Chemical Hygiene Plan

Front Matter

Helpful Links and Documents

EHS Resources

Barcode Request Form(The fillable form cannot be opened in a web browser. Download the
form to your computer and open using Adobe Acrobat Pro to complete and save).

Barcode Return Form

Chemical Inventory (SafetyStratus)

Chemical Transfer Form(The fillable form cannot be opened in a web browser. Download the
form to your computer and open using Adobe Acrobat Pro to complete and save).

ChemWatch – SDS database, label printing

Equipment Decontamination Form

Occupational Health Program (Select the Scholarly OHP Enrollment Form if you work in an academic environment)

Chemical Hygiene Plan Guiding Documents

29 CFR 1910.1450 (Occupational exposure to hazardous chemicals in laboratories)

29 CFR 1910, subpart Z (Toxic and Hazardous Substances)

40 CFR 262 (Standards Applicable to Generators of Hazardous Waste)

49 CFR 100-185 (DOT Hazardous Materials Regulations)Carcinogen List

NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards

Prudent Practices in the Laboratory

Recent Changes

October 2026

Section A10 of CHP covers Physical Hazards add new sections for compressed gases and cryogenic liquids/dewars as A10.5 and A10.6
*Remove policy A10.4.3 (Proper gas cylinder handling and operation is required (see Appendix AD).) and rename subsequent policies in this section to fix numbering scheme. Rename Appendix AD as “Compressed Gases Guides”
Changed section A17.4.4 and all subsequent policies

A1 Purpose of this Plan

Purpose of this Plan

It is the desire of Texas Tech University to set forth policies, procedures, and work practices capable of informing employees of physical and chemical health hazards associated with chemicals in "work and storage spaces" as defined by 29 CFR 1910.1450 - Occupational Exposures to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories, and to train employees to maintain exposures below the limits prescribed in 29 CFR 1910, subpart Z. This document is designed to comply with the requirements and intent of 29 CFR 1910.1450 and employee "right-to-know" legislation.

TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY

It is the policy of Texas Tech University to conduct all educational, research, and campus activities safely and in a manner that protects the health of employees, students, and the public.

Each administrator must be committed to the enforcement of the health and safety policies of the University and to implement appropriate safety practices within his or her area of responsibility.

All faculty members and others involved in instructional and/or research programs are responsible for seeing that the students in their courses and laboratories are properly trained and educated about applicable safety and health safety policies and practices prior to exposure to instructional or research hazards.

Each employee and student is entitled to have access to information about the University’s health and safety policies and practices and is responsible for knowing and adhering to health and safety policies and practices as they are applicable to the instruction, research, and work settings in which he or she participates.

Each employee is responsible for maintaining a safe work place. Employees have a continuing responsibility to develop and follow practices that achieve these goals.

Each employee who manages or supervises the work of others is additionally responsible for ensuring that employees and students for whom they are responsible are properly trained and educated about safety and health practices.

Every guest, vendor, media personnel or contractor present on the University is expected to adhere to the health and safety policies of the University while on campus. TTU personnel who contract with invited individual(s) or oversee a work area are responsible for informing outside vendors of policies.

All University-related facilities, activities and programs shall be designed, conducted, and operated in a manner which reasonably protects human health and safety. Adherence to these principles is necessary in order for the University to achieve its mission of providing quality instruction, research and services.

The University strives to provide training and education conducive to the establishment and maintenance of safe educational, research and work environments.

Where there is conflict or overlap between state or federal regulations and TTU policies, the most protective provisions shall be used.

A2 Emergency Assistance Information

Emergencies	911
TTU Environmental Health and Safety	806-742-3876 (Mon-Fri 8am-5pm)
TTU Emergency Maintenance	806-742-4677 Operations Call Center (24/7)
TTU Police (TTUPD)	806-742-3931 Non-Emergency

A3 Useful Acronyms and Definitions

3.1 Useful Acronyms

AAALAC – Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care

ACGIH – American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists

ANSI – American National Standards Institute

BSL1 – Biosafety Level 1

BSL2 – Biosafety Level 2

BSL3 – Biosafety Level 3

BSL4 – Biosafety Level 4

C – Ceiling

CAS – Chemical Abstracts Service

CDC – Center for Disease Control

CFR – Code of Federal Regulations

CHO – Chemical Hygiene Officer

CHP – Chemical Hygiene Plan

CSA – Container Storage Area

DOT – Department of Transportation

DSO – Departmental Safety Officer

EHS – Environmental Health and Safety

EPA – Environmental Protection Agency

ERP – Emergency Response Plan

FAA – Federal Aviation Administration

GFCI – Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter

GHS – Globally Harmonized System

HVAC – Heating, ventiliation and air conditioning

HAZCOM – Hazardous Communications

HAZWOPER – Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response

HEPA – High Efficiency Particulate Air

IACUC – Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee

IBC – Institutional Biosafety Committee

IDLH – Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health

IFC – International Fire Code

ILSC – Institutional Laboratory Safety Committee

IRB – Internal Review Board

ISO – International Organization for Standardization

LASER – Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation

LC50 – Air concentration lethal to 50% of the test population

LD50 – Dose lethal to 50% of the test population

LEL – Lower Explosive Limit or Lower Exposure Limit

LOAEL – Lowest Observed Adverse Effect Level

LOEL – Lowest Observed Effect Level

NFPA – National Fire Protection Agency

NIOSH – National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

NOAEL – No Observed Adverse Effect Level

NOEL – No Observed Effect Level

OHP – Occupational Health Program

OEL – Occupation Exposure Limit

OSHA – Occupational Safety and Health Administration

PEL – Permissible Exposure Limit

PI – Principal Investigator

PPE – Personal Protective Equipment

REL – Recommended Exposure Limit

RQ – Reportable Quantity

RSO – Radiation Safety Officer

SAA – Satellite Accumulation Area

SCAN – Safety Concern and Near-Miss

SDS – Safety Data Sheet

SOP – Standard Operating Procedure

STEL – Short Term Exposure Limit

TCEQ – Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

TLV – Threshold Limit Value

TWA – Time Weighted Average

UEL – Upper Explosive Limit and Upper Exposure Limit

USDA – United States Department of Agriculture

VOC – Volatile Organic Compounds

WASP – Work Area Safety Plan

3.2 Useful Definitions

Action Level – a concentration designated in 29 CFR 1910 for a specific substance, calculated as an 8-hour time weighted average, which initiates certain required activities such as exposure monitoring and medical surveillance.

Administrative Controls – (or work practice controls) are changes in work procedures such as written safety policies, rules, supervision, schedules, and training with the goal of reducing the duration, frequency, and severity of exposure to hazardous chemicals or situations.

Chemical Gateway – an area at TTU Central Receiving under EHS control where chemical packages are received, opened, inspected, barcoded and inventoried before delivery to the responsible party.

ChemWatch – an online Safety Data Sheet (SDS) library that includes vendor SDSs and printable GHS labels for most chemicals. Available through the Safety Data Sheets Quick Link on the EHS website.

Combustible Liquid – A liquid that has a closed-cup flash point at or above 100°F (37.8°C).

Container Storage Area – a completely enclosed, self-supported structure under EHS control where hazardous waste is accumulated and stored before transport to a designated waste treatment facility.

Correction Period – the time period allotted for personnel to correct compliance issues identified during an inspection or in a written memorandum for potential work area closure.

Critical Finding - a safety departure that can result in personnel injury or exposure and/or environmental contamination. Non-critical findings that continue unaddressed or are found to be excessive within a work area and thus present more than a moderate hazard will be elevated to a critical finding. Critical findings must be corrected by lab personnel within 24 hours following the inspection that identified the finding(s).

Dangerous – a non-routine procedure that poses significant threat to life or health.

Departmental Representative – any TTU personnel who acts as a liaison between their department and EHS during any correspondence (e.g., incident report, facility planning, hazardous material shipping, etc.)

Dignitary – any representative from federal or state regulatory agencies, industry, law enforcement officials, investors, etc.

Engineering Controls – includes designs or modifications to plants, equipment, ventilation systems, and processes that reduce the source of exposure.

Energetic Materials – can be classified into three categories: explosives, propellants, and pyrotechnics. Explosives detonate not combust and contain oxygen as part of their mixture. Propellants combust and contain oxygen; however, the burn rate depends upon pressure. Pyrotechnics may contain propellant ingredients and tend to be made of metal salts and are intended to produce light, smoke, gas, sound and heat.

Finding – used synonymously with safety departure; describes behavior, practices or facility features that deviate from the University Laboratory Safety Manual or other regulatory guidelines.

Flammable Liquid – A liquid that has a closed-cup flash point at or below 100°F (37.8°C) and a maximum vapor pressure of 2068 mm Hg (40 psia) at 100°F.

Horseplay – rough or boisterous play.

Incident – an event or occurrence that results in damage to property and / or damage / exposure to person(s) that requires medical attention, including the use of available safety equipment and/or first aid.

Laboratory – a facility equipped for experimental or observational study in a science or for testing and analysis and that contains chemical, biological, mechanical, radiological and / or LASER materials / equipment for these purposes.

Laboratory Personnel – anyone working in a TTU laboratory including principal investigators, staff, students, visiting researchers, volunteers, etc.

Localized Exhaust – an exhaust system designed to remove contaminants at the point of origin.

Minor – individual under the age of 18 years old.

Mixed Waste – waste generated in which at least two of the following are present: chemical, biological and / or radiological hazards.

Municipal Solid Waste – defined in Texas Administrative Code 30 TAC 330.3.

Nanoparticles – (also known as nanomaterials) defined as particles intentionally engineered and created that range from a size of 1 nm to 100 nm in size.

Non-critical finding – a safety departure that presents a moderate hazard and are generally indicative of inadequate safe work practice(s). Non-critical findings must be corrected by lab personnel within 30 days following the inspection that identified the finding(s).

Non-laboratory Personnel – any TTU personnel whose primary work area is not a laboratory.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – Personal protective equipment includes all clothing and work accessories designed to serve as a barrier against laboratory hazards. Basic PPE requirements for most campus laboratories include, solid shoes, a lab coat and safety glasses; however other PPE may be required. Examples include gloves, face shields, surgical masks, respirators, head/shoe covers, splash goggles, impermeable lab coats or suits, fire retardant coats/suits, steel-toed shoes, full-face respirator, scrubs, solid-front gowns, aprons, etc.

Physical Barrier – an environmental control that serves as a means of containment in the event primary containment fails. Hazardous materials stored inside a closed cabinet, closed refrigerator, closed drawer, closed incubator, etc. are considered behind a physical barrier.

Primary Explosive – explosive initiated by simple ignition such as spark, flame or impact.

Portable Sink – a sink designed to be mobile and contains a reservoir for containing gray water.

Public Area – any area where non-laboratory personnel may be present such as common corridors, stairways, elevators, office spaces, etc.

Pyrophoric Materials – chemical in which oxidation by oxygen or moisture proceeds so rapidly that ignition occurs. Common examples of pyrophoric materials include, but are not limited to, finely divided metals (whose degree of reactivity depends on particle size), metal hydrides, alloys of reactive metals, low-valent metal salts and iron sulfides.

Quarterly – every 90 days.

Responsible research committee – a committee established by the University and/or required by federal/state law to maintain compliance with regulatory agencies and oversee and authorize certain activities. The ILSC, IBC, IRB, IACUC and IRLSC are the responsbile research committees at Texas Tech University.

Risk Assessment - continuous and evolving analysis of hazards associated with work procedures or operations, assessment of the risks of the identified hazards, identification of actions or equipment to manage and/or mitigate the risks and creation of an emergency plan.

Responder – any person designated by the employer, including employees from within the immediate release area, to respond to an incidental release of hazardous material.

Safety Concerns and Near Misses (SCAN) – an event or occurrence that was caught before an incident occurred, did not result in an incident but could have or unsafe practice(s), condition(s), environment that could result in an incident.

Safety Data Sheet – (SDS) OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) (29 CFR 1910.1200(g)) requires that chemical manufacturers, distributors, or importers provide a safety document, written in English, for each hazardous chemical to communicate information such as: the properties of each chemical; the physical, health, and environmental health hazards; protective measures; and safety precautions for handling, storing and transporting the chemical. See Section A16.4 for SDS requirements for laboratories.

Safety survey / survey – an inspection of a work area where there are physical, chemical, and/or biological hazards to evaluate and access the presence of safety departures as described in appendix AB.

Satellite Accumulation Area – (SAA) designated hazardous waste storage area at or near any point of generation where wastes initially accumulate inside of a work area (definition adapted from 40 CFR 262.15).

Secondary Containment – (for chemical storage or transport) must be: 1) sturdy, 2) leak-proof, 3) capable of holding ten (10) percent of the volume of the containers or 100 percent of the volume of the largest container, whichever is greater, 4) able to be appropriately decontaminated, and 5) compatible with the chemicals it contains (i.e. no reaction should a spill occur).

Secondary Explosive – explosive initiated by shock created by primary explosives.

Select Carcinogens – substances that are classified as carcinogens or potential carcinogens in OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910, subpart Z.

Sharps – any metal object/device used to puncture or cut. Examples include any type of injection device and whatever is attached to it, razors, X-Acto knives, pointed scissors, scalpels, etc.

Shipper – individual who signs declaration and or shipping documents for hazardous materials shipping.

Spill Kit – a compilation of appropriate absorbent materials, cleaners, disinfectants, chemical neutralizers, personal protective equipment and other equipment (e.g., container for clean-up materials, scoop, broom, disposal bags, waste labels, etc.) used to contain and clean up spills. See Appendix AC for spill response and kit guidance.

TechBuy – (also known as SciQuest) a procurement website for TTU personnel to make University purchases from approved vendors. For more information visit the Procurement webpage or contact techbuy.purchasing@ttu.edu.

Toxin – any substance poisonous to an organism; toxins may be synthetic or produced and released from the metabolic activities of a living organism (i.e., biological toxin). These substances can cause harmful effects when they are injected, inhaled, eaten or absorbed through the skin. Use of toxins listed as Select Agents by the CDC requires approval by the Institutional Biosafety Committee and is subject to regulations as described in 7 CFR 331, 9 CFR 121 and 42 CFR 73.

Vacuum Line Trap – equipment that protects a vacuum system from separated solvents and prevents vapors from being emitted back into the system or work area; in biological systems, the trap prevents contamination of the vacuum system with potentially biohazardous materials (see Appendix AE for guidance on vacuum line trapping).

