MSDSs

Chemical and Biological Safety in Laboratories

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Chemical and Biological Safety in Laboratories provides information and guidance to help you conduct your laboratory work safely and in compliance with environmental health and safety regulations and University policy. It is also a useful training resource for principal investigators, other supervisory personnel, safety designates, and laboratory workers. While it primarily addresses work in laboratories, much of the information is applicable to nonlaboratory areas where hazardous chemicals or processes are used.

Chemical and Biological Safety in Laboratories is the University's general chemical hygiene plan, as required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Laboratory Standard. Your facility's Integrated Safety Information System (ISIS) Laboratory Safety Profile is the laboratory-specific portion of the chemical hygiene plan. Safety Profiles are required for all research, research-support, and teaching lab facilities.

This document should be made available to all lab workers and all persons who work with hazardous chemicals and/or biological agents.

Although the information in this document is compiled from sources believed to be reliable, it is not all-encompassing and is intended only to serve as a starting point for good laboratory practice. The laboratory manager or supervisor is responsible for adding laboratory-specific information, for developing and maintaining a safe workplace, and for complying with federal, state, and local laws and University policy.

Whenever used, the word shall indicates required procedures. The word should indicates a recommendation for good practice.

Work with radioactive materials is covered by the Radiation Safety Handbook, which is available from the Office for Research Safety (ORS).

This document has been reviewed by the Chemical and Biological Safety Committee and approved by the vice president for research.

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Last Revision 05/16/2007
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