Each individual conducting chemical reactions, using chemical materials, or performing laboratory procedures is required to have proper training in the safe handling and disposal of all materials he or she uses. Each is responsible for conducting activities in a manner that will not endanger himself or herself and each must comply with the applicable requirements of state and federal law as well as with University policies and procedures described in this manual. Oversight responsibility for ensuring that laboratory activities involving hazardous chemicals conform to prescribed standards is assigned as follows:

UNIVERSITY-WIDE SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES

The President of The University has ultimate responsibility for safety within the institution.

Environmental Health and Safety

• Provide training to laboratory supervisory personnel.
• Conduct periodic and unannounced laboratory inspections to assure compliance with federal, state and local regulations, as well as the policies and procedures contained in this manual and those contained in any supplementary information developed in the college in response to specific activities or areas of research.
• Undertake necessary enforcement actions to insure full compliance with all institutional safety policies, up to and including independent authority to shut down laboratories for violations of these policies. Approval of the Dean is not required.
• Provide hazardous waste disposal services.
• Provide hazardous material spill response services. The Emergency Response Team is available on campus during normal business hours and responds to after-hours spill emergencies on a call back basis.
• Review laboratory construction, modification and renovation plans safety design.
• Conduct fume hood survey and testing.
• Perform exposure monitoring upon request to determine if the permissible exposure limit or action level has been exceeded. Notification shall be provided to laboratory supervisor.
• Provide guidance for maintaining compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, as well as the procedures stated in this manual
• Conduct laboratory safety evaluations when requested by laboratory supervisors or department chairs.
• Provide assistance in obtaining personal protective equipment.
• Maintain copies of medical consultations and examinations for possible exposures from hazardous chemicals.

Physical Plant and Utilities

• Maintain facilities and facility-related safety systems to assure continuous operation of laboratories

COLLEGE SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES

Dean

• Has the responsibility to insure the safe operation of all laboratories and other sites in the college where chemicals are used or laboratory procedures are conducted.
• Will insure compliance with the policies and procedures contained in this manual and those contained in any supplementary information developed in the college in response to specific activities or areas of research.
• Has independent enforcement authority to close a laboratory for safety violations. Approval of the Director of EH&S is not required.
• Appoint and delegate appropriate enforcement authority, if appropriate, to a College-wide Chemical Hygiene Officer (CHO) and/or authorize individual Department Chairs and Directors to appoint and delegate appropriate enforcement authority to Departmental Chemical Hygiene Officers. The Dean will maintain a current roster of all CHOs and provide the names of these individuals to EH&S.

Department Chairs and Directors

• Oversee chemical and biological hygiene within departmental laboratories by ensuring that supervisory personnel reporting to them assume their responsibilities for adhering to all safety policies, regulations and procedures.
• Complete and update annual inventories of hazardous chemicals as required by the Texas Hazard Communication Act and The University's Hazard Communication Program (see Appendix XV).
• If authorized by the dean, appoint and transfer appropriate enforcement authority to a Departmental Chemical Hygiene Officer (CHO). The Department Chair or Director assumes all the responsibilities of the CHO when there is not a specified Chemical Hygiene Officer.

Chemical Hygiene Officer

• Advise the Dean, Department Chair, or Director on matters of chemical safety policies and practices.
• Work with employees to develop and implement the chemical hygiene policies and practices outlined in this manual and those contained in any supplementary information developed in the college in response to specific activities or areas of research.
• Monitor compliance with policies and procedures for the procurement, safe use, and proper disposal of chemicals.
• Investigate and retain records of accidents involving hazardous materials.
• Conduct information and general training sessions.
• Maintain a resource file of references and publications on safety matters.
• Assist laboratory supervisors and Principal Investigators in writing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) pertinent to their needs.
• Ensure that action is taken to correct laboratory practices and conditions that may result in the release of hazardous materials.
• Ensure that action is taken to correct laboratory practices and conditions identified as unacceptable on laboratory safety self evaluations and safety inspections.

Principal Investigators and Laboratory Supervisors

• Design and conduct laboratory processes and operations to assure that employee exposure to risk conforms to the policies, procedures and objectives contained in this manual and those contained in any supplementary information developed in the college in response to specific activities or areas of research.
• Monitor the procurement, safe use, and proper disposal of chemicals.
• Write Standard Operating Procedures and other information relevant to lab processes in their specific areas as needed to supplement those contained in this manual.
• Instruct employees on the contents of this manual, its appendices, and any supplements, and the location of the manual and related materials within the workplace.
• Take all reasonable precautions to protect the safety and health of laboratory workers and the environment.
• Schedule services for hazardous waste disposal and oversee the handling of hazardous waste pending proper disposal.
• Conduct regular laboratory safety self evaluations.
• Complete and update annual laboratory chemical inventories in accord with the instructions and schedule provided by Environmental Health and Safety
• Maintain and post a laboratory inventory sign outside of each work area. (See Appendix III, Hazardous Chemical Inventory Instruction Sheet.)
• Inform employees of the permissible exposure limits for the hazardous chemicals listed on inventories and the signs and symptoms associated with exposures to these chemicals.
• Provide site specific training on laboratory hazards as described in The University's Hazard Communication Program (see Appendix XV).
• Obtain pre-approval from the Departmental CHO and provide training and documentation for special procedures, activities or operations.
• Determine the required levels of personal protective equipment, fire extinguishers, fume hoods, flammable liquid storage cabinets, biological safety cabinets, eye washes, safety showers, and spill cleanup kits. Assure that all required equipment is available and in working order and that appropriate training for each item has been provided.
• Have readily available a current copy of a Material Safety Data Sheet for all hazardous chemicals in the laboratory.
• Post emergency telephone numbers on the outside of each laboratory door and by all telephones in the area.
• Report to EH&S if there is reason to believe that exposure levels for a hazardous chemical exceed the action level or the permissible exposure limits and document the incident.
• Forward documentation on laboratory accidents and exposures to EH&S.
• Provide for the safety of visitors.

Employees

• Maintain a thorough understanding of and follow the laboratory policies and procedures in this manual and those contained in any supplementary information developed in the college in response to specific activities or areas of research for all processes using chemical materials.
• Use and maintain personal protective equipment (i.e. lab coats, chemical splash goggles, face shields, respiratory protection, and gloves) as mandated in this manual for laboratories.
• Use flammable liquid storage cabinets, acid storage cabinets, biological safety cabinets, fume hoods, and other laboratory safety equipment provided.
• Inform supervisor immediately of any laboratory safety equipment that is needed but not available or that is not in good working order.
• Inform supervisor immediately of exposure symptoms, accidents, or chemical releases and document incident.
• Attend Hazard Communication Act and all other applicable training sessions.

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The University of Texas at Austin

Chemical Hygiene Officer

College/Department Name:

Chemical Hygiene Officer (CHO) Name:

CHO Address: Building: __________ Room:

Phone Number:_______ Campus Mail Code:

Each college and/or department and organized research unit that has laboratories using hazardous chemicals and/or biological agents must designate a Chemical Hygiene Officer (CHO) to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the CHO described in the Laboratory Safety Manual.

The individual identified above has been appointed CHO and has accepted the responsibilities and duties associated with this appointment.

Appointing official: Chemical Hygiene Officer:

______________________________________

Dean, Department Chair, or ORU Director Signature

Date Date

A copy of this form shall be:

placed in the appropriate LABORATORY SAFETY MANUALS,
retained in the Dean's Office and by the Department Chair or ORU Director, and

submitted to Environmental Health and Safety, Hazardous Materials Division, C2600.