Volunteer – individual who is assigned to perform duties for a department or area of TTU without compensation or the expectation of compensation, beyond reimbursement for pre-approved specified expenses. Potential volunteer workers may be members of the public, TTU alumni, students, faculty, staff or retired TTU faculty or staff (definition from TTU OP 70.21).

A4 Policies

A4.1

All policies included in this Chemical Hygiene Plan apply to all areas of TTU activity.

A4.1.1

The terms laboratory and work area are used interchangeably to refer to the areas on-campus and off-campus in which TTU faculty, students, or staff work with chemical, biological or physical hazards. These areas include, but are not limited to, laboratories, studios, shops, field sites and classrooms.

A4.2 Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Regulated Substances

A4.2.1

Employee exposures to chemical substances will be kept below the OSHA exposure limits established in 29 CFR 1910, subpart Z and as low as reasonably achievable through the use of administrative controls, engineering controls and personal protective equipment (PPE).

A4.2.2

The exposure limits include Permissible Exposure Limits (OSHA), Threshold Limit Values (ACGIH), Recommended Exposure Limits (NIOSH), Time Weighted Averages, Short Term Exposure Limits, and Ceiling Values. The most restrictive value is to be used.

A4.2.3

Substances regulated in 29 CFR 1910, subpart Z will be identified within each work area. EHS will keep and maintain a chemical inventory for each lab in the EHS inventory system by barcoding all incoming chemicals.

A4.3 Proper Laboratory Attire

A4.3.1

Proper lab attire must be worn at all times in the laboratory.

A4.3.1.1

Proper footwear is required.

Footwear must be liquid-repellant. Canvas shoes, such as Toms, Converse and most tennis shoes are not liquid-repellant.
Footwear must cover the entire foot. Shoes such as ballet flats and sandals are not appropriate.

A4.3.1.2

Shorts or other garments which expose the skin of legs or feet shall not be worn in the laboratory. Clothing that allows any skin below the waist to be seen is not allowed.

A4.3.1.3

Secure long hair away from the face.

A4.3.2

Selection of Personel Protective Equipment (PPE) (e.g., lab coats, gloves, eye protection, etc.) must be appropriate for the work being done and agents being worked with.

A4.3.2.1

Lab coats and eye protection must be worn in the work area while chemical and/or biological agents are not behind a physical barrier.

A4.3.2.2

In teaching laboratories, the minimum PPE required while working with chemical or biological agents include all of the following: laboratory coats, safety glasses and gloves appropriate to the agents being used.

A4.3.2.3

Appropriate eye and face protection is required when working with chemical / biological agents that present a splash hazard.

A4.3.2.4

Eye and face protection must be ANSI-certified for the hazards present.

A4.3.2.5

Appropriate gloves must be worn while working with chemical/biological agents. Glove selection must be appropriate for the work being done or agent(s) being handled. The following provisions apply to glove usage:

Avoid touching your face, eyewear, personal items, or other environmental surfaces with your gloves.
Gloves should be removed in such a way as to not contaminate the wearer or aerosolize material on the gloves.
Used disposable gloves shall be discarded immediately after removal and not reused.
Gloves should be changed frequently. Gloves shall be changed when they are visibly contaminated, between procedures or when integrity has been compromised.
Wash hands prior to donning gloves to remove lotions which may compromise glove integrity.
Wash hands any time gloves are removed. Hands must be washed before leaving the laboratory.

A4.3.2.6

If a different type of PPE is required or the use of PPE could result in injury (e.g., loose clothing around moving machinery), the SOP (see Section A12) for these activities must state the PPE that must or must not be used while performing the required operation.

A4.3.3

Visitors are required to wear the PPE determined for the work area while hazardous operations are being conducted and/or chemical/biological agents are not behind a physical barrier. If visitors refuse to don PPE, or if PPE is not available, entry will be refused.

A4.3.4

Individuals at a desk or computer work station inside of the work area are required to wear the same PPE required to enter the lab while hazardous operations are being conducted and/or chemical/biological agents are not behind a physical barrierd.

A4.3.4.1

If (and only if) no hazardous operations are being conducted and all chemical/biological agents are stored behind a physical barrier, PPE can be removed.

A4.3.4.2

All individuals in the work area must always put their PPE back on any time that hazardous operations are being conducted and/or chemical/biological agents are not behind a physical barrier.

A4.3.5

PPE should be dedicated to the work area and shall not to be worn in public areas.

A4.3.5.1

Laboratory coats must be stored in the work area and not in offices or public areas.

The coat must be stored in such a way that the inner surfaces that contact the user are not at risk of becoming contaminated.

A4.3.5.2

In instances where laboratory coats are transported outside a work area, such as in transit between work areas, the coat must be folded is such a way that the outside of the garment 1) is not exposed, and 2) does not touch the inner parts of the garment that directly contact the wearer.

A4.3.6

Defective, soiled and/or damaged PPE shall not be used.

A4.3.6.1

Defective and/or damaged PPE must be replaced by the supervisor (see A5.5.13).

A4.3.6.2

Soiled, reusable PPE must be decontaminated; regular laundering of PPE is encouraged.

A commercial laundry service shall be used for laundering laboratory coats or other washable, protective apparel where dedicated laundry units are not available. PPE shall not be laundered at home or at a public laundry mat.

4.4 General Laboratory Practices

A4.4.1

Eating, drinking, chewing gum or tobacco, smoking, vaping, taking medications, applying cosmetics or lotions, etc. are strictly prohibited in laboratories.

A4.4.2

Storage of items identified in A4.4.1 and other personal hygiene products is not permitted in the laboratory.

A4.4.2.1

Items of this nature for research/experimental purposes shall be labeled “for research use only” or an equivalent phrase.

A4.4.2.2

First aid kits should be clearly labeled as such.

A4.4.3

Hand washing must occur before leaving the work area and when there is potential for contamination on hands such as after a spill.

A4.4.4

Mouth pipetting is prohibited.

A4.4.5

Appropriate disinfectants/neutralizers must be available before work begins.

A4.4.6

Mercury thermometers should be replaced with alcohol or digital thermometers. If assistance is needed to replace mercury thermometers, contact EHS at 742-3876.

A4.4.6.1

Contact EHS at 742-3876 to clean up broken mercury thermometers.

A4.4.7

Empty chemical containers not repurposed for waste collection must be disposed of in a proper container disposal area, if provided, or a dumpster.

A4.4.7.1

Containers for P-listed chemicals must be triple-rinsed with an appropriate solvent for removal of the material before diposal into a proper container disposal area, if provided, or a dumpster.

A4.4.8

Ignition sources must be kept away from where flammable materials are stored or used.

A4.4.9

Headphones and ear buds are only handled with ungloved hands.

A4.4.9.1

Headphones and ear buds are only handled with ungloved hands.

A4.4.9.2

Cordless devices are required.

A4.5 Buddy System

A4.5.1

It is always best practice in to have a partner in the work area with you (i.e., buddy system).

A4.5.2

In lieu of a physically present partner, supervisors/PIs should have a check in, check on, and check out policy for working outside of standard business hours (8:00am-5:00pm, Monday-Friday and University closures) or when the supervisor/PI is physically away from campus, which follows the following general guidelines.

A4.5.2.1

Upon entering a lab, the lab personnel should contact a designated contact person. The lab personnel should inform the designated contact of their entrance to the work area, the general nature of their activities, and their planned exit time.

The designated contact should be someone who understands the risk of the work and proper emergency response procedures related to the work. This can include supervisor/PI, lab manager, lab safety captain, or another designated lab personnel.
Contact includes email, phone calls, text messages, or other direct forms of communication as outlined in the work area safety plan (WASP).
If the total time in the work area is predicted to be less than three hours, the designated contact should be contacted again when lab personnel exits the work area.
If the total time is greater than three hours, the designated contact should be contacted at least once every three hours by the lab personnel to confirm safety and upon final exit of the work area.

A4.5.3

The responsibilities of the designated contact person include the following:

A4.5.3.1

Responding to receipt of all communications to acknowledge contact (i.e., lab entrance, 3-hour check-ons, and exit).

A4.5.3.2

If after three hours a check-on or exit time is not reported, the designated contact should attempt to contact the lab personnel.

A4.5.3.3

If attempts to contact the lab personnel fail, the designated contact must notify the PI/supervisor. Then either the contact person or the PI/supervisor should physically visit the work area and check for the lab personnel.

A4.5.4

It is recommended that experiments be planned to avoid conducting any high-risk procedures after hours (5 pm – 8 am), on weekends or holidays. Should this work be conducted outside regular business hours, Section A9.2.3 applies.

A4.6 Work Area Investigation

A4.6.1

Work areas may be investigated when 1) an incident occurrs in the work area, 2) a work area is found to have excessive non-compliance to safety policy (see Section A23), and/or 3) there is an open investigation by a regulatory agency involving the work area/project.

A4.6.1.1

The WASP (see Section A11) for work areas under investigation will be reviewed during the investigation.

A4.6.1.2

Work areas under investigation will be surveyed quarterly. Safety surveys will continue on a quarterly basis until two consecutive surveys are without critical findings and all findings (critical and non-critical) are addressed.

A seven business day grace period will be granted to correct findings not corrected on site or were unable to be corrected on site. Documentation of the corrective actions must be submitted to EHS using the RRAMP system. By submitting corrective actions within the grace period, the survey will be counted towards the two consecutive survey criteria defined in A4.6.1.2.

A4.6.1.3

The PI and all lab personnel for the work area will repeat EHS-required safety training(s) for the work area prior to the first quarterly inspection. Training may be in-person or online as dictated by the relevant institutional compliance committee(s).

If retraining is not completed prior to the first quarterly inspection, work area operations will cease until all lab personnel and the PI for the area have completed training.

A4.6.2

Work areas with an open investigation will not be allowed to host non-TTU personnel (including visiting minors, students and researchers), visiting scholars, dignitaries, media, volunteers, or other visitors in any capacity.

A4.6.3

If the work area is closed, the work area will remain closed to lab personnel until EHS completes a root-cause analysis and corrective actions related to the cause are taken.

A4.7 Request for Clarification or Deviation

A4.7.1

Request for Clarification

A4.7.1.1

If a principal investigator would like clarification regarding a Texas Tech University policy/procedure in the University Laboratory Safety Manual (LSM) - Chemical Hygiene Plan, they will need to submit the request in writing to the Institutional Laboratory Safety Committee (ILSC).

A4.7.1.2

The ILSC’s evaluation and response to the Request for Clarification will be communicated in writing to the PI in the form of a memorandum from the ILSC chair.

A4.7.1.3

The written Request for Clarification will need to address the following:

The policy(s) or procedure(s) for which clarification is needed as written in the LSM.
Why clarification is necessary, citing reputable references or peer-review literature as needed.
Whether they wish to address the committee in-person regarding this matter so the coordinator can inform the ILSC chair.

A4.7.1.4

The Request for Clarification is to be emailed to the ILSC at the institutional email address (ilsc.ehs@ttu.edu) no less than 5 business days before a scheduled meeting to be placed on the upcoming meeting’s agenda. If the request is not received 5 business days prior to the meeting, the request may not be considered until the following meeting if the agenda is already full.

A4.7.2

Request for Deviation

A4.7.2.1

If a PI desires to deviate from Texas Tech University policy(s)/procedure(s) outlined in the University Laboratory Safety Manual - Chemical Hygiene Plan, they will need to submit the justification in writing to the Institutional Laboratory Safety Committee (ILSC).

A4.7.2.2

The ILSC’s evaluation and response to the Request for Deviation will be communicated in writing to the PI in the form of a memorandum from the ILSC chair. Deviations may not be implemented unless approved by the ILSC.

A4.7.2.3

The written Request for Deviation will need to address the following:

The agents and/or hazards in use and/or impacted by the proposed changes.
How the PI wishes to modify the approved-SOP(s) or policy.
A final copy of their proposed SOP(s) or policy.
A written justification as to why the approved-SOP or policy is not appropriate which sites the specific deviations from the approved-SOP or policy citing reputable references and/or peer-review literature to support their position for the needed change; and
Whether they wish to address the committee in-person regarding this matter so the coordinator can inform the ILSC chair.

A4.7.2.4

The Request for Deviation is to be emailed to the ILSC at the institutional email address (ilsc.ehs@ttu.edu) no less than 5 business days before a scheduled meeting to be placed on the upcoming meeting’s agenda. If the request is not received 5 business days prior to the meeting, the request may not be considered until the following meeting if the agenda is already full.

A5 Responsibilities

A5.1

The implementation of University health and safety policies and procedures is the responsibility of management, faculty and staff of each department. All individuals in the laboratory (including faculty, employees, visiting researchers, students and volunteers) are expected to participate actively in the program to ensure its success.

A5.2 Environmental Health and Safety (EHS)

A5.2.1

Maintain a list of laboratories affected by the Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) that is provided to EHS annually by the individual departments;

A5.2.2

Maintain a chemical inventory for each laboratory;

A5.2.3

Maintain a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) library;

A5.2.4

Supply Occupational Health Program (OHP) information and training as required;

A5.2.5

Train laboratory personnel on the principles of the CHP;

A5.2.6

Provide chemical spill kits to TTU facilities upon request;

A5.2.7

Respond to emergencies in the event of a spill or release;

A5.2.8

Collect wastes and maintain waste records;

A5.2.9

Conduct weekly inspections of the Container Storage Area (CSA);

A5.2.10

Maintain a list of all Satellite Accumulation Areas (SAAs).

A5.3 Chemical Hygiene Officer (CHO)

A5.3.1

The University CHO is appointed by the Vice President of Environmental Health and Safety and is responsible for the oversight of all aspects of the CHP.

A5.3.1.1

The CHO may delegate certain aspects of the program to others. Senior safety officers may act as a proxy for the CHO as delegated by the CHO.

