"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.
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:
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:
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:
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.
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.