Roles and Responsibilities

Laboratory Worker

• Attend laboratory safety training.
• Review the Chemical Hygiene Plan and the Laboratory Safety Manual
• Follow procedures and laboratory practices outlined in the Chemical Hygiene Plan and Laboratory Safety Manual and as provided by supervisors and principal investigators.
• Use engineering controls and personal protective equipment, as appropriate.
• Report all incidents, accidents, potential chemical exposures and near miss situations to the principal investigator and the Chemical Hygiene Officer.
• Document specific operating procedures for work with particularly hazardous substances, including carcinogens, reproductive toxins and chemicals with high acute toxicity.

Principal Investigators

• Ensure laboratory workers attend general training given by EHS.
• Ensure laboratory workers understand how to work with chemicals safely. Provide chemical and procedure-specific training, as needed.
• Provide laboratory workers with appropriate engineering controls and personal protective equipment needed to work safely with hazardous materials. Ensure such equipment is used correctly.
• Ensure laboratory workers complete and submit Particularly Hazardous Substance Use Approval forms and submit them for approval before using any particularly hazardous substance.
• Review and approve work with particularly hazardous substances.

Departmental Chemical Hygiene Officer

• Establish and implement a Chemical Hygiene Plan.
• Review and update the Chemical Hygiene Plan at least annually.
• Investigate accidents and chemical exposures within the department.
• Act as a liaison between the department and EHS for laboratory safety issues.
• Maintain records of training, exposure monitoring and medical examinations.
• Ensure laboratory workers receive chemical and procedure-specific training.
• Review and approve use of particularly hazardous substances.
• Approve laboratory worker's return to work following a chemical exposure requiring medical consultation.

Environmental Health and Safety (EHS)

• Conduct exposure monitoring, as needed.
• Provide general training.
• Audit the departmental program periodically.
• Provide safe working guidelines for laboratory workers through the EHS web page.
• Review the model Chemical Hygiene Plan at least annually
• Inspect fume hoods annually
• Provide consultation for safe work practices for hazardous chemicals
• Conduct limited laboratory safety inspections annually
• Develop and maintain the Laboratory Safety Manual