A5.3.2

Work with administrators and other employees to develop and implement appropriate chemical hygiene policies and practices;

A5.3.3

Monitor procurement, use and disposal of chemicals used on the TTU campus;

A5.3.4

Help departmental representatives develop precautions and adequate facilities;

A5.3.5

Conduct personnel exposure monitoring as necessary;

A5.3.6

Develop and implement the chemical fume hood surveillance program to include an inventory of chemical fume hoods, criteria for evaluating hood performance, and recommended corrective actions for deficiencies in hood performance (See Section A22);

A5.3.7

Investigate SCAN or Incident Reports, provide root-cause determinations and corrective actions, and take appropriate action(s) as necessary;

A5.3.8

Maintain accurate records of the following:

A5.3.8.1

Any measurements taken to monitor employee exposures;

A5.3.8.2

Any medical consultation and examinations including tests or written opinions required by this Manual;

A5.3.8.3

Laboratory safety surveys conducted with responses for each laboratory; and

A5.3.8.4

Measurements of equipment performance.

A5.3.8.5

Records are kept, transferred, and made available in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.120.

A5.3.9

Assist in performing physical and health hazard determinations for chemicals generated within the lab;

A5.3.10

Know the current legal requirements concerning regulated substances;

A5.3.11

Seek ways to improve the Chemical Hygiene Program;

A5.3.12

Assist in implementing related training;

A5.3.13

Provide announced and/or unannounced chemical hygiene and housekeeping surveys;

A5.3.13.1

Deficiencies discovered upon survey will be given 30 days for correction. Notification of findings will be sent to the PI/supervisor, DSO and Department Chair.

A5.3.13.2

A follow-up survey will be conducted after the correction period. Notification of findings will be sent to the PI/supervisor, DSO, Department Chair and Dean of the College.

A5.3.14

The CHO has the authority to remove any individual from a work area that is not following the practices outlined in the CHP or the Work Area Safety Plan (WASP) for the work area in question.

A5.4 Departmental Safety Officer (DSO)

A5.4.1

This individual is appointed by the department chair.

A5.4.1.1

The appointment of a DSO must be relayed to EHS.

A5.4.1.2

The DSO will be the contact between the department and CHO.

A5.4.2

DSO responsibilities are outlined in TTU OP 60.29.

A5.4.3

The DSO has the authority to remove any individual from a laboratory and/or take pictures of any individual or area in the laboratory that are not compliant with or following the practices outlined in the University CHP or the WASP for the work area in question.

A5.5 Principal Investigator / Supervisor

A5.5.1

Each work area shall have a Principal Investigator (PI) or supervisor assigned to it who is responsible for implementing all aspects of the University Laboratory Safety Manual;

A5.5.2

Prepare and implement a Work Area Safety Plan (WASP) (see Section A11 for requirements of a WASP);

A5.5.3

Ensure chemical containers are labeled with required information, barcoded, segregated by their hazard class (see Appendix AA) and stored in an appropriate manner;

A5.5.4

Perform a hazard determination of chemicals generated within the laboratory;

A5.5.5

Ensure all individuals who enter their work area(s) know and follow the University Laboratory Safety Manual;

A5.5.6

Prepare written standard operating procedures (SOPs) for all operations conducted and all equipment used in the work area (see Section A12);

A5.5.7

Date receipt and track the age of peroxide forming compounds;

A5.5.7.1

Test peroxide formers for peroxide formation at a minimum every six months after opening (see Appendix AH);

A5.5.7.2

Contact EHS for disposal of any peroxide former if the peroxide test yields 30 ppm or more or if there is visible crystallization, discoloration, or stratification.

A5.5.8

Provide regular chemical hygiene and housekeeping surveys, including routine inspections of emergency equipment using EHS survey checklists;

A5.5.8.1

The PI is responsible for ensuring chemical hygiene and housekeeping issues are corrected, or for completing a Work Order for issues that the PI needs assistance in fixing.

A5.5.9

Determine required PPE and administrative and engineering controls and document this information in written procedures;

A5.5.10

Ensure that facilities and training for any material being ordered or used are adequate;

A5.5.11

Notify the DSO and CHO of the need for medical monitoring, consultation and/or examinations;

A5.5.12

In the event of injury or damage to property an incident report is to be filled out and submitted to the DSO or CHO within 24 hours after incident;

A5.5.12.1

Injuries that require or result in medical attention must be reported to EHS immediately.

A5.5.13

Supply all appropriate PPE to all individuals entering the work area(s) and ensure that the PPE is used and in good working order;

A5.5.14

Ensure that all personnel with access to work area(s) have taken and passed the required EHS safety training(s) outlined in Section A14.2 prior to being given permission to enter the work area. Registration for safety trainings is done through EHS;

A5.5.15

Check eyewashes monthly to make sure they are running properly. If they need maintenance, contact TTU Building Maintenance and Construction at 742-2102 for repair;

A5.5.16

Check fire extinguishers to make sure they are charged and in date. If they have not been inspected within the last year or they are not charged, contact Physical Plant at 742-4677 to have them serviced;

A5.5.17

Appoint a member of the laboratory as the Laboratory Safety Captain;

A5.5.18

Ensure that equipment being removed from the work area for disposal, Surplus, or transfer is appropriately decontaminated and cleared by EHS;

A5.5.19

Submit protocols meeting any of the following criteria to the relevant responsible research committee(s) for review and approval prior to work commencing:

A5.5.19.1

Academic activities related to biohazardous materials which have potential to be dangerous to humans, plants, animals and/or the environment; genetic manipulation or modification of biological materials; and dual use research or concern as it relates to biological systems must be reviewed by the IBC. An itemized list of activities subject to review is available in IBC Policy 01.

A5.5.19.2

Protocols involving the use of energetic materials must be submitted to the Institutional Laboratory Safety Committee (ILSC) regardless of sponsorship;

A5.5.19.3

Protocols involving any live vertebrate animals for research, instruction, demonstration, production, or maintenance purposes, whether the animals are located in facilities at TTU or elsewhere, must be submitted to the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) regardless of sponsorship;

A5.5.19.4

Protocols involving human subjects require proposal submission and review by the Instituional Review Board (IRB) regardless of sponsorship;

A5.5.19.5

Protocols involving the use of radioactive materials, radiation producing equipment and lasers require proposal submission and review by the Radiation and LASER Safety Committee (RLSC) regardless of sponsorship.

A5.5.20

EHS must be informed by email to ehs.lab.safety@ttu.edu of any non-TTU inspectors (e.g., USDA, CDC, FAA, etc.) planning to enter research work areas as soon as a tentative or definite date and time is known.

A5.5.20.1

If non-TTU inspectors show up for an unannounced inspection, EHS shall be notified immediately by phone.

A5.5.20.2

Exclusions to A5.5.20.1 include scheduled USDA and AAALAC inspections for animal facilities, TCEQ site visits, state fire marshal inspections, and inspections related to insurance policies.

A5.6 Laboratory Safety Captain

A5.6.1

The Laboratory Safety Captain will serve as the liaison between the PI, laboratory group members, DSO, CHO, and other offices. The responsibilities of the Laboratory Safety Captain will be outlined by the respective departments and PIs.

A5.7 Laboratory Personnel

A5.7.1

Follow all procedures outlined in the University Laboratory Safety Manual and WASP;

A5.7.2

Adhere to recommendations made by the Laboratory Safety Captain, PI, DSO and CHO;

A5.7.3

Receive biennial Laboratory Safety Training supplied by EHS online or by seminar and following any updates to this program;

A5.7.4

Receive any additional training required by the WASP (see Section A11 for WASP details and Section A14 for training requirements);

A5.7.5

Report safety concerns and near-misses through the SCAN system and report incidents that result in personnel injury or property damage immediately to their supervisor; and

A5.7.6

Report chemical fume hoods and/or other protective equipment that is damaged or not working properly to their supervisor;

A5.7.7

Volunteers that work in areas where chemical, biological and/or radiation hazards are present must provide the proper authorizations in writing from their sponsoring department, EHS, and Human Resources, as well as the Adult Volunteer Worker Application, Volunteer Release Form, and Volunteer Worker Authorization Sheet as described in TTU OP 70.21.

A5.8 Responsible Research Committees

A5.8.1

Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)

A5.8.1.1

See TTU OP 74.05 for the policies and procedures of the IBC.

A5.8.2

Institutional Laboratory Safety Committee (ILSC)

A5.8.2.1

See TTU OP 74.18 for the policies and procedures of the ILSC.

A5.8.3

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)

A5.8.3.1

See TTU OP 74.11 for the policies and procedures of the IACUC.

A5.8.4

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

A5.8.4.1

See TTU OP 74.09 for the policies and procedures of the IRB.

A5.8.5

Radiation and Laser Safety Committee (RLSC)

A5.8.5.1

See TTU OP 60.11 for policies and procedures of the RLSC.

A6 Non-Laboratory Personnel

A6.1

Individuals seeking prolonged access (greater than 24 hours) to hazardous work area(s) on campus to perform work or experiments shall receive the permission of the Principal Investigator/supervisor in writing before entering the work area.

A6.2

Non-laboratory personnel entering a work area must wear the appropriate PPE designated for that work area unless hazardous operations are not being conducted and chemical/biological agents are behind a physical barrier.

A6.3

Dignitaries and media visiting a laboratory must wear the appropriate PPE for entrance to the laboratory and must be escorted by a senior member of the laboratory. Research operations shall be reduced to a level of demonstration.

A6.4

For minors that are going to be in the laboratory for a tour, the following guidelines shall be followed:

A6.4.1

The Department Chair must give written permission to the PI;

A6.4.2

Groups will be no larger than ten (10) minors per senior laboratory member at a time;

A6.4.3

The PI/supervisor must be in direct supervision while the tour group is in the work area;

A6.4.4

Appropriate PPE must be worn by all individuals while in the laboratory when chemical, physical or biological hazards are not behind a physical barrier;

A6.4.5

Research operations must be suspended while the tour group is in the laboratory; demonstration activities are allowed;

A6.4.6

If an active experiment is to be observed, Section A8 must be followed.

A7 Maintenance Workers in Laboratories

A7.1

Maintenance workers shall complete annual Hazard Communication Training through TTU EHS (online).

A7.2

Maintenance workers must check in with the responsible party of a building before entering the work area(s).

A7.3

Maintenance workers must also notify the PI/supervisor, if present, before entering the work area(s).

A7.4

Maintenance workers must wear the required PPE while in the work area(s) if hazards are present as stated in Section A4.3.3.

A8 Minors in Laboratories

A8.1 Minors Age 13 and Younger

A8.1.1

Minors age 13 and younger are not eligible for laboratory study or work experiences, or allowed to be present in laboratories or other hazardous work areas at TTU, with the following exceptions and guidelines:

A8.1.1.1

Special observation-only experiences may be arranged for minors (including those age of 13 years and younger) through the sponsoring department, the Associate Vice President for Research (Research Integrity) and EHS;

A8.1.1.2

Special participatory/educational laboratory experiences involving minors age 13 years and younger may be considered on a case-by-case basis by the sponsoring department, if authorized in accordance with Section A8.5 below, provided that the minor is:

Under the direct supervision of the sponsoring investigator or senior laboratory personnel, and
Not involved and/or exposed in any activities that could be considered “particularly hazardous” as defined in 29 CFR 570, “Child Labor Regulations, Orders and Statements of Interpretation,” or that may be considered to be detrimental to their health or well-being.
For purposes of (A8.1.1.1) or (A8.1.1.2) above, all minors under the age of 14 must be properly supervised and accompanied by an adult while on TTU grounds and within TTU facilities where hazards are present.

A8.2 Minors Age 14 and 15 Years

A8.2.1

Minors of age 14 and 15 years may participate, if authorized in accordance with Section A8.5 below, in laboratory study or work experiences that do not include work in areas or occupations considered to be “particularly hazardous” as defined in 29 CFR 570, “Child Labor Regulations, Orders and Statements of Interpretation,” or that may be considered to be detrimental to their health or well being, including, but not limited to, the following:

A8.2.1.1

Any work in a workroom where ionizing radioactive materials or ionizing radiation-producing devices are present or used; and / or

A8.2.1.2

Any work in any workroom in which the following conditions may exist:

Potential presence or use of “highly hazardous” biological or chemical materials as defined by the TTU IBC and ILSC;
Potential presence of infectious diseases transmitted by an aerosol route;
Potential exposures to animals with infections potentially transmissible to humans, human blood, body fluids, or tissues;
Potential exposures to Level 3 or 4 biological agents (as defined by the CDC);
Potential exposures to Level 3 or 4 chemicals (as defined by the Hazardous Material Identification System (HMIS) or National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) System);
When Class IIIb or IV laser devices are in operation; use of Class I-IIIa devices is allowed if all personnel, including all minors, are wearing appropriate PPE for laser exposure.
Hazards requiring special protective wear (not including latex, vinyl or nitrile gloves, goggles, face shields or dosimeter badges);
Potential presence or use of controlled substances;
Potential presence or use of select agents (as defined by the CDC); or
Work in an area where there is a known risk of exposure to infectious diseases of human or animal origin.

A8.3 Minors Age 16 and 17 Years

A8.3.1

Minors age 16 and 17 years may participate, if authorized in accordance with Section A8.5, in laboratory study or work experiences that include work in non-hazardous jobs or activities. Minors of age 16 and 17 years:

A8.3.1.1

Are prohibited from handling radioactive material source vials and must have prior written permission from the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) at 742-3876 to use other radioactive materials, including performing contamination surveys; and / or

A8.3.1.2

Are prohibited from working directly with highly hazardous materials, including, but not limited to the following:

Select agents (as defined by the CDC);
Controlled substances;
Highly hazardous biological or chemical agents (as defined by the TTU IBC and ILSC); or
Potentially infectious animals or agents.

A8.4 Supervision of Minors

A8.4.1

Minors shall be closely and directly supervised by the sponsoring investigator or senior member of the laboratory.

A8.4.1.1

Sponsoring investigators hosting minors must be able to be directly and immediately contacted by phone or in person by minor and others while the minor is present in the laboratory or under the direction of the sponsoring investigator.

A8.4.2

All use of radioactive material by the RSO-approved minor must be directly supervised by a trained adult TTU staff member at all times, including performing contamination surveys;

A8.4.2.1

Failure to supervise the minor while using radioactive material will result in immediate suspension of the Authorized User’s Radioactive Material Sublicense.

A8.4.3

Failure to supervise the minor while using chemical hazards will result in the immediate suspension of the laboratory’s activities until the EHS investigation is complete.

A8.4.4

Failure to supervise the minor while using biological agents will result in the immediate suspension of the PI’s IBC protocols.

A8.4.5

Failure to supervise the minor while working with animals will result in the immediate suspension of the PI’s IACUC protocols.

