Osha Laboratory Standard - Implementation Guide

Richard Ennis

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2019
• ISBN:
  9781351426251
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Law
• Subtopic: Environmental Law
• Index: Law

This manual contains four major components: 1) An easy-to-follow discussion of the Standard's requirements, along with a plan for implementing management responsibilities; 2) A fill-in schedule for assigning key responsibilities and establishing deadlines; 3) A copy of the OSHA Lab Standard for easy reference; 4) A Chemical Hygiene Plan that has been developed in accordance with the requirements of paragraph (e) of the Standard.

Part 1

Implementation Plan

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 APPLICABILITY

2.0 ASSIGNMENTS

2.1 Chemical Hygiene Officer

2.2 Chemical Hygiene Committee

3.0 CHEMICAL HYGIENE PLAN

4.0 EXPOSURE MONITORING

4.1 Permissible Exposure Limits

4.2 Employee Exposure Determination, Initial Monitoring

4.3 Periodic Monitoring

4.4 Termination of Monitoring

4.5 Employee Notification of Monitoring Results

5.0 EMPLOYEE EDUCATION AND TRAINING

5.1 Information

5.2 Training

6.0 MEDICAL CONSULTATION

7.0 HAZARD IDENTIFICATION

8.0 RECORDKEEPING SYSTEMS

Implementation Manual

for

OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO HAZARDOUS
CHEMICALS IN LABORATORIES

29 CFR 1910.1450

1.0 APPLICABILITY

The Laboratory Standard applies to all employers engaged in the laboratory use of hazardous chemicals. Laboratory use of hazardous chemicals is defined as the use or handling of chemicals in which all of the following conditions are met:

(a)Chemical manipulations are carried out on a “laboratory scale”. Laboratory scale is defined as work with substances in which the containers used for reactions, transfers, and other handling of substances are designed to be easily and safety manipulated by one person. This definition excludes those workplaces whose function is to produce commercial quantities of materials;

(b)Multiple chemical procedures or chemicals are used;

(c)The procedures involved are not part of a production process, nor in any way simulate a production process; and

(d)“Protective laboratory practices and equipment” are available and in common use to minimize the potential for employee exposure to hazardous chemicals.

This standard does not apply to:

(a)Uses of hazardous chemicals which do not meet the definition of laboratory use, and in such cases, the employer shall comply with the relevant standard in 29 CFR part 1910, subpart Z, even if such use occurs in a laboratory.

(b)Laboratory uses of hazardous chemicals which provide no potential for employee exposure.

Where the standard does apply, it shall supersede, for laboratories, the requirements of all other OSHA health standards in 20 CFR part 1910, subpart Z, except as follows:

(a)For any OSHA health standard, only the requirement to limit employee exposure to the specific permissible exposure limit shall apply for laboratories, unless that particular standard states otherwise or unless the action level (or in the absence of an action level, the PEL) is routinely exceeded.

(b)Prohibition of eye and skin contact where specified by any OSHA health standard shall be observed.

(c)Where the action level (or in the absence of an action level, the PEL) is routinely exceeded for an OSHA regulated substance with exposure monitoring and medical surveillance requirements, the employee exposure monitoring and medical monitoring requirements of this standard shall apply.

Any substance specific standard can require coverage to remain under that standard rather than under the laboratory standard. In the absence of a statement of preemption in a substance specific standard, the determination of whether the laboratory standard applies must be dependent on both “laboratory use” and “laboratory scale” criteria. Where these criteria are met, the laboratory standard applies.

Upon completing the applicability criteria for the standard, complete Item Number 1 on the Implementation Schedule contained in Part II of this manual.

2.0 ASSIGNMENTS

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) has the ultimate responsibility for chemical hygiene throughout the laboratory, and with assistance of other program administrators, must provide continued support for chemical hygiene.

The CEO should assign a Chemical Hygiene Officer (CHO) to provide technical guidance in the development and implementation of appropriate chemical hygiene policies and practices

2.1 Chemical Hygiene Officer

The Chemical Hygiene Officer (CHO) is an employee who is qualified by training or experience, to provide technical guidance for the continuing implementation of the Chemical Hygiene Plan. The CHO should be designated by the employer.

The duties of the CHO are outlined in Section 7.2 of the Chemical Hygiene Plan contained in Part IV of this manual. The designation of the CHO should not be limited by position description or job title within the organizational structure. The designation should be based upon the individuals ability to fulfill the responsibilities of chemical hygiene in the facility. The CHO reports directly to management in this capacity.

2.2 Chemical Hygiene Committee

In large facilities, or facilities with multiple laboratories, the implementation of compliance with this standard may best be accomplished by establishing a Chemical Hygiene Committee.

If a Chemical Hygiene Committee is selected, it should be arranged so that all laboratory workers have maximum access to the committee members.

The Chemical Hygiene Committee should meet on a regular basis. Minutes of these meetings should be presented to management.

Upon completing the assignments of personnel discussed in this section, complete Item Number 2 on the Implementation Schedule contained in Part II of this manual.

3.0 CHEMICAL HYGIENE PLAN

Paragraph (e) of the standard requires empl...