Particularly Hazardous Substances

OSHA’s Lab Standard (29 CFR 1910.1450) defines particularly hazardous substances as including select carcinogens, reproductive toxins, and chemicals with high acute toxicity. The OSHA Lab Standard also requires provisions for additional employee protection be included in the laboratory’s specific Chemical Hygiene Plan for all work involving PHS. This means 1) maintaining written SOPs, 2) maintain an accurate inventory of all PHS in the lab. Best practices for storage of PHS includes storage under lock and key with access to documented authorized personnel only, 3) Establishment of a designated area and use of containment devices such as fume hoods or glove boxes, 4) Establishment of procedures for safe removal of contaminated waste.

 Signage for use of laboratories with procedures with these chemicals can be found  HERE

The University of Kentucky has identified additional laboratory chemicals with reactive, explosive or other high‐risk physical characteristics that are considered as having the same requirements as OSHA defined PHS for the purposes of UK’s chemical safety programming. These chemicals are addressed specifically in the UK institutional Chemical Hygiene Plan in Section 11. 4 Corrosives and 11.6 Explosive and Reactive Chemicals, and 11.9 Nanomaterials.

All use of “PHS” at the University of Kentucky requires approval from the PI/Laboratory Supervisor, have documented training on safe use and a written SOP maintained in the lab specific Chemical Hygiene Plan. For assistance with lab‐specific SOP development for the use of the materials in this section of the UK institutional Chemical Hygiene Plan, please contact labsafety@uky.edu .

Determination of whether a chemical in use is considered a PHS by UK Research Safety can be made by consulting the manufacturer’s SDS for the chemical in question, or by searching for the chemical’s CAS number at NIH PubChem website. If a chemical possesses any of the following GHS or other listed categorizations or lists any of the Hazard Statements, or other statements shown below, it is considered a Particularly Hazardous Substance.

• GHS Carcinogenicity Category 1A, 1B, or IARC Group 1, or NTP “Known to be Human Carcinogens” or OSHA‐listed carcinogens.
• GHS Category 2 AND IARC Group 2 (A or B), AND NTP “Reasonably Anticipated to be Human Carcinogens”
• H350 May cause cancer.
• H351 Suspected of causing cancer, Carcinogenicity.

• GHS Reproductive Toxicity Category 1A or 1B
• GHS Germ Cell Mutagenicity Category 1, 1A, B
• H340 May cause genetic defects.
• H360 May damage fertility or the unborn child
• H362 May cause harm to breast‐fed children.

• H310, Fatal in contact with skin
• H330, Fatal if inhaled.
• GHS Specific Target Organ Toxicity, Single Exposure Category 1
• H370, Causes damage to organs.

• GHS Skin or Respiratory Sensitizer Category 1, 1A, or 1B
• H317 May cause an allergic skin reaction.
• H334 May cause allergy or asthma symptoms or breathing difficulties if inhaled.
• “Corrosive to the respiratory tract"

• Pyrophoric Liquids and Solids Category 1 or 2
• H250 Catches fire spontaneously if exposed to air.
• Self‐heating substances and mixtures Category 1
• H251 Self‐heating;may catch fire.
• Substances and mixtures which in contact with water, emit flammable gases Category 1 or 2
• H260 In contact with water releases flammable gases which may ignite spontaneously.
• H261 In contact with water releases flammable gas
• Explosives—Unstable or Divisions 1.1‐1.3
• Explosive when dry, or Explosive with or without air contact
• EUH029 “Contact with water liberates toxic gas”
• EUH032 “Contact with acids liberates very toxic gas”
• GHS Oxidizing Gas, Liquid, or Solid Category 1
• Self‐reactive or Organic peroxides—Type A or B
• “Reacts violently with water”
• “Strong Hydrogen Fluoride releaser”
• Corrosive to Metals, Category 1