A8.4.6

Failure to supervise the minor while working with human subjects will result in the immediate suspension of the PI’s IRB protocols.

A8.4.7

Minors shall be provided with adequate and appropriate personal protective equipment, including dosimeter badges when required.

A8.4.8

Minors shall successfully complete all required laboratory and radiation safety training, as appropriate, and any site-specific training required by the sponsoring laboratory prior to commencing work activities.

A8.4.9

Under no circumstances will minors be allowed to work or study with or around radiation sources, biological agents, hazardous chemicals, equipment, or animals that pose a risk to their health or well-being.

A8.4.10

Supervisors overseeing hazardous work areas or laboratories are specifically responsible for the safety and compliance of all minors who are approved under institutional guidelines as employees, students, or visitors in their areas.

A8.5 Authorization of a Minor

A8.5.1

A parent or guardian must give written consent for minors to participate in laboratory study or work experiences, unless the minor is emancipated;

A8.5.2

The sponsoring department, EHS and Human Resources must also authorize the participation in writing. Authorization will be granted only for recognized TTU or other recognized sponsored educational programs;

A8.5.3

The Minor Volunteer Worker Application, Volunteer Worker Authorization Sheet and Volunteer Release Form shall be completed and submitted as described in TTU OP 70.21.

A8.6 Minors in Office Space

A8.6

Minors may work in office space (not located in a laboratory) under the supervision of a PI/supervisor, faculty, staff or their personnel. Conditions presented in Section A8 apply.

A9 Facilities

A9.1 Access Control

A9.1.1

Work areas shall have doors for access control.

A9.1.1.1

Doors shall have a locking mechanism and be secured when there are no laboratory personnel present.

A9.1.1.2

Laboratory doors shall remain shut at all times with the exception of rooms acting as distribution points for refilling of chemicals/supplies for laboratories. In such cases, the area shall have a split door; the bottom half is to remain shut and the top half may remain open while distribution and refilling of chemicals/supplies is actively taking place.

A9.2 Required Signage

A9.2.1

Door signs for laboratories will be produced, modified and supplied by EHS.

A9.2.2

Special hazard signs (e.g., biohazard, LASER, radiation, etc.) must be clearly posted on all doors entering the work area so that any reasonable person can see the sign prior to opening the door.

A9.2.3

If dangerous activities are being conducted in the laboratory that require restricted access, a temporary sign must be posted on the door stating what activity is being conducted. The sign must clearly state:

A9.2.3.1

Name of personnel conducting the experiment and provide contact information. Contact information must be good for date(s) and time(s) specified in A9.2.3.2;

A9.2.3.2

The start date / time and expected stop date/time of the experiment;

A9.2.3.3

Specifically who is to have access to the laboratory; and

A9.2.3.4

Additional PPE, engineering controls and precautions must be used when entering the laboratory while the experiment is in progress.

A9.2.3.5

The CHO, DSO, and Department Chair must be notified of what activities require restricted access.

A9.2.4

Emergency contact information shall be posted in a highly visible location in the laboratory in close proximity to the entrance.

A9.2.4.1

The minimum contact information shall include the 1) PI and / or supervisor after hours contact information, 2) EHS contact information, 3) University Police contact information, and 4) Emergency Medical contact information.

A9.3 Hygiene

A9.3.1

Laboratories must have a sink for hand washing.

A9.3.1.1

Plumbed sinks are preferred, but if circumstances warrant, a portable sink may be used. Contact the DSO and CHO if a portable sink might be used.

A9.3.1.2

It is permissible to have a sink in an adjacent room such that the path of travel does not use a public area. Biological laboratories must have a sink in the immediate work area.

A9.3.1.3

Soap and paper towels must be available at sinks used for handwashing.

A9.3.2

The laboratory shall be designed so that it can be easily cleaned. Carpets and rugs shall not be placed in laboratories.

A9.3.3

Spaces between benches, cabinets and equipment shall be accessible for cleaning.

A9.3.4

Vertical surfaces and floors shall be regularly decontaminated.

A9.3.5

First aid kits or supplies are recommended but not required for laboratory work areas.

A9.4 Housekeeping

A9.4.1

Aisles must be free of slip, trip and fall hazards.

A9.4.2

Bench tops must be free of excess storage and clutter.

A9.4.3

Trash must be disposed of properly with glass and sharpsd waste segregated from other trash. Trash must not be left on bench tops.

A9.4.3.1

Broken glass to be repaired must be secured in a labeled drawer or container.

A9.4.4

Counters and liners that become contaminated must be cleaned or replaced immediately after contamination. Lab paper is not recommended as a permenant bench top covering. Appropriately-sized paper may be used for procedures and discarded after use.

A9.4.5

Any equipment that becomes contaminated must be cleaned immediately after contamination.

A9.4.6

Fire extinguishers, fire blankets, safety showers, eyewashes and electrical panels shall be kept clearly visible and free of obstruction.

A9.4.6.1

Eye wash covers shall be in place to prevent contamination.

A9.4.7

There must be no obstruction within 18” of the center of the spray from the safety shower.

A9.4.8

If first aid kits are made available, the kits must be checked regularly. Any expired items shall be removed and may be replaced with unexpired items.

A9.4.9

There must be a minimum 32” clearance at the exit(s) from the laboratory.

A9.4.10

Overhead storage must be at least 18” lower than the fire sprinkler head.

A9.5 Furniture

A9.5.1

Furniture must be capable of supporting anticipated loads and uses.

A9.5.2

Bench tops must be impervious to water and resistant to heat, organic solvents, acids, alkalis and other chemicals.

A9.5.3

Chairs used in laboratories must be covered in a non-porous material that can be easily cleaned and decontaminated with an appropriate disinfectant.

A9.5.4

Flammable storage units must be properly installed and not left on the transport materials / pallet.

A9.6 Equipment

A9.6.1

Equipment in the laboratory must be maintained, used appropriately, kept clean and in good repair.

A9.6.1.1

Equipment accessories, such as tubing, rotors and other attachments, are considered part of the equipment and must meet the requirements of A9.6.1.

A9.6.2

Freezers shall be defrosted periodically to prevent ice build-up.

A9.6.3

Common household items shall be labelled for lab use only.

A9.6.4

Vacuum lines must be equipped with traps (see Appendix AE).

A9.6.5

Devices containing mercury shall be secured in secondary containmentd so that if a spill occurs the mercury is contained. Do not attempt to clean a mercury spill yourself. Contact EHS immediately at 806-742-3876 if a mercury spill occurs.

A9.6.6

Equipment that is not working shall be labeled as out of service.

A9.6.6.1

Equipment being offered to TTU Surplus must be appropriately decontaminated by lab personnel, cleared by EHS and have a completed Equipment Decontamination Form (Appendix AJ) attached.

A9.6.6.2

Equipment being shipped for repair must be appropriately decontaminated by lab personnel, cleared by EHS and a completed Equipment Decontamination Form (Appendix AJ) must accompany any documentation required by the servicing company.

A9.6.6.3

Equipment being disposed of must be appropriately decontaminated and cleared by EHS.

A9.6.6.4

Equipment containing refrigerants must have refrigerants collected before removal to Surplus or disposal. Contact TTU Work Control at 806-742-4677 to submit a work order.

A9.6.6.5

Equipment leaking fluid(s) must be taken out of service (i.e., secured and labeled as “out of service”) and repaired.

A9.6.7

Any biologically contaminated equipment should follow guidelines provided in Section B11.3 in the Biosafety chapter of the University Laboratory Safety Manual.

A9.7 Electrical

A9.7.1

Electrical cords must be kept in good repair.

A9.7.2

Extension cords must only be used on a temporary basis and shall be plugged directly into an outlet.

A9.7.3

Serial connections of electrical cords (i.e., daisy chaining) are not permitted; power strips and extension cords may only be plugged into wall outlets, not into another power strip/extension cord.

A9.7.4

Electrical outlets within six (6) feet of a water source must have a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI).

A9.7.5

Only one item may be plugged into an individual receptable.

A9.7.5.1

Electrical devices with multiple receptacles must possess grounding and circuit-breaking mechanisms.

A9.7.6

Charging of electric scooters, bicycles, or other conveyances for personal use is prohibited.

A10 Physical Hazards

A10.1 Work Practices

A10.1.1

Large or heavy items are to be stored as close to ground level as possible.

A10.1.2

Horseplay is not acceptable in the laboratory.

A10.2 Trip Hazards

A10.2.1

Walkways are to be unobstructed and be 36” wide at minimum per NFPA 7.3.4.1(2).

A10.2.2

Trip hazards must be removed or mitigated.

A10.2.2.1

Electrical cords and hoses that have to run along the floor must be secured to prevent trip hazards. The securing devices used for the securing electrical cords and hoses must not present a trip hazard themselves.

A10.2.2.2

Equipment and containers that must be placed on the floor must be positioned so that they are highly visible and out of the path of travel.

A10.3 Sharps

A10.3.1

Avoid using sharps whenever possible; use blunted needles and plastics when possible.

A10.3.2

Use disposable sharps to avoid the hazards associated with decontaminating the items.

A10.3.2.1

Used sharps must be discarded immediately after use into a puncture-resistant sharps container.

Do not overfill sharps containers. Remove from service when container is 3/4 full, close, and dispose of in accordance with TTU OP 60.10.
Sharps containers must be easily accessible.

A10.3.3

Be prepared to use the device the moment the sharp is exposed and secure or discard immediately after use.

A10.3.4

Do not bend, break or otherwise manipulate sharps by hand.

A10.3.5

Needles must not be recapped.

A10.3.5.1

If there is a need to recap needles, a valid written reason and protocol must be submitted to and approved by EHS.

Appropriate documented training in a one-handed recapping technique must be given to each individual and documented demonstration of proficiency must be recorded.
If an EHS-approved recapping SOP is in place, it should be posted in the immediate work area where sharps are recapped.

A10.3.6

Reusable sharps must be placed in a closeable, rigid container for transport or decontamination. The sharp end must be secured in such a manner so as to prevent accidental injury.

A10.3.7

Sharps that are to be stored must be secured in such a manner so as to prevent accidental injury.

A10.3.8

Do not hand-pass exposed sharps. Place sharps in a predetermined neutral zone to pass to others.

A10.4 Required Precautions

A10.4.1

A blast shield must be in place when working with energetic or potentially energetic materials.

A10.4.2

Closed systems under heat and / or pressure must be contained behind a blast shield or fume hood with the sash closed.

A10.4.3

Proper gas cylinder handling and operation is required (see Compressed Gases Guides).

A10.4.4

Pulleys, belts, and other moving parts shall be properly guarded.

A10.4.5

Dewar flasks and cold traps are wrapped with screens, friction tape or a metal jacket.

A10.4.6

Soldering

A10.4.6.1

Work areas with soldering stations must have a ten (10) foot zone of clearance between soldering stations and desk or seating areas.

A10.4.6.2

If using solder containing lead, soldering stations must be located inside a fume hood or under localized exhaust or be equipped with a table top air scrubber.

A10.5 Compressed gas cylinders

A10.5.1

Gas cylinders shall be stored in cool, well-ventilated, and secure work areas.

A10.5.1.1

Gas cylinders must be kept away from heat or ignition sources.

A10.5.1.2

Handle empty cylinders with the same precautions as if they are full.

A10.5.1.3

Gas cylinders must not be stored where they would impede means of ingress or egress from the work area or building.

A10.5.1.4

Gas cylinders must not be exposed to continuous dampness or corrosive materials or chemicals.

A10.5.2

Gas cylinders must remain secured at all times in the work area.

A10.5.2.1

Securing devices shall be appropriate and kept in good condition.

A10.5.2.2

Straps or chains used to secure gas cylinders shall be attached to a mount or clamp that is affixed to a sturdy surface (i.e. solid wall or heavy benchtop).

A10.5.2.3

Multiple gas cylinders of compatible gases secured with a single strap/chain must be tightly nested together with three points of contact.

A10.5.2.4

Do not attempt to catch a falling cylinder.

A10.5.3

Segregate incompatible gases by minimum of twenty feet or by a noncombustible barrier at least five feet high having a fire-resistance rating of at least one-half hour. Refer to Appendix AD for guidance.

A10.5.3.1

Separation distances can be reduced to five feet if one cylinder is contained in a gas cabinet and reduced to zero feet if both cylinders are contained in gas cabinets.

A10.5.3.2

Incompatible gases can be stored together if in use for a piece of equipment that provides containment of gases unless one or both gases are considered high hazard (refer to section A17.4.4).

A10.5.4

Gas regulators, tubing/hoses, and other accessories shall be appropriate, chemically compatible, and rated for the type of gas and pressures for which it shall be used.

A10.5.4.1

Leak tests should be performed prior to use and especially when changing out gas cylinders or modifying the setup/connections.

A10.5.4.2

Do not allow grease or oil to come in contact with oxygen cylinder valves, regulators, or fittings as this constitutes a fire and/or explosion hazard.

A10.5.4.3

Use only non-sparking tools when working with flammable or explosive gases.

A10.5.5

When gas cylinders are stored and not in use the main valve must be closed and pressure regulators released.

A10.5.5.1

Caps used for valve protection shall be kept on the cylinders at all times except when the cylinder is in use.

A10.5.6

Gas cylinders must have appropriate hazard labeling including:

A10.5.6.1

Full chemical name(s);

A10.5.6.2

Chemical hazard symbol(s);

A10.5.6.3

Component percentages or ratios (for gas mixtures);

A10.5.6.4

Applicable hazard warnings and/or statements.

A10.5.7

Gas cylinders must be regularly performance tested by vendors and labelled. Cylinders with invalid test dates must not be accepted from the vendor for storage and use in the work area. See Appendix AD for guidance on interpreting cylinder test labeling.

A10.5.7.1

Cylinders which have test dates expired by more than ten years must be returned to the vendor or disposed.

A10.5.8

No more than two spare gas cylinders per gas type or per apparatus/equipment where gas is in use should be kept in the work area unless gas consumption rates necessitate additional backups.

A10.5.8.1

Long-term or indefinite storage of unused gas cylinders is not recommended.

A10.5.9

Transport of gas cylinders shall be done using an appropriate cart or dolly that allows the container to remain upright and secured at all times.

A10.5.9.1

Cylinders must be transported with valves closed and caps in place.

