Laboratory Safety Program

The University believes it is prudent to minimize all chemical exposures. It is the University's intention to improve the health and safety of students, employees and the public by providing guidance regarding the safe handling of chemicals that are present in the laboratory. The Chemical Hygiene Plan applies to all laboratories at Saint Joseph ’s University.

• "Laboratory" means a facility, using relatively small quantities of hazardous chemicals on a non-production basis. "Dry" laboratories such as computer labs are not covered by this policy.
• "Chemical Hygiene Plan" (CHP) is a written program setting forth procedures, equipment, and work practices to protect students and employees from the health hazards associated with laboratory work.
• "Standard Operating Procedures" (SOPs) and "Fact Sheets" are documents that outline the minimum mandatory practices that University personnel must follow in order to safely work with a specific class of chemicals or type of hazard in the laboratory.
• “OSHA", the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, is a federal agency under the Department of Labor that publishes and enforces safety and health regulations.
• Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in the Laboratory is an OSHA standard (29 CFR 1910.1450) that regulates laboratory workers engaged in non-manufacturing related work.

• The Department of Health, Safety, and Environment and the University Chemical Hygiene Officer will revise the CHP as necessary.
• Department chairpersons are responsible for establishing and maintaining compliance with the CHP and for delegating this responsibility.
• Individual laboratory workers are responsible for planning and conducting each operation in accordance with the procedures outlined in CHP, wearing appropriate personal protective equipment, developing good laboratory hygiene habits and reporting unsafe acts or conditions to their supervisor or the Department of Health, Safety, and Environment
• The Department of Health, Safety, and Environment and the University Chemical Hygiene Officer are responsible for working with faculty, staff, students, and others to develop and implement appropriate chemical hygiene practices and procedures. To accomplish this:

• Training is provided by University Chemical Hygiene Officer.
• Lab inspections are conducted by the Departments and the University Chemical Hygiene Officer.
• Chemical waste is handled in accordance with the University Hazardous Waste Manual Drain disposal of hazardous chemicals is not permitted.
• Infectious waste is handled in accordance with the University biological and infectious waste procedures

• Saint Joseph’s University Chemical Hygiene Plan
• Saint Joseph’s University Hazardous Waste Manual
• Prudent Practices in the Laboratory, National Research Council. ISBN 0-309-05229-7