(3) Responsibilities of