A10.5.9.2

Cylinders must be segregated from incompatible gases during transport.

A10.5.9.3

Cylinders must not be exposed to high temperatures during transport.

A10.5.9.4

Transport of gas cylinders between buildings and on roadways where a vehicle is required must be done using a Texas Tech University vehicle.

A10.5.9.4(a)

Transport of gas cylinders must not be done in the same compartment as the driver or passengers.

A10.5.9.4(b)

Gas cylinders must remain upright and secured in the vehicle at all times during transport.

A10.5.9.4(c)

A gas cylinder transport cart or dolly must accompany the cylinder when transporting by vehicle if unavailable and required at the destination.

A10.5.10

For hazardous, non-inert gases, leak detection monitors specific to the type(s) of gas(es) present and in use in the work area must be utilized for leak detection and annually recalibrated/recertified or as often as recommended by the manufacturer.

A10.5.10.1

Leak detection monitors must be able to detect the gas of interest at no less than the reported PEL and at 25% of the lower flammable limit (LFL) (for flammable gases) and visually and audibly alert when excessive levels occur.

A10.5.11

If gas cylinder labeling becomes unclear or defaced so that the contents cannot be identified, the cylinder should be marked “contents unknown” and the manufacturer contacted for additional guidance.

A10.5.11.1

Damaged cylinders or cylinders which cannot be returned to the manufacturer shall be disposed of through EHS.

A10.6 Cryogenic Liquids and Dewars

A10.6.1

Tanks or cylinders for storing or dispensing cryogenic liquids must be:

A10.6.1.1

Rated for the correct pressure according to the intended use;

A10.6.1.2

Constructed and certified for use with cryogenic liquids according to NFPA 55;

A10.6.1.3

Equipped with appropriate pressure relief valves.

A10.6.2

Do not modify or deconstruct cryogenic liquid storage units or valves.

A10.6.3

Transport of cryogenic liquid storage tanks, cylinders, or dewars must be done using an appropriate transport cart unless the size and weight of the vessel allows it to be safely transported manually or the vessel is equipped with wheels.

A10.6.3.1

Be aware that cryogenic tanks can vent unexpectedly at any given time. Do not point the vent valve towards yourself or another person during transport.

A10.6.3.2

Transport of cryogenic liquids by vehicle must be done using a Texas Tech University vehicle.

A10.6.3.2(a)

Transport of cryogenic liquids must not be done in the same compartment as the driver or passengers.

A10.6.3.2(b)

Cryogenic liquid storage units must remain upright and secured in the vehicle at all times during transport.

A10.6.3.2(c)

A transport cart or dolly must accompany the cylinder when transporting by vehicle if unavailable and required at the destination.

A11 WORK AREA SAFETY PLAN (WASP)

A11.1 WASP Requirements

The WASP is a research group-specific document that identifies potential hazards in the laboratory, outlines hazard-specific policies and procedures, and gives general guidance to laboratory personnel on laboratory safety practices. This document shall at minimum contain:

A11.1.1

The laboratory location(s) that are covered in the plan;

A11.1.2

Responsible party/parties for the laboratory locations that are covered in the plan, including designation of personnel responsible for WASP implementation;

A11.1.3

Emergency contact information for the responsible party for the laboratory locations;

A11.1.4

Rules and policies of the laboratory that are not less stringent than the University Laboratory Safety Manual;

A11.1.5

Good laboratory hygiene practices;

A11.1.6

Procedures to assess performance and operate chemical laboratory fume hoods and other protective equipment;

A11.1.7

Identification of hazards and mitigation strategies in the laboratory, including:

A11.1.7.1

Physical, electrical, chemical, biological and radiological hazards present;

A11.1.7.1(a)

Employees must be informed of physical and health hazards associated with hazards present; and

A11.1.7.1(b)

Employees must be informed of the Permissible Exposure Limits (PEL) for all hazards present.

A11.1.7.2

Control measures for reducing employee exposure to these hazards such as engineering controlsd, personal protective equipment (PPE), and hygiene practices;

A11.1.8

Waste disposal procedures for all waste streams;

A11.1.9

General clean-up procedures in case of a spill;

A11.1.10

Acknowledgement sheet that all individuals working in the laboratoryd are required to sign that states they have read and understood the plan and will follow what is outlined in the plan; and acknowledgement sheet should reflect active laboratory personnel.

A11.1.11

Current training records for all active laboratory personnel, including the PI/supervisor.

A11.2 Plan Availability

A11.2.1

The WASP shall be readily available to employees, employee representatives and regulatory agencies upon request.

A11.3 Plan Review

A11.3

The WASP shall be reviewed annually and revised to address new hazards, operations, equipment, etc. prior to introduction to the work area.

A12 Standard Operating Procedures

A12.1 SOP Requirements

SOPs are written, step-by-step procedures that must be created for all laboratory functions, such that anyone with similar training would be able to use the procedure to complete the same task. The use of photographs, diagrams and flowcharts can be helpful in conveying information. The following sections must be included:

A12.1.1

Appropriate title;

A12.1.2

Creator name, creation date, and PI approval;

A12.1.3

Training requirements for the SOP operator;

A12.1.4

Purpose that explains the objective and relays any other pertinent information to understand the SOP;

A12.1.5

List of hazards and safety precautions;

A12.1.6

List of PPE and / or other safety equipment needed for the task(s);

A12.1.7

List of materials and equipment needed to fully complete the task(s);

A12.1.8

Sequence of each task in detail;

A12.1.9

Information pertaining to interpretation of anticipated results, data collection and / or data analysis;

A12.1.10

Shut-down procedures including decontamination and waste disposal. Procedures may reference Work Area Safety Plan (WASP) (see Section A11);

A12.1.11

Emergency procedures such as spill response and response to personnel exposure which include decontamination, waste disposal and OHP referrals. Procedures may reference the WASP (see Section A11); and

A12.1.12

List of references such as associated SOPs, cited literature and / or vendor documentation, if available.

A12.2 SOP Approval

All SOPs must be followed as written and approved by the PI or supervisor.

A13 Employee Exposure Assessment and Monitoring

A13.1

An employee exposure assessment will be performed for hazardous chemicals regulated by OSHA in 29 CFR 1910, subpart Z. This determination is based upon the nature of the material and the conditions of use as described in Appendix AI.

A13.2 Exposure Determination for Substance-Specific Standards

A13.2.1

Initial monitoring - The CHO shall initiate monitoring of the employee's exposure to any substance regulated by a standard which requires monitoring, if there is reason to believe that exposure levels for that substance routinely exceed the action level or Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL). This may be done using the guidance in Appendix AI.

A13.2.2

Periodic monitoring - If the initial monitoring discloses employee exposure over the action level or PEL, the CHO will comply with the exposure monitoring provisions of the relevant OSHA standard.

A13.2.3

Termination of monitoring - Monitoring may be terminated in accordance with the relevant OSHA standard.

A13.2.4

Employee notification of monitoring results - The CHO shall, within 15 days after the receipt of any monitoring results, notify the employee of these results in writing either individually or by posting results in an appropriate location that is accessible to employees.

A13.3 Routine Exposures Over PELs for Substance Specific Standards

A13.3.1

If air monitoring results indicate that employee exposures are above the limits prescribed in the OSHA substance specific standards, medical monitoring is provided as required in the applicable standard for the regulated substance. The person responsible for establishing the need for employee medical monitoring is the CHO.

A13.4 Exposure Evaluation Following an Incident

A13.4.1

The initial evaluation of an incident for possible overexposure shall be conducted by the DSO, who will establish the need for a medical consultation / examination.

A13.4.2

The supervisor or DSO will fill out the Initial Investigation of Possible Overexposure found in Appendix AL, and provide copies to the examining physician and the CHO.

A13.5 Responsibilities

A13.5.1

The person responsible for determining the need for monitoring employee exposure is the supervisor or any departmental representative.

A13.5.2

The person responsible for monitoring employee exposure is the CHO.

A14 Training Requirements

A14.1 Training Timeline

A14.1.1

All personnel who may be exposed to hazardous substances are to participate in the education and training program established by the University.

A14.1.2

All TTU personnel will be informed about the hazards in their normal work area(s) as well as hazards in other areas where they may be required to work.

A14.1.3

At the time of initial assignment, new employees shall receive the required training from the department and complete TTU EHS safety training.

A14.1.3.1

New employees shall be informed about the University Laboratory Safety Manual and the SOPs by their supervisor.

A14.1.4

Refreshers for TTU EHS safety trainings are required as detailed in Section A14.2.

A14.1.4.1

Refresher information for departmental training shall be provided at scheduled intervals as determined by the supervisor but at least annually.

A14.1.5

When a new hazard is introduced into a work area, employees will be informed of the new hazard and receive the appropriate training from their supervisor.

A14.1.6

All personnel must complete training prior to work commencing.

A14.2 Required EHS Safety Trainings Based on Activities

A14.2.1

Any university employee – Safety Awareness Training through Cornerstone (online). Refresher training is required biennially for all personnel.

A14.2.2

Any non-laboratory personnel occupationally exposed to chemicals – Hazard Communication Training through TTU EHS (seminar or online). Refresher training required annually for all personnel.

A14.2.3

Any laboratory personnel – Laboratory Safety Training through TTU EHS (seminar or online). Refresher training is required biennially for all personnel.

A14.2.4

Any biological laboratory personnel – Biological Safety Training through TTU EHS (seminar or online). Refresher training is required biennially for all personnel.

A14.2.5

Personnel exposed to human materials – Bloodborne Pathogen Training through TTU EHS (seminar or online). Refresher training is required annually for all personnel.

A14.2.6

Personnel working with radioactive materials – Phase I Radiation Training through TTU EHS (online) and Phase II Radiation Safety Training through TTU EHS (lecture). Online refresher training is required biennially for all personnel.

A14.2.7

Personnel working with radiation producing equipment – Phase I Radiation Training through TTU EHS (online) and generation of a safety SOP for the particular piece of equipment being used to be reviewed by the TTU Radiation Safety Officer. Online refresher training is required biennially for all personnel.

A14.2.8

Personnel working with lasers – Laser Safety Training through TTU EHS (online). Refresher training is required biennially for all personnel.

A14.2.9

Additional training may be required based on agent or activities.

A14.3 Research Group/Departmental Training

A14.3.1

It is the supervisor’s responsibility to provide or ensure that everyone under their supervision has completed the proper training for the operations they will be performing.

A14.3.1.1

Non-laboratory personnel and visitors entering the laboratory shall be notified of physical and health hazards that are presented by chemical and biological material in the laboratory (see Section A6).

A14.3.2

TTU personnel and volunteers shall be informed of the locations of the Work Area Safety Plan (WASP), University Laboratory Safety Manual, SDSs, chemical inventory and any other relevant documents.

A14.3.3

Training shall include:

A14.3.3.1

Methods and observations that may be used to detect the presence or release of a hazardous chemical (such as monitoring conducted by the department / EHS, continuous monitoring devices, visual appearance or odor of hazardous chemicals when being released, etc.);

A14.3.3.2

The physical and health hazards of chemicals in the work area;

A14.3.3.3

Physical hazards presented by chemicals (as distinguished from physical hazards (Section A10)) can cause harm by triggering a secondary event not related to direct contact. These include, but are not limited to, explosives, flammables chemicals, combustible chemicals, oxidizing chemicals, gases under pressure, self-reactive substances, pyrophoric chemicalsd, self-heating substances, water reactive chemicals, organic peroxides, and chemicals corrosive to metals. This training shall include:

Identification of the physical hazards;
Precautions used while handling these physical hazards such as the location where the agent is to be handled and the proper PPE required;
Proper storage of agents to minimize physical hazards; and
Procedures in case of uncontained release.

A14.3.3.4

Health hazards presented by chemicals include acute toxicity, skin corrosion, irritation, serious eye damage or irritation, respiratory or skin sensitization, germ cell mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, reproductive toxicology, target organ systemic toxicity from acute or chronic exposure and aspiration hazard. This training shall include:

Identification of the health hazards;
Precautions used while handling this health hazards such as location where the agent is to be handled and the proper PPE required;
Proper storage of agents to minimize health hazards;
Procedures in case of release.

A14.3.3.5

The measures employees can take to protect themselves from these hazards, such as appropriate work practices, emergency procedures and PPE;

A14.3.3.6

The WASP (see Section A11) and SOPs (see Section A12);

A14.3.3.7

Detailed review of SDSs for products which present physical and / or health hazards present in the work area;

A14.3.3.8

Proper disposal of waste chemicals reiterating the fact that no chemical may be disposed of in the sanitary sewer system; and

A14.3.3.9

Proper decontamination procedures for work area, equipment and person.

A15 Occupational Health Program

A15.1 The OHP

A15.1

The OHP at Texas Tech is designed to monitor, mitigate and treat health issues that can develop due to occupational hazards. Employees may enroll in the Program under the following circumstances:

A15.1.1

Whenever an employee develops signs or symptoms associated with a hazardous chemical to which the employee may have been exposed in the work area;

A15.1.2

If an incident occurs in the work area such as a spill, leak, explosion or other occurrence resulting in the likelihood of a hazardous exposure, the affected employee can enroll in the OHP; and /or

A15.1.3

Personnel may be assigned to the Program or enroll voluntarily due to occupational risks.

A15.1.3.1

Personnel meeting requirements outlined in the Respiratory Protection Program (TTU OP 60.05) or Bloodborne Pathogen Protection Program (TTU OP 60.24) shall be enrolled in the OHP.

A15.2 Program Steps

A15.2.1

An occupational risk assessment should be performed by the workplace supervisor using the Occupational Risk Assessment and details of workplace hazards should be described in the position description of the employee.

A15.2.1.1

EHS should be consulted when encountering unknown or undefined hazards.

A15.2.2

The employee should submit the Assessment and completed Enrollment Form ehs.ohp@ttu.edu to complete enrollment.

A15.2.3

EHS will submit the form to the Occupational Health Provider.

A15.2.4

The Occupational Health Provider will coordinate and perform appropriate medical care and maintain all health records.

A15.2.5

The Occupational Health Provider will provide recommendations to EHS and the workplace supervisor as to recommended work status and any restrictions for the employee.

A15.2.6

As necessary, EHS will provide exposure assessments, necessary training and recommendations for engineering controls, administrative controls and PPE to mitigate workplace hazards.

