Chemical Laboratory Safety

Session #6

This session requires that you prepare a Chemical Hygiene Plan for your school, specifically designed for your classroom. You will be required to submit a section of your plan. Other students in your session will be required to evaluate and comment on your Chemical Hygiene Plan.

You should prepare this hygiene plan as if you were the head of your department. I.E. your boss and you get to make the decisions. While your school won’t necessarily incorporate this plan it is a great exercise to understand safety issues. The following are excellent items to have in your plan.¹

A) General Procedures

B) Specific Laboratory Procedures

C) Housekeeping Procedures

D) Acquisition of Chemicals

a. Minimize Volume

b. How

c. Donated Chemical Policy

d. Chemical List

E) Chemical Storage

a. Where

b. Hazard information

c. Compatibility

d. Glass bottles

F) Compressed gas procedures

G) Maintenance of MSDS Sheets

a. Where

b. Use policy etc.

H) Emergency and Safety Facilities and Equipment

I) Fume Hoods

J) Ventilation

K) Flammable Liquid Storage

L) Electrical Safety Policy

M) Training for faculty and students

N) Prior Approval of Dangerous Experiments

O) Medical Consultation/Examination Procedure

a. Students

b. Faculty

P) School District Responsibility

a. Principal

b. Chemical Hygiene Officer

Q) Dangerous Chemicals

a. Highly Toxic Chemicals

b. Highly Flammable Chemicals

c. Highly Corrosive Chemicals

d. Reproductive Toxins

e. Select Carcinogens

1) Adapted from “Model Hygiene Plan”by Brian J. Wazlaw, 2000