Standard Operating Procedures

The OSHA Lab Standard requires documented standard operating procedures for laboratory use of hazardous chemicals.  

"Laboratory use of hazardous chemicals", as defined by these regulations [29 CFR 1910.1450 (b)] means handling or use of such chemicals in which all of the following conditions are met:

(i) Chemical manipulations are carried out on a "laboratory scale;"

(ii) Multiple chemical procedures or chemicals are used;

(iii) The procedures involved are not part of a production process, nor in any way simulate a production process; and

(iv) "Protective laboratory practices and equipment" are available and in common use to minimize the potential for employee exposure to hazardous chemicals.

Individual administrative units, laboratories, or research groups must develop documented, detailed procedures for experimentation and reactions with hazardous chemicals. These procedures must be added to the laboratory's CHP, and made available to all laboratory personnel. SOPs may be created for a single chemical, a class of chemicals or for a process involving multiple chemicals 

 Q: My lab already has a written experimental protocol.  Can I just take this document and incorporate the safety information? 

 A: Yes!  This is perfectly acceptable if the required information below is included.  

No single format for a lab SOP is required, but to be considered valid, SOP must include: 

1) Lab-specific information: 

•       Principal Investigator name 
•       Laboratory Supervisor name, if applicable. 
•       Building:  
•       Room(s)  
•       Designated work area   
•       Principal Investigator signature and date of finalization or revision.  
•       Departmental or PI approval date, if approval is required for this process or the use of the chemical. 

2) Hazard identification: 

Describe the circumstances of use for the hazardous chemical, including how any stock solutions and/or working solutions are prepared.  If the SOP is for a process, describe each hazardous chemical that is used in the process.  At minimum, describe the following for each chemical:  

•      Concentration- Describe the preparatory steps for the needed concentration and/or how the chemical is obtained (e.g. product # 1234, purchased from Sigma-Aldrich) in needed concentration.  
•      Quantity-Amount needed for individual experiments.   
•      Frequency-Detail frequency of use for each chemical.  
•      Location-Indicate use on benchtop, in chemical fume hood, a dedicated location in the lab, etc.  

3) Hazard control: 

Describe the potential hazards and risks of the hazardous chemicals in use for the procedure(s) described in the SOP and/or the procedures performed with them.  What are the inherent hazards and associated risk with using the chemical?  Describe the route of a potential exposure (e.g. inhalation, dermal, etc.) and when/how would an exposure occur (e.g. inhalation of gases/vapors, while weighing and mixing, etc.) during the procedure(s) described in the SOP.  Consider “worst-case scenarios” when describing the hazards and risk associated with the chemical; how can the risk be minimized?  SOPs must also specify: 

• Engineering controls:  Are engineering controls necessary for the chemical(s)?  Will be the chemical(s) be handled in chemical fume hood, glove box, biological safety cabinet, or other?  Is an eyewash or a safety shower required for the chemical? Please note: In general, chemicals classified as Particularly Hazardous Substances as well as other hazardous chemicals that may be aerosolized, in powder form, concentrated, or are volatile require the use of a chemical fume hood. 
• Administrative Controls:  Explain the work practices used to perform procedures safely. For instance, are there special handling or equipment requirements?  Are there any chemical-specific first aid treatments (i.e. calcium gluconate for use of HF)?  Describe additional safe work practices, such as keeping containers closed, working away from open flames, etc. Describe how will the work surface and other items be cleaned or decontaminated after use (required for chemicals that are considered Particularly Hazardous Substances). 
• Personal Protective Equipment: Describe PPE requirements for each task involving the chemical.  How often will PPE be changed?  Are there specialized or very-specific PPE requirements (e.g. respirators, flame-resistant lab coats, etc.) for safe use?   Please note: Respirator use requires employee participation in the Respiratory Protection Program, which involves medical clearance, annual fit testing, and training. Laboratories with procedures or materials requiring the use of a respirator are to fill out the Respiratory Hazard Assessment form. 
• Stepwise instruction: Describe the overall process for safely conducting the procedure. 
• Storage and/or transportation of the chemical(s) used: Describe how and where the chemical should be stored.  Describe how the chemical is transported inside or outside of the laboratory.  Include any needed details about chemical incompatibilities, and storage in specific locations such as flammables cabinets, flammables refrigerators, or gloveboxes. If transporting outside of the laboratory, describe the requirement of the use of a rigid-sided, secure-lidded secondary container and use of the freight elevator instead of the public elevator if needed. 

4) Instructions for exposure, emergencies, and spill procedures: 

Describe how employees should handle a chemical-specific emergency or chemical spill. At the University of Kentucky, “large” spills of volatile or powdered hazardous materials and all mercury spills must be referred to the Environmental Quality Management Department using the following guidance:  

Leave the area and notify others not to enter. Report the spill to the UK Environmental Quality Management Department (EQMD)at (859) 323-6280 (M-F 8am-5pm) or after hours by dialing 911 from any on-campus phone or by contacting the UK Police at (859) 257-UKPD (8573). 

Researchers may also contact EQMD at (859) 323-6280 for guidance on whether or not they can safely clean up a spill themselves.  Otherwise, consult the manufacturer’s SDS of the specific chemical(s) in use for spill instructions and compatibilities for the chemical(s).  Be aware of any materials such as paper towels or water that could be incompatible with your spilled chemical!  

All waste from cleaning up hazardous chemical spills (including contaminated PPE) must be treated as hazardous waste.  

Other considerations for additional information to be added: 

•      Stoppage of work and leaving the immediate area for inhalation hazard concerns.   
•      Removal of contaminated clothing and/or PPE.   
•      Flushing with emergency eyewashes and/or drench hoses for eye/skin contact.  
•      Changing contaminated gloves.  
•      Contacting Worker’s Care in the event of exposure 
•      For severe emergency or injury, call 911 or proceed to the UK Chandler Hospital Emergency Department 

5) Instructions for proper disposal of chemical or experimental waste 

Hazardous chemicals are not allowed to be disposed of via the sanitary sewer drain and must be picked up by EQMD by initiating the waste ticketing process in E-trax. 

6) Personnel Training 

All laboratory personnel performing the operations described in the SOP must be properly trained on its contents.  It is the PI and Lab Supervisor’s responsibility to document that personnel working in the laboratory have understood the content of the SOP and any other training on laboratory materials and procedures. 

To assist in the laboratory's documentation of SOPs, the following form is available for use, and is accessible using UK Linkblue login credentials:

SOP Fillable Template

A variety of chemical specific templates may also be accessed using the menu panel to the right or by navigating  HERE.

If further assistance is required, please email labsafety@uky.edu

In all situations, individual faculty or staff are responsible for monitoring and enforcing adequate safety and hygiene measures in laboratories they supervise.  Further guidance and training materials are available at researchsafety.uky.edu.