A15.2.7

During an emergency response, medical care can be provided by any medical professional with a follow-up Incident Form submitted to the OHP coordinator and follow-up medical care coordinated through the Occupational Health Provider.

A16 Chemical Identification Requirements

A16.1 Labeling on Incoming Chemical Containers

A16.1.1

Suppliers of chemical products must label their materials in accordance with the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) using the Globally Harmonized System (GHS).

A16.1.1.1

If containers are received at the Chemical Gateway without the required information, the container will be held until proper labeling is submitted by the responsible party. Container labels may be obtained through ChemWatch on the EHS website.

A16.1.2

The DSO and supervisor are responsible for ensuring that incoming containers are labeled with the required information.

A16.1.3

Labels on chemical containers must not be removed or defaced while the container holds the indicated chemical.

A16.2 Labeling on Secondary Chemical Containers

A16.2.1

Secondary containers 15 mL or smaller may be labeled with an abbreviation if an abbreviation chart written in English is posted where the containers are used and stored and can be easily read.

A16.2.2

Containers larger than 15 mL must be labeled with the full English name according to the SDS.

A16.2.3

Samples may be labeled to correspond with a lab notebook.

A16.3 Chemical Substances Developed in a Laboratory

A16.3.1

Chemical substances produced in a laboratory must be labeled to correspond with a lab notebook that is located in the laboratory.

A16.3.2

If the composition of the chemical substance which is produced exclusively for the laboratory's use is known, the supervisor shall determine if it is a hazardous chemical as defined by the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200).

A16.3.2.1

If the chemical is determined to be hazardous, the supervisor shall provide appropriate training as required by this plan (see Section A14).

A16.3.3

If the chemical produced is a byproduct whose composition is not known, the supervisor shall assume that the substance is hazardous and provide appropriate training as required by this plan.

A16.3.4

If the chemical substance is produced for another user outside of the laboratory, the supervisor shall comply with the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) including the requirements for preparation of a SDS and container labeling.

A16.4 Safety Data Sheets (SDSs)

A16.4.1

SDSs shall be obtained for all chemicals obtained.

A16.4.2

The responsibility for obtaining, evaluating and maintaining SDSs is assigned to each individual laboratory. Most SDSs can be obtained through ChemWatch or online chemical inventories.

A16.4.2.1

If a SDS is not available through ChemWatch, the laboratory group shall contact the manufacturer(s) and/or distributor(s) for procurement of the SDS. A copy of the SDS must be submitted to EHS.

A16.4.3

Access to SDSs should be maintained in the work area either in paper copy, electronic copy or accessible via internet. Most SDSs can be obtained through ChemWatch or online chemical inventories.

A16.4.3.1

SDSs can be maintained in hard or electronic copy in a central location for work areas in the same building. Signage in each work area shall identify this location.

A16.4.4

SDSs for hazardous materials shall be readily accessible to employees during each work shift.

A16.4.5

The location of these SDSs, along with reference materials, will be addressed in the Work Area Safety Plan (WASP).

A16.4.6

SDSs shall be readily available for review upon request.

A17 Chemical Handling

A17.1 Chemical Containers

A17.1.1

All chemical containers must be kept in a good condition.

A17.1.2

Chemical containers that are compromised shall not be used.

A17.1.2.1

Chemicals may be transferred to a different compatible container and labeled according to the GHS labeling system.

A17.1.3

Parent (i.e., original) chemical containers shall be barcoded.

A17.2 Chemical Storage

A17.2.1

Chemicals shall be stored according to Appendix AA. Each storage group shall be stored in secondary containment if multiple groups are stored on the same shelf.

A17.2.1.1

There is a corresponding number on the EHS barcode for the chemical storage group as defined by Appendix AA.

Chemicals with an NFPA health hazard rating of 3 or 4 will have a blue dot affixed to the EHS barcode. Such chemicals should be treated with caution.
Chemicals in storage Group 9 (Compatible Pyrophoric and Water Reactive Materials) shall be stored according to their respective SDS.
When a chemical container is emptied, the yellow portion of the EHS barcode must be removed, affixed to Barcode Return Form and returned to EHS at Campus Mail Stop 1090.

A17.2.2

If chemicals are stored in a non-visible area such as a drawer or cabinet, the drawer or cabinet shall be marked as chemical storage.

A17.2.3

Chemical containers must be stored in an upright position to prevent accidental spills.

A17.2.4

Chemicals must be stored in a secured location when not in use.

A17.2.4.1

Secure locations are cabinets or shelving that should have a lip or restraining wire. Secondary containment is recommended if no lip or restraining wire is present.

A17.2.4.2

Cabinets must be appropriate for the type of chemical being stored.

A17.2.5

Chemicals collected to be recycled or reclaimed must be affixed with a label that states that purpose (e.g., Xylene To Be Recycled or Xylene To Be Reclaimed).

A17.2.6

Chemical containers stored on the floor must be secured in secondary containment to collect spills.

A17.2.7

Chemicals must be stored away from intense light or heat sources.

A17.3 Flammable Storage

A17.3.1

Keep flammable liquids used in the work area in original containers or safety cans.

A17.3.2

In the event that such cans are not available, glass bottles no larger than four (4) liters may be used with the proper precaution.

A17.3.3

Minimize the amount of flammable chemicals used and stored in the work area and do not exceed the maximum allowable storage quantities detailed in Appendix AN.

A17.3.4

Flammables shall be stored in approved rated flammable storage cabinets at all times.

A17.3.5

A maximum of five (5) gallons of flammable liquids may be in use at any one time in the work area. All flammable liquids shall be put away when not in use.

A17.3.6

Flammables that require refrigeration shall be stored in a refrigerator that is designated and rated for flammable or explosive storage.

A17.3.7

Flammable waste in a lab shall be counted in the total allowable amount of flammable liquids in the lab.

A17.4 Chemicals of Special Concern

A17.4.1

Safety procedures for chemicals of special concern including carcinogens, teratogens and other highly toxic chemicals must be posted in the immediate work area.

A17.4.2 Hydrofluoric Acid (HF)

A17.4.2.1

Work areas where HF is used or stored must have unexpired calcium gluconate gel available.

Gel should be in the immediate work area when actively working with HF.

A17.4.2.2

Personnel working in areas where HF is used must be trained on SOPs and emergency procedures for HF and be informed of the dangers of this chemical.

Never use HF when working alone or after hours.
HF may be used when working alone during regular working hours provided personnel versed in first aid have been alerted and are in the general vicinity.

A17.4.2.3

Additional PPE, including a face shield, chemically-resistant lab apron, and hand protection in addition to basic nitrile or latex gloves, is required when working with HF.

A17.4.3 Perchloric Acid

A17.4.3.1

Heated perchloric acid operations must be performed inside a perchloric acid fume hood.

A17.4.4

Unstable/Reactive, Corrosive, Pyrophoric, Toxic, and Highly Toxic Gases

A17.4.4.1

Proper administrative and engineering controls for the storage and use of highly hazardous compressed gases including unstable/reactive, corrosive, pyrophoric, toxic, and highly toxic gases defined according to NFPA 55 must be in place prior to acquisition.

A17.4.4.2

Gas cylinders containing highly hazardous gases must be kept in a continuously, mechanically ventilated enclosure.

A17.4.4.2(a)

Gases having an NFPA health hazard rating of 3 or 4 and those with a health hazard rating of 2 but no physiological warning properties (e.g. carbon monoxide) must be kept in a gas cylinder cabinet unless they are small enough to fit within a fume hood or other appropriate ventilated enclosure.

A17.4.4.2(b)

Compressed gas cylinder cabinets must meet NFPA 55 construction and performance standards including the following requirements:

A17.4.4.2(b)(i)

Negative pressure in relation to the surrounding area with the exhaust from the cabinet directed to the outside of the building and not recirculated;

A17.4.4.2(b)(ii)

Constructed of no less than 0.097 inch or 2.46 mm (12-guage) steel;

A17.4.4.2(b)(iii)

Self-closing limited access ports or noncombustible windows for accessing equipment controls;

A17.4.4.2(b)(iv)

Velocity at the face of access ports or windows when open shall not be less than 200 fpm average with not less than 150 fpm at any single point of measurement.

A17.4.4.2(b)(v)

Self-closing doors;

A17.4.4.2(b)(vi)

Internally sprinklered or installed in a sprinklered area;

A17.4.4.2(b)(vii)

Cabinets shall contain not more than three cylinders, containers, or tanks, with incompatible gases stored separately.

A17.4.4.2(c)

Gas cabinets are recommended to be equipped with leak detection monitor, emergency shut-off valve or button, exhaust alarm, and purge system.

A17.4.4.2(c)(i)

The display for leak detection monitors should be visible from outside the cabinet or remotely accessible to be able to verify hazardous air contamination levels without opening the cabinet.

A17.4.4.2(c)(ii)

A17.4.4.2(c)(iii)

For gases used with unattended operations the shut-off valve shall be designed to automatically close if the concentration of gas detected in the gas cabinet reaches one-half of the IDLH.

A17.4.4.2(c)(iv)

Gas cabinet safety features must be regularly tested and calibrated to maintain functionality.

A17.4.4.3

Highly hazardous gases shall be limited to the maximum allowable quantities (MAQ) as defined in Appendix AD.

A17.4.5 Energetic Materials (i.e., explosives, propellants, pyrotechnics)

A17.4.5.1

Administrative and engineering controls for the storage, use and disposal of energetic materialsd must be outlined in the WASP (see Section A11).

A17.4.5.2

WASP and SOPs (see Section A12) related to energetic materials will be reviewed and approved by the Institutional Laboratory Safety Committee prior to acquisition of energetic materials. The following points must be addressed:

Compatibility of laboratory instruments and appropriate safety barriers for laboratory instruments;
Maximum quantities for use; and
If performing controlled detonations, procedures for dealing with unexploded ordinance will be written in the WASP.

A17.4.6 Volatilizing Chemicals

A17.4.6.1

Solvents and other chemicals that volatilize must be used inside a chemical fume hood or under localized exhaustd.

A17.4.6.2

Instrumentation that uses volatilizing chemicals should be operated in a chemical fume hood or under exhaust when possible.

A17.4.6.3

Instrumentation that uses volatilizing chemicals that cannot be placed in a hood or used under localized exhaust shall have all chemical containers sealed or filtered.

A17.4.6.4

Small quantities of volatilizing chemicals may be used outside of a fume hood for routine decontamination or cleaning of equipment or work surfaces.

A17.4.7 Pyrophoric Materials

A17.4.7.1

Pyrophoric materials should be stored according to their respective SDS.

A17.4.7.2

Flame-resistant lab coats must be worn while working with pyrophoric materials.

A17.4.7.3

Researchers using energetic materials must complete and submit an application to and receive approval from the ILSC before procurement or synthesis of materials.

A17.4.8 Mercury

A17.4.8.1

All devices and equipment containing mercury must be contained in secondary containmentd unless actively being used.

A17.4.8.2

Additional PPE, such as disposable shoe covers and chemically-resistant aprons, may be required for work areas using unsealed, free mercury.

A17.4.8.3

Work areas housing mercury-containing equipment must be designed with the appropriate barriers including sealed HVAC systems and a possible floor trap.

A17.4.9 Toxin Handling

A17.4.9.1

Avoid handling dry forms of toxins when possible.

A17.4.9.2

Clean room gloves are recommended for handling dry forms of toxins that are electrostatic.

A17.4.9.3

Handle toxins within a fume hood, biological safety cabinet or glove box. Do not use toxins in a laminar flow hood.

Toxins that are electrostatic or particularly hazardous should be used with a glove bag within a fume hood, biological safety cabinet or glove box.

A17.4.9.4

Consider toxin, diluent/solvent and infectious material when selecting gloves and other PPE.

When handling toxins that present a cutaneous (i.e., affecting the skin) or percutaneous (i.e. permeable through skin) hazard, select gloves that are known to be impervious to the toxin and diluent / solvent.
If not handling within a glove bag, a barrier lab coat with glove cuffs worn over sleeves is recommended to minimize skin exposure.

A17.4.9.5

Decontamination procedures must be specified for individual toxins and be included in the Work Area Safety Plan (WASP) as outlined in Section A11.1.8.5.

A17.4.10 Nanoparticles

A17.4.10.1

Dry, powder nanomaterials of unknown toxicity / reactivity or nanoparticlesd in solution that may become dry or aerosolized during manipulation shall be used in fume hoods, biological safety cabinets (Class I or II), or glove boxes.

A17.4.10.2

Administrative and engineering controls for the storage, use and disposal of nanomaterials must be outlined in the WASP (see Section A11) and/or SOPs (see Section A12).

A17.4.10.3

A general risk assessment must be performed for the nanomaterials in bulk and in non-nanoparticled forms (e.g., contained in solid matrix, suspension in solution or slurry, powdered form, etc.) and included in the WASP.

A17.4.10.4

Proper training on methods involving nanomaterials will be provided by the PI/supervisor.

A17.4.10.5

Chemicals that present a physical hazard caused by a secondary event not related to direct contact (e.g., fire, explosion, corrosion of equipment, etc.) shall be handled as outlined in in the WASP (see Section A11) and / or individual SOPs (see Section A12).

A17.4.11 Picric Acid

A17.4.11.1

Picric acid must be stored hydrated at all times.

A17.4.11.2

A usage log must be maintained for the use of picric acid.

A17.5 Spill Prevention Measures

A17.5.1

Secure containers and equipment to minimize the possibility of tipping.

A17.5.2

Keep containers and experimental equipment as low as possible.

A17.5.3

Plan experimental reactions to anticipate and to provide controls for undesired outcomes such as overheating.

A17.5.4

Check the material and construction of chemical containers and equipment with a goal of maintaining structural integrity.

A17.5.5

Use manageable volumes of chemicals.

A17.5.6

Use secondary containment during procedures requiring chemical transfers.

A17.6 Chemical Spill Response

A17.6.1

If the spill involves: 1) greater than four (4) liters of any material, 2) toxic, flammable, corrosive, or reactive materials, 3) unknown materials, 4) mercury and / or 5) laboratory personnel are not comfortable responding to the spill, they may use the following procedure:

A17.6.1.1

Stabilize any reactions (if possible);

A17.6.1.2

Immediately evacuate the lab; and

A17.6.2.3

Contact EHS at 806-742-3876 immediately for clean-up. Personnel should be immediately available to convey spill details.

