed and implemented by the employer which sets forth
procedures, equipment, personal protective equipment and work practices that
1) are capable of protecting
employees from the health hazards presented by hazardous chemicals used in that
particular work place and
(2) meets the requirements of
subsection 5191(e).
Hazardous chemical: 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 exposed employees. The term "health hazard" includes
chemicals which are carcinogens, toxic or highly toxic agents, reproductive
toxins, irritants, corrosives, sensitizers, hepatotoxins, nephrotoxins,
neurotoxins, agents which act on the hematopoietic systems, and agents which
damage the lungs, skin, eyes, or mucous membranes.
Laboratory: A facility where the
"laboratory use of hazardous chemicals" occurs. It is a workplace
where relatively small quantities of hazardous chemicals are used on a
non-production basis.
(c) Exposure limits.
(d) Employee exposure determination
(e) Chemical hygiene plan
THE
FOLLOWING ELEMENTS ARE MANDATORY!
(1) Where hazardous chemicals as
defined by this regulation are used in the workplace, the employer shall
develop and carry out the provisions of a written Chemical Hygiene Plan which
is:
(A) Capable of protecting employees
from health hazards associated with hazardous chemicals in that laboratory and
(B) Capable of keeping exposures
below the limits specified in subsection 5191(c).
(2) The Chemical Hygiene Plan shall
be readily available to employees. employee representatives and, upon request,
to the Chief.
(3) The Chemical Hygiene Plan shall
include each of the following elements and shall indicate specific measures
that the employer will take to ensure laboratory employee protection;
(A) Standard operating procedures
relevant to safety and health considerations to be followed when laboratory
work involves the use of hazardous chemicals:
(B) Criteria that the employer will
use to determine and implement control measures to reduce employee exposure to
hazardous chemicals including engineering controls, the use of personal
protective equipment and hygiene practices; particular attention shall be given
to the selection of control measures for chemicals that are known to be
extremely hazardous;
(C) A requirement that fume hoods
comply with Section 5154.1, that all protective equipment shall function
properly and that specific measures shall be taken to ensure proper and
adequate performance of such equipment;
(D) Provisions for employee
information and training as prescribed in subsection 5191(f);
(E) The circumstances under which a
particular laboratory operation, procedure or activity shall require prior
approval from the employer or the employer's designee before implementation;
(F) Provisions for medical
consultation and medical examinations in accordance with subsection 5191(g);
(G) Designation of personnel
responsible for implementation of the Chemical Hygiene Plan including the
assignment of a Chemical Hygiene officer and, if appropriate, establishment of
a Chemical Hygiene Committee; and
(H) Provisions for additional
employee protection for work with particularly hazardous substances. These
include "select carcinogens," reproductive toxins and substances
which have a high degree of acute toxicity. Specific consideration shall be
given to the following provisions which shall be included where appropriate;
1. Establishment of a designated
area;
2. Use of containment devices such as
fume hoods or glove boxes;
3. Procedures for safe removal of
contaminated waste; and
4. Decontamination procedures.
(4) The employer shall review and
evaluate the effectiveness of the Chemical Hygiene Plan at least annually and
update it as necessary.
Note: Appendix A of this section is non-mandatory
but provides guidance to assist employers in the development of the
Chemical Hygiene Plan.
Note:
Employers shall have developed and implemented a written Chemical
Hygiene Plan no later than October 31, 1991
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
MSDS online
http://www.msdsonline.com/
CA Code of Regulations, Titles 1-27
http://www.calregs.com/
CA Laws and Codes
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/calaw.html
CA Dept. of Industrial Relations; Cal/OSHA
http://www.dir.ca.gov/
NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. NIOSH Publication #90-117. U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services. Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health.
Prudent Practices for Handling Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories. National Research Council. National Academy Press, Washington D.C. 1995.
Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary. Revised by N. Sax and R. Lewis. Van Nostran, 1997.