Brief summary of Occupational Exposures to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories Standard

OSHA Laboratory Standard

Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories, also known as the laboratory standard,
was enacted in May 1990 to provide laboratories with specific guidelines for handling hazardous chemicals. This
OSHA standard requires each laboratory that uses hazardous chemicals to have a written chemical hygiene
plan. This plan provides procedures and work practices for regulating and reducing exposure of laboratory
personnel to hazardous chemicals. Hazardous chemicals are those that pose a physical or health hazard from
acute or chronic exposure. Procedures describing how to protect employees against teratogens (substances that
affect cellular development in a fetus or embryo), carcinogens, and other toxic chemicals must be described in
the plan. Training in use of hazardous chemicals to include recognition of signs and symptoms of exposure,
location of MSDS(Material Safety Data Sheet), a chemical hygiene plan, and how to protect themselves against
hazardous chemicals must be provided to all employees. A chemical hygiene officer must be designated for any
laboratory using hazardous chemicals. The protocol must be reviewed annually and updated when regulations
are modified or chemical inventory changes. Remember that practicing consistent and thorough hand washing is
an essential component of preventative chemical hygiene.

Researchers: ABELON, Glydell A.

APOSTOL, Ronniela F.
Reference: Bishop,M., Fody,E., Schoeff, L.(2010) Clinical chemistry: techniques, principles, correlations, 6th Ed.
Baltimore: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.