A17.6.2

Spill kits must be appropriate for the chemicals used in the work area. Spill kits supplied by EHS may not be appropriate for all chemicals.

A17.6.3

General spill response should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis as outlined by 29 CFR 1910.120(q). Lab personnel may clean the spill themselves following the guidance in Appendix AC if the following criteria are met:

A17.6.3.1

The spill is easily controlled (i.e., a manageable volume and state);

A17.6.3.2

Personnel have been trained on proper spill response and are comfortable cleaning up the spill;

A17.6.3.3

Personnel have access to adequate spill response materials and equipment;

A17.6.3.4

The hazards of the spill are known;

A17.6.3.5

The hazards presented by the spill do not exceed the hazards of routinely working with the chemical; and

A17.6.3.6

There is a limited possibility of the spill escalating to an emergency situation (e.g., fire, oxygen deprivation, IDLH, etc.).

A17.6.4

If the spill involves a biological material refer to Section B7 in the Biosafety chapter of the University Laboratory Safety Manual.

A17.6.5

If the spill involves radiological materials refer to Section V.(G) in the Radiation Safety Manual of the University Laboratory Safety Manual.

A17.7 Chemical Review

A17.7.1

Chemicals that have been in inventory for at least five years shall be assessed by the PI to determine if the containers and/or chemicals are in acceptable condition to keep in service. These same chemicals will need to be assessed again every five years.

A17.7.1.1

Once a year each PI that has a chemical inventory assigned to them will be sent a list of chemicals to review by EHS. This list will be generated from the inventory system currently in use by EHS.

A17.7.2

Chemical containers shall be assessed by the PI to determine if they have been compromised through degradation or wear of usage.

A17.7.2.1

If the container is in acceptable condition, ensure the labeling is in accordance with the Globally Harmonized System.

A17.7.2.2

If the container is compromised, transfer the contents to a new compatible container and label in accordance with the Globally Harmonized System.

A17.7.3

The chemicals shall be assessed by the PI to determine if the chemicals are acceptable for use or should be disposed of through EHS.

A17.7.3.1

If chemicals are determined to be acceptable for use, ensure they are to be stored in accordance to Appendix AA.

A17.7.3.2

If chemicals are determined to not be acceptable or are no longer wanted, label the chemical for disposal in accordance to Section A19 and submit a waste request for pickup.

A17.7.4

Upon completion of the Chemical Review, the PI will acknowledge this review was completed by submitting a Chemical Review Form.

A18 Respiratory Protection Program

A18.1

Respirators shall be selected and used in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.134 and TTU OP 60.05.

A18.1.1

Respirators shall be used only where engineering or administrative controls are not practical and where a respirator-assigned protection factor is sufficient for worker protection.

A18.1.2

The department/supervisor shall provide, at no cost to the employee, the proper respiratory equipment as determined by EHS.

A18.1.3

Prior to use of any respiratory protective equipment, all personnel required to wear a respirator for job duties will:

A18.1.3.1

Submit the Occupational Health Program Enrollment Form to EHS;

Personnel requiring a respirator for job duties shall be enrolled in the Occupational Health Program (OHP) (see Section A15 for more information on the OHP);

A18.1.3.2

Be deemed physically capable of wearing a respirator by a licensed physician using the OSHA Respirator Medical Evaluation;

A18.1.3.3

Take and pass Respirator Protection Program online training provided by EHS; and

A18.1.3.4

Be fit tested by EHS for a respirator appropriate to the hazard(s).

A18.1.4

All personnel enrolled in the Respiratory Protection Program must complete all steps outlined under Section A18.1.3 annually.

A18.1.5

Voluntary use of respirators must complete all steps outlined in Section A18.1.3.

A19 Waste Management and Disposal

A19.1 Training for Non-Municipal Wastes

A19.1.1

All requestors must complete online Waste Request training through the EHS website before submitting pick up requests for universal, chemical, untreated biological or radioactive waste.

A19.2 Waste Segregation and Labeling

A19.2.1

Waste disposal must follow TTU OP 63.06. All universal, chemical, untreated biological and radioactive waste must be segregated from municipal solid wasted to be collected and disposed of through EHS.

A19.2.1.1

Universal waste is defined in 40 CFR 273.

A completed Universal Waste label must be affixed to waste items/container prior to EHS pick up. Labels may be obtained from EHS upon request.

A19.2.1.2

Hazardous waste is defined in 40 CFR 261.3.

When waste is first added to a container, waste containers shall be labeled as “Hazardous Waste” with a waste label provided by EHS with hazardous characteristic(s) indicated as they pertain to the container contents.

1. Building – Building name;

1. Room Number – Room number where waste is being generated; and

b. During waste collection prior to EHS pick up, complete the remaining waste identification fields.

1. pH of contents – Provide pH if known. At minimum, identify as acidic, basic or neutral.
2. Contents – Provide full name of each individual chemical waste added to the container upon addition to the container. Abbreviations or formulas are not acceptable.
3. Hazard – Indicate toxic, reactive, flammable, corrosive, poison and / or carcinogenic, etc. as applicable to the container contents.

A19.2.1.3

Biological waste receptacles must be labeled with a biohazard symbol (see Section B7.4.1.2 in the Biosafety section of the University Laboratory Safety Manual).

A19.2.1.4

Radioactive waste receptacles must be labeled with “radioactive material” labels (see Section II.H.14 in the Radiation Safety section of the University Laboratory Safety Manual).

A19.3 Waste Containers

A19.3.1

Chemical Waste Containers

A19.3.1.1

The container must be in good condition and compatible with the contents to be added.

A19.3.1.2

Chemical containers being repurposed as waste or secondary containers must meet the following requirements:

Container must be triple rinsed. Each rinse must be at least 1/10 the volume of the container and collected as hazardous waste. Repurposed containers are not required to be rinsed if chemical waste is the same as the original contents.
Labels on repurposed containers must be completely covered or removed such that all writing and symbols are completely illegible prior to affixing EHS Waste label.

A19.3.1.3

Metal cans are not to be used with corrosive chemical waste.

A19.3.1.4

Food or drink containers are not acceptable as hazardous waste containers.

A19.3.1.5

Venting caps must be used with wastes that have the potential to build up pressure. Caps are available free of charge from EHS and the Chemistry Department stockroom.

A19.3.1.6

Sharps containers used in chemical laboratoriesd must have the following features: 1) heavy-duty plastic (e.g., laundry detergent container), 2) stay upright during use, 3) able to close with a tight-fitting, puncture-resistant lid, 4) leak-resistant.

A19.3.2

Radioactive Waste Containers

A19.3.2.1

Containers for radioactive waste are provided by the Radiation Safety Officer. See Section II.H.14 in the Radiation Safety Manual for more guidance.

A19.3.3

Glass Waste Containers

A19.3.3.1

Glass waste must be segregated from other solid municipal waste and disposed of in a sturdy, puncture-resistant, closable box labeled as broken glass. Specific glass disposal boxes are available from various laboratory vendors.

A19.4 Satellite Accumulation Areas (SAAs)

A19.4.1

All chemical waste shall be managed and stored in the designated Satellite Accumulation Area (SAA) within work areas. Tubs and SAA signage are provided by EHS. Additional secondary containers shall be supplied by the PI.

A19.4.2

A waste determination shall be conducted for all waste generated.

A19.4.2.1

Incompatible wastes (e.g., halogenated and non-halogenated, acid and base, inorganic and organic, etc.) shall not be mixed. A different container, compatible with the waste, shall be used to store the waste material.

A19.4.2.2

Waste generation and disposal procedures for all waste streams shall be outlined in the WASP (see Section A11) and / or individual SOPs (see Section A12).

A19.4.2.3

Contact EHS if mixed waste is to be generated.

A19.4.2.4

Contact EHS for disposal and handling instructions of high hazard waste (e.g., dried picric acid, ether with high levels of peroxides, explosives, energetic materials, toxic gases, etc.).

A19.4.3

The contents of the SAA shall be inspected weekly for the following: identification of leaking or compromised containers and spills; containers are kept closed; containers are labeled as Hazardous Waste; if containers are greater than 3/4 full, submit a Waste request.

A19.4.4

Waste accumulation should not exceed three-quarters (3/4) of the volume of the container.

A19.4.5

Hazardous Waste stored in the SAA shall not exceed 55 gallons of hazardous waste, one quart of acutely hazardous liquid waste, or one Kilogram of acutely hazardous solid waste.

A19.4.6

Hazardous waste containers shall always remain closed except for the following: adding waste; proper operation of equipment; and the prevention of a dangerous situation (buildup of pressure).

A19.4.7

Waste containers stored on the floor shall be placed in secondary containmentd to collect spills.

A19.4.8

Waste containers must be kept free of contamination (e.g., outside of liquid collection containers and inner portions of solid collection containers).

A19.4.9

Incompatible waste streams shall be segregated into separate secondary containment within the SAA. (e.g., flammable waste and inorganic acid waste.)

A19.4.9.1

Only appropriately labeled, sealed containers with a corresponding EHS Transaction Number will be collected during routine collection. The Transaction Number is obtained from the waste request confirmation email.

A19.4.10

Waste picked up by EHS will be handled according to 40 CFR 262.

A19.5 Glass Waste

A19.5.1

Glass must be decontaminated before disposal in a glass disposal box.

A19.5.2

Full glass disposal boxes should be taped closed and disposed of in a dumpster by the accumulator.

A20 Transport and Shipment of Chemicals

A20.1 Transport of Chemicals on or to TTU Property

A20.1.1

Do not take chemicals to public areas or leave items unattended during transport.

A20.1.2

High hazard chemicals, specifically hydrofluoric acid, perchloric acid, poisonous gases, energetic materials, pyrophoric materials, mercury, toxic chemicals per A21.2.3.2, and picric acid, may only be transported between approved storage and use areas.

A20.1.2.1

Transport of energetic materials outside between buildings must be done by EHS personnel only.

A20.1.3

Chemicals must be properly packaged in appropriate secondary containment or original shipping packaging during transport. Absorbent pads are recommended when transporting liquids.

A20.1.3.1

Storage group 9 chemicals must be completely closed and sealed by tape, wire, or other positive means prior to transport. New, unopened chemical containers do not require additional closure measures.

A20.1.3.2

When transporting chemicals, PPE shall be removed prior to leaving the lab area (see A4.3.5). If the transporter must bring their own PPE to the destination, the lab coat should be folded inside out to prevent cross-contamination from the outer

A20.1.3.3

Refer to Appendix AD of the lab safety manual for transport of compressed gas cylinders. Refer to the Biological Safety, Radiation Safety, and Laser Safety Manuals for guidance on transporting these hazardous materials.

A20.1.4

Chemicals are not to be opened during transport for any reason.

A20.1.5

A TTU vehicle must be used when transporting DOT-regulated materials on public roadways. An appropriate spill kit must accompany the transport. Exemptions to this policy may be addressed though EHS.

A20.1.5.1

TTU personnel transporting DOT-regulated materials must take the DOT-driver training prior to transporting items. This training must be renewed every two years.

A20.1.6

Transporting chemicals with a total volume greater than 4 L must be done using a laboratory cart. An appropriate spill kit should accompany the transport.

A20.1.7

Spills between work areas inside of a building may be cleaned up by the transporter. Spills that occur outside of buildings must be cleaned up by EHS. Personnel should notify EHS immediately at 806-742-3876.

A20.2 Shipment of Hazardous Materials

A20.2.1

EHS shall be notified about all chemical or biological shipments when:

A20.2.1.1

Shipments to or from the University are intiated by TTU personnel (i.e., TTU personnel is the shipper); or

A20.2.1.2

TTU personnel are importing materials to the University or exporting materials from the University.

A20.2.1.3

EHS can assist in identifying applicable shipping requirements.

A20.2.2

Personnel offering hazardous materials for shipping must have completed Hazardous Material Shipping training through EHS or be able to submit a valid certificate showing completion from an acceptable entity;

A20.2.3

A completed Material Shipping Form must be submitted to EHS prior to shipment. A SDS for the material must be provided to EHS if one is not found in ChemWatch.

A20.2.4

All shipments must meet the requirements put forth in of the Department of Transportation 49 CFR 100-185 and the International Air Transportation Association Dangerous Goods Regulations.

A20.2.4.1

In accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1200 (b)(3)(iv), hazardous chemical containers must be labeled with: 1) product identifier, 2) signal word, 3) hazard statement(s), 4) pictogram(s), precautionary statement(s), and 6) name, address, and telephone number of the chemical manufacturer, importer, or other responsible party.

The required information in A20.2.4.1 must be located together on the label, tag or mark.
The required information in A20.2.4.1 must not conflict with the requirements outlined in DOT 49 CFR 100-185.

A20.2.5

Chemical shipments being returned to the vendor must meet the requirements outlined in Section A20.2.

A20.2.5.1

Return of chemicals to the vendor due to vendor error is not advised. Contact EHS regarding chemical returns.

A20.2.6

Proprietary materials may be subject to a Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) if the material was developed or recovered at Texas Tech University/Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.

A20.2.7

For details regarding the transport and shipment of biological materials, see Section B12 in the Biosafety chapter of the University Laboratory Safety Manual.

A21 Chemical Gateway

A21.1 Procurement of Chemicals for Laboratories

A21.1.1

Laboratory and non-laboratory chemical purchases are approved by EHS.

A21.1.2

Laboratory chemical deliveries must be shipped to TTU Central Receiving, 604 N Knoxville, Lubbock, TX 79415.

A21.1.2.1

Compressed gases are to be delivered to the immediate work area.

A21.1.3

Chemicals shall be purchased through TechBuy.

A21.1.3.1

The principal investigator responsible for the chemical and the building and room number where the chemical will be stored must be included on the Purchase Order.

A21.1.4

Chemicals unavailable for purchase through TechBuy may be purchased using a TTU Procurement Card. EHS approval must be granted prior to purchase.

A21.1.5

Procurers should review Safety Data Sheetsd (SDSs) for chemicals not previously purchased to ensure proper administratived and engineering controls are in place to address hazards.

A21.1.6

For procurement of biological material, see Section B9.2 in the Biosafety section of the University Laboratory Safety Manual.

A21.1.7

For procurement of radioactive material, see Section II.H.3a in the Radiation Safety section of the University Laboratory Safety Manual.

A21.2 Chemical Inventory for Laboratories

A21.2.1

In general, items labelled with any GHS hazard pictograms, NFPA ratings of 1 or greater in any category, or any hazard statements will be entered into the PI’s online chemical inventory. Chemicals required to be catalogued into inventories will be determined by EHS.

A21.2.1.1

Chemical mixtures will be barcoded according to the predominant hazard as determined by EHS.

A.21.2.2

Chemical containers must be properly labeled as defined by 29 CFR 1910.1200 (f)(6)(ii) before inventory.

A21.2.2.1

Inadequately labeled chemicals will be held at the Chemical Gateway until full GHS label information is submitted to EHS by the responsible party.

A21.2.3

Properly labeled chemicals will be barcoded when entered into the PI’s online chemical inventory.

A21.2.3.1

The large number on the barcode designates the chemical storage group defined in Appendix AA.

A21.2.3.2

Chemicals with a NFPA health hazard rating of 3 or 4 will have a blue dot affixed to the EHS barcode. Such chemicals should be treated with caution.

A21.2.3.3

Chemicals in storage Group 9 (Compatible Pyrophoric and Water Reactive Materials) shall be stored according to their respective SDS.

A21.2.4

When a chemical container is emptied, the yellow portion of the EHS barcode must be removed, affixed to a Barcode Return Form and returned to EHS at Campus Mail Stop 1090.

A21.2.5

PI inventory access is granted after all required EHS safety training is completed and WASP (see Section A11) is submitted to EHS.

A21.2.6

A Chemical Transfer Sheet must be completed and submitted to EHS for barcoded chemicals being permanently transferred from their storage locations.

A21.2.7

A Barcode Request Form must be completed for chemicals received without a barcode. Submit completed forms to ehs.lab.safety@ttu.edu. Barcode(s) will be campus mailed to the Mail Stop indicated on the form.

A21.3

Damaged packages may not be accepted by TTU Central Receiving personnel.

A21.3.1

EHS will notify the PI of rejected chemical purchases and offer assistance in initiating a replacement.

A21.4

Accepted packages containing compromised chemical containers will be treated as hazardous waste.

A21.4.1

EHS will notify the PI of compromised containers and initiate obtaining a replacement with the vendor.

A21.5

Incoming chemical shipments from collaborators or other institutions must be disclosed to EHS prior to the arrival of the shipment.

A21.6

Barcoded chemical containers will be repackaged in original shipping packaging and delivered to the designated location by EHS.

A22 Chemical Fume Hoods

A22.1 Chemical Fume Hood Operating Procedures

A22.1.1

Chemical fume hoods are required to be functioning properly.

A22.1.2

Specific measures shall be in place and taken to ensure proper and adequate performance of chemical fume hoods.

A22.1.3

Each PI/supervisor must ensure that all personnel within their work area(s) are trained in the safe use of chemical fume hoods (see Section A14).

A22.1.4

Chemical fume hoods are required to have a visual indicator of air flow.

A22.1.5

All manipulations must be at least six (6) inches inside the chemical fume hood face. A line drawn on the work surface six inches inside the face can be an effective reminder.

A22.1.5.1

Laboratory equipment shall be located as far back in the chemical fume hood as practical.

A22.1.6

Chemical fume hood exhaust slots shall not be blocked.

A22.1.7

Elevate large pieces of equipment off the work surface.

A22.1.8

Chemical fume hoods shall be kept clear of excess storage.

A22.1.9

The chemical fume hood sash should be kept as low as possible to perform work and not raised above the indicated sash height except when loading / unloading large equipment.

A22.1.10

The chemical fume hood sash must be fully closed when not actively manipulating materials inside the chemical fume hood.

A22.2 Chemical Fume Hood Surveillance Program

A22.2.1

Chemical Fume Hood Flow Requirements

A22.2.1.1

Chemical fume hoods shall have an average airflow of 80 - 100 feet per minute.

A22.2.1.2

Chemical fume hoods where radioactive material is used shall have an average airflow of 100 -120 feet per minute.

A22.2.1.3

“Low flow” chemical fume hoods shall be certified based on manufacturer specifications.

A22.2.2

Routine Chemical Fume Hood Performance Surveys

A22.2.2.1

Hood face velocity surveys will be conducted annually by EHS.

A22.2.2.2

Calibrated airflow measuring devices capable of accurately measuring air velocity in the range of 0 to 1500 feet per minute will be used.

A22.2.2.3

A typical chemical fume hood survey procedure involves performing a multi-point traverse in the plane of sash travel. The average face velocity (the arithmetic mean of these point readings) is then calculated and recorded.

A22.2.2.4

Additional notations or comments, such as excessive storage in the chemical fume hood, sashes or unusual velocity readings are noted during the survey.

A22.2.2.5

If the chemical fume hood is performing to established standards, an adhesive sticker is completed and posted on the sash of the hood at the time of the survey.

A22.2.2.6

The supervisor will be notified of any unusual findings or extreme deficiencies of the chemical fume hood by a posted 'out-of-service' tag on the sash of the fume hood.

TTU Physical Plant must be contacted by laboratory personnel to address the functioning of the chemical fume hood.
Once the issue with the chemical fume hood is resolved, EHS needs to be notified to return to the laboratory to test the chemical fume hood for proper operation.

A23 Non-Compliance

A23.1 What is Non-Compliance?

Section A24, laboratory closure, will be followed in situations where non-compliance resulted in conditions immediately dangerous to life and/or health or an incident occurred.

A23.1.1

Non-compliance will be addressed on a case-by-case basis. The following will be considered non-compliance:

A23.1.1.1

Work areas in which critical findings are not corrected upon follow-up survey which will occur no less than 30-calendar days after the initial survey.

A23.1.1.2

Work areas where the specific finding(s) on three consecutive surveys are identical.

A23.1.1.3

Laboratory personnel, Principal Investigators, or other personnel who fail to comply with safety policies or direct instruction from a safety authority (e.g., EHS, DSO, supervisor, instructor, etc.).

A23.2 Non-Compliant Work Areas

The following measures will be taken to restore safety in non-compliant work areas.

A23.2.1

The Department of Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) will inform the Institutional Laboratory Safety Committee (ILSC) of incidences of work area non-compliance. The nature of the finding(s) and any history of delinquency will also be presented to the ILSC for their consideration. Incidences relevant to other responsible research committees will be relayed to the applicable committee(s) for consideration.

A23.2.2

The ILSC will determine any additional timeline allowed for findings to be corrected and the consequences if findings are left unaddressed.

A23.2.3

Non-compliant work areas will be placed on a quarterly inspection schedule. The duration of the quarterly survey schedule will be determined by the ILSC.

A23.2.4

Information from the committee’s decisions regarding A23.2.2 and A23.2.3 will be conveyed in a letter from the committee. This letter will be electronically delivered to the work area supervisor’s university email account. A hard copy of the letter will also be sent via campus mail. A copy of the letter will also be sent in hard copy and electronically to the corresponding department chair, dean, department safety officer and college safety officer.

A23.2.5

Cases of serial non-compliance will result in laboratory closure.

A23.3 Non-Compliant Individuals

The following measures will be taken to restore safety compliance with non-compliant individuals in research spaces.

A23.3.1

The non-compliant individual may be removed from the work area if deemed necessary.

A23.3.2

Provisions for return to the work area will be dictated by the safety authority to include remediation to address the non-compliant behavior.

A23.3.3

EHS or safety authority will inform the supervisor in writing if lab personnel are removed from the work area.

A23.3.3.1

The supervisor will be informed in writing if the work area is deemed unsafe with the letter copied to departmental chairperson, academic Dean, and VPR office.

A23.4

The following measures will be taken to restore safety compliance with non-compliant individuals in teaching spaces.

A23.4.1

The non-compliant individual may be removed from the work area if deemed necessary, including Campus Security as appropriate.

A23.5

Repeated instances of non-compliance will be referred to the Director or Department Chair responsible for that unit that will include a conference with EHS and may be considered excessive non-compliance and initiate procedures outlined in Section A4.6.

A24 Laboratory or Studio Space Closure

A24.1 Conditions for Closure

A24.1.1

Closure of a work area is considered on a case-by-case basis.

A24.1.1.1

Closure refers to a spectrum of restrictions which include but is not limited to: signage restricting entry, prohibited entry and / or work during specified work hours or re-keying of the work area(s).

A24.1.1.2

Personnel will be allowed to enter the work area if the environment is deemed safe by the CHO to stop or stabilize operations to prevent incidents during closure.

A24.1.2

A work area that poses an immediate danger to life or health (IDLH situation) may be closed immediately by EHS.

A24.1.3

A laboratory or studio space that is chronically and / or seriously non-compliant with the practices outlined in the University Laboratory Safety Manual or the Work Area Safety Plan (WASP) may be closed as recommended by the relevant responsible research committee(s).

A24.1.4

A laboratory or studio space in which an event has occurred that requires EHS investigation may be closed.

A24.1.4.1

If a significant event occurs during normal business hours, an evaluation will be performed to determine if the work area is compliant with applicable regulations.

If there are no issues or if issues can be resolved by the end of that work day, the work area will not be re-keyed.
If the issues are unable to be addressed that work day, the work area will be re-keyed and will stay re-keyed until all issues have been addressed.

A24.1.4.2

If a significant event occurs after normal business hours, the work area may be closed or re-keyed until an evaluation can be performed the following business day to determine if the work area is compliant with applicable regulations.

A24.2 Procedures for Closure

A24.2.1

The Office of the Vice President for Research, in consultation with the CHO, DSO/department and relevant research research committee(s), will issue a written memorandum (or email, as appropriate) to the supervisor(s), Department Chair and Dean of the College which includes: 1) the reason(s) for (potential) closure, 2) corrective action(s) to be taken, 3) modification(s) to administratived or engineering control(s)d, 4) a correction periodd and any other pertinent information (e.g., work restrictions, allowable maintenance operations, etc.).

A24.2.2

The PI(s)/supervisor(s) and/or suitable departmental representative will be invited via explicit email to the relevant responsible research committee(s) meeting(s) to address the compliance issues.

A24.2.2.1

The PI(s)/supervisor(s) and/or suitable departmental representative (e.g., department chair) will be excused prior to final discussion and vote.

A24.2.3

The relevant responsible research committee(s) will decide the merits of the appeal and either issue a revised correction periodd to readdress the compliance issues, accept the appeal without closure, or continue with the original correction periodd .

A24.2.4

Supervisor Actions

A24.2.4.1

The supervisor shall report, in writing, any condition(s) outside of their control which delay corrective action(s) to the relevant institutional safety committee(s) and/or EHS;

A24.2.4.2

The supervisor may appeal, in writing, the work area closure outlined in Section A23.2.1 to the relevant responsible research committee(s) subsequent to the closure.

A24.2.5

If the issues described in Section A23.2.1 are not corrected as required by the relevant responsible research committee(s) in the time indicated, the work area(s) may be closed and re-keyed until the compliance issues are corrected.

A24.2.6

Conditions for Resumption

A24.2.6.1

The issues described in Section A23.2.1 must be corrected before the work area is reopened.

The work area will remain closed until the EHS can perform an evaluation to ensure the work area is in compliance with applicable regulations.

A24.2.6.2

The work area will be returned to the department once all compliance issues are resolved, the investigation into the incident is complete and/or the work area is compliant with applicable regulations.

A24.3

EHS will offer assistance and additional training as needed to resolve compliance issue(s) and complete corrective action(s).

A25 Decommissioning A Work Area

A25.1 General Information

A25.1.1

Supervisors vacating a work area are required to properly dispose of any hazardous materials and decontaminate the work area and equipment prior to departure. See Appendix AK for the Laboratory Decommissioning Checklist.

A25.1.1.1

Laboratory personnel are responsible for packing and moving the laboratory. Labels with the PI’s name, a content description and any hazard information shall be affixed to all boxes.

A25.1.1.2

All waste generated in the work area must be disposed of properly through EHS.

A25.1.2

The supervisor will notify EHS that a work area is to be decommissioned no less than 30 calendar days prior to departure.

A25.1.2.1

Laboratories that have or have had radioactive materials are required to notify the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) of the move 30 days prior to departure or when known. The RSO will direct the laboratory decommissioning of these spaces and will clear the laboratory once decommissioning is complete.

A25.1.3

EHS will inspect the work area to identify the hazards to be addressed. A second inspection will be conducted to confirm all identified hazards are mitigated and to clear the work area for renovation and / or new occupancy.

A25.1.4

If a supervisor departs before the work area is decommissioned, the department will take over the area and complete decommissioning as time allows.

A25.2 Allowable Material Transfers

A25.2.1

Hazardous materials left in a work area by a PI become the property of EHS upon the PI’s departure. Materials will be reallocated or destroyed.

A25.2.2

Opened and unopened chemicals may be transferred to a different PI at TTU by submitting a Chemical Transfer Form to EHS.

A25.2.3

Transfer of materials under the perview of the Institutional Laboratory Safety Committee, Institutional Biosafety Committee or Radiation and LASER Safety Committee must be coordinated through the relevant responsible research committee(s)d\.

A25.2.4

Equipment may be transferred to a different PI at TTU following appropriate decontamination before removal from the work area. Receiving party may request EHS clearance of equipment.

A25.2.4.1

Thermometers and other loose items shall be removed from equipment and packaged separately.

A25.2.4.2

Oil and water shall be drained from pumps, baths and other equipment and disposed of in the appropriate waste stream.

A25.2.4.3

Furniture and fixtures are to be left in the laboratory unless an item is essential to a piece of equipment that is eligible to be moved.

A25.2.5

Compressed gases shall be capped and secured. Arrangements shall be made with the vendor if gases are to be moved to a new campus location. Empty tanks shall be returned to the vendor. Contact EHS for disposal of non-returnable tanks.

A26 Reviews and Updates

A26.1 The University Chemical Hygiene Plan will be reviewed and, if necessary, updated annually. The ILSC is responsible for initiating this review.

A26.2 A list of departmental representatives will be updated annually by the CHO as received by department heads.

A26.3 The departmental representatives shall review and evaluate the effectiveness of the CHP at least annually and forward any suggestions or updates to the CHO for review and filing with the ILSC.

Environmental Health & Safety

Address

Texas Tech University, 407 Flint Ave, Lubbock, TX 79409 (Mail Stop 1090)
Phone
806.742.3876
Email
safety@ttu.edu