| Regulatory Agencies Occupational Safety & Health Administration Employers must provide employees with a safe and healthful working environment as required by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Laboratories are no exception! Many OSHA standards apply to your daily laboratory operations. OSHA regulates many aspects of laboratory safety, for example: • Ventilation • Hazardous materials • Personal protective equipment • Medical and first aid • Electrical • Toxic and hazardous substances. OSHA's Laboratory Standard ( 29 CFR 1910.1450 ) requires continued compliance with PELs. Each employer of laboratory personnel must develop a written chemical hygiene plan. The plan must address employee information and training, appropriate work practices, standard operating procedures, methods of control, maintenance and use of protective equipment, medical examinations, and special precautions for work with particularly hazardous substances. Also, the plan must designate a chemical hygiene officer. Employers must provide employee information and training covering, at a minimum, the chemical hygiene plan, PELs and other relevant recommended exposure limits, signs and symptoms associated with exposure, availability of material safety data sheets (MSDSs) and other reference material, protective measures to prevent exposure, detection of chemicals, and engineering controls. Employers must offer medical attention to any laboratory personnel signs or symptoms associated with chemical use in the laboratory or any personnel exposed above the action level or PEL. Employers must develop and implement control measures to reduce employee exposure to hazardous chemicals in the laboratory. Employers must make certain that containers of hazardous chemicals are labeled. Employers must maintain records of exposure monitoring, medical consultations and examinations. |
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