Environmental Health and Safety
The Laboratory Chemical Hygiene Plan outlines the workplace safety and health measures for the safe use, storage, and disposal of hazardous chemicals in the laboratory. It is written to meet the specific safety and health requirements outlined in the OSHA federal regulation 29 CFR 1910.1450, Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories. These measures are considered best practices for use of all chemicals, whether classified as hazardous or non-hazardous. The Plan applies to all employees of Union College who use hazardous chemicals in a laboratory.
To ensure that information about the dangers of all hazardous chemicals used by Union College is known by all affected employees, the following hazard communication program has been implemented. Under this program, employees will be informed of the requirements of the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (HCS), the operations where exposure to hazardous chemicals may occur, and how employees can access this program, as well as chemical labels and Safety Data Sheets (SDSs).
Laboratory Safety Course on Nexus
All students and new faculty who will be working with chemicals in a laboratory course for the current academic year are required to take a Laboratory Safety Course (In order to complete the Laboratory safety course, contact ehs@union.edu to request enrollment). This course is required once per academic year. Upper-level students may also be required to review safety videos pertinent to their courses and/or research.
- The American Chemical Society also offers an online safety course for students who are ACS members.
- If you are currently working with hazardous chemicals, use the Chemical Inventory platform (CEMS) to access Safety Data Sheets to review potential hazards and required controls, or to request a hazardous waste pickup.
Resource Links
Safety Data Sheet (SDS) Database
Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) Form
Hazard Assessment for Laboratories
Compatible Chemical Storage Guidelines
Compatible Chemical Storage Guidelines part 2