About Chemical Hygiene

About Chemical Hygiene

• What is Chemical Hygiene?

  Hygiene implies conditions or practices conducive to maintaining health and preventing disease. Thus “Chemical Hygiene” relates to maintaining health and preventing disease by setting up and operating the laboratory environment to minimize exposure to harmful chemicals.

• What is a Chemical Hygiene Plan?

  This is a written program developed and implemented by the employer which sets forth procedures, equipment, personal protective equipment and work practices that

  • Are capable of protecting employees from the health hazards presented by hazardous chemicals used in that particular workplace, and
  • Meet the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA's) standard on Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories.

  Duke has a general  Chemical Hygiene Plan, which is in Section 3 of the Laboratory Safety Manual. Each laboratory must also have a Laboratory-Specific Chemical Hygiene Plan (Lab-specific CHP) to document procedures specific to each lab.

• When is a Chemical Hygiene Plan required?

  A Chemical Hygiene Plan is required by OSHA for laboratories working with hazardous chemicals on a “laboratory scale” (small quantities and not part of a production process).

  If a lab uses just one chemical, or uses chemicals in production-type processes, the lab would instead need to comply with the requirements of the Hazard Communication Standard and create a written certification of hazard assessment for any needed personal protective equipment.