The intent of The University of Iowa Chemical Hygiene Plan (UI CHP), is to protect employees from chemical health hazards (maintain exposure to hazardous chemicals at the lowest practical level) and to comply with the OSHA Standard for Occupational Exposures to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories, Title 29 Code of Federal Regulations 1910.1450.
This UI CHP contains policies, procedures, and work practices necessary to protect personnel working in laboratories. The plan has been developed based on best laboratory practices identified in various sources but most notably in “Prudent Practices for Handling Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories,” published by the National Research Council, 2011. It is not intended to be all-inclusive. It cannot address specific chemical handling procedures for all chemicals but describes general protective guidelines for working with hazardous chemicals or categories of chemicals in laboratories.
The UI CHP must be readily available to employees. The most current version of this document is available from the Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) web site. Laboratory supervisors must assure this is accessible during all lab work hours.
Laboratories that use chemicals with particularly hazardous characteristics may need to develop specific guidelines and procedures, approved by the Principal Investigator/Laboratory Supervisor, to supplement this general plan.
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