For Principal Investigators

This training is being offered to research laboratories only. UKHC clinical laboratories are not included at this time.

For labs with storage and use of hazardous chemicals, the title of Chemical Hygiene Officer is defined by the OSHA Laboratory Standard (29 CFR 1910.1450) as:

A Chemical Hygiene Officer (CHO) is an individual designated by an employer to provide technical guidance on chemical safety within a laboratory setting. This person is crucial for implementing and maintaining the laboratory’s Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP), ensuring the safety of laboratory personnel from hazardous chemicals. The key responsibilities of the lab’s CHO are:

• Developing and implementing the lab’s Chemical Hygiene Plan
• Conducting laboratory safety training, ensuring personnel understand the hazards of chemicals they work with and how to handle them safely.
• Conducting Hazard assessment and implementing control of hazards
• Incident reporting and follow-up
• Ensuring the lab complies with federal, state, local and university requirements
• Conducting periodic inspections of the laboratory, safety equipment and chemical storage to ensure all is in good order
• Serving as a point of contact for the lab

At the University of Kentucky, any research laboratory with storage or utilization of hazardous chemicals must specify the lab's CHO in their laboratory-specific Chemical Hygiene Plan.