West Virginia University Laboratory Training Module 1. OSHA Laboratory Standard

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West Virginia UniversityLaboratory Training
Module 1. OSHA Laboratory Standard
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OSHA Laboratory Standard

• This standard requires employers to maintain a
  safe working environment for laboratory workers

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The Laboratory Standard Requires Every Laboratory
To

1. Develop A Chemical Hygiene Plan
2. Designate A Chemical Hygiene Officer
3. Provide Employee Information Training
4. Provide Medical Consultation
5. Conduct Record Keeping
6. Monitoring-Exposure Level Determination
7. Identify Hazards
8. Monitor Permissible Exposure Limits
9. Where Necessary Use Respirators

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1. Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP)

• A written plan that describes how exposure to
  hazardous chemicals will be reduced in the
  laboratory.
• Refer to it any time you have a question about
  your lab or need to review particular
  information!

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Required elements of the CHP

• Criteria for reducing employee exposure to
  hazardous chemicals.
• Use of personal protective equipment.
• ensure fume hoods and other protective equipment
  are functioning properly.
• Provisions for employee training.

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Required elements continued

• Circumstances requiring employer approval of
  certain laboratory operations, procedures, or
  activities before implementation.
• Provisions for medical consultation.
• Measures to protect employees from particularly
  hazardous substances.
• Assignment of a Chemical Hygiene Officer.

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2. Chemical Hygiene Officer

• Develops and implements appropriate chemical
  hygiene policies and practices.
• Conducts monthly checks of safety equipment
• Ensures that laboratory users are educated on all
  elements of the chemical hygiene plan.
• The CHO will be available to answer any questions
  the laboratory users might have.

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3. Provide Employee Information Training

• Laboratory users are required to receive
  information and training concerning the hazards
  that they will encounter in the laboratory prior
  to engaging in laboratory work.

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What information is required?

• The contents of the Laboratory Standard shall be
  made available to employees
• The location and availability of the employer's
  Chemical Hygiene Plan
• The permissible exposure limits

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What information is required?

• Signs and symptoms associated with exposures to
  hazardous chemicals used in the laboratory
• MSDS

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What training is required?

• Methods and observations that may be used to
  detect the presence or release of a hazardous
  chemical
• The physical and health hazards of chemicals in
  the work area

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What training is required?

• Measures employees shall take to protect
  themselves from hazards.
• The employee shall be trained on the applicable
  details of the laboratory's written Chemical
  Hygiene Plan.

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4. Medical Consultations

• The employer shall provide all employees who work
  with hazardous chemicals an opportunity to
  receive medical consultations

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The employer shall provide the following
information to the physician

• The identity of the hazardous chemical(s) to
  which the employee may have been exposed
• A description of the conditions under which the
  exposure occurred

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What will a medical consultation cost the
employee?

• All medical examinations shall be provided
  without cost to the employee, without loss of pay
  and at a reasonable time and place

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5. Recordkeeping.

• The employer shall establish and maintain for
  each employee an accurate record of any
  measurements taken to monitor employee exposures
  and medical consultations

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6. Monitoring-Exposure Level Determination

• Initial monitoring. The employer shall measure
  the employee's exposure to any substance if there
  is reason to believe that exposure levels for
  that substance routinely exceed the action level
  (or in the absence of an action level, the PEL).
  
• Periodic monitoring. Periodic monitoring must be
  conducted if initial monitoring finds that a
  hazardous exposure has occurred.

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Monitoring-Exposure Level Determination

• Termination of monitoring. Monitoring may be
  terminated when PELs or action levels are
  maintained at an acceptable level
• Employee notification of monitoring results. The
  employer shall, within 15 working days after the
  receipt of any monitoring results, notify the
  employee of these results.

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7. Hazard Identification

• labels on incoming containers of hazardous
  chemicals shall not be removed or defaced.
• Material safety data sheets must be maintained
  with incoming shipments of hazardous chemicals.

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The following provisions shall apply to chemical
substances developed in the laboratory

• If the composition of the chemical substance
  which is produced exclusively for the
  laboratory's use is known, the employer shall
  determine if it is a hazardous chemical

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The following provisions shall apply to chemical
substances developed in the laboratory

• If the chemical is determined to be hazardous,
  the employer shall provide appropriate training
  for the substance.

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8. Permissible Exposure Limits

• The employer shall assure that laboratory
  employees' exposures to hazardous substances do
  not exceed the permissible exposure limits

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9. Respirators

• Where the use of respirators is necessary to
  maintain exposure below permissible exposure
  limits, the employer shall provide, at no cost to
  the employee, the proper respiratory equipment.
• Prior to using any respirator you must first be
  medically monitored, fit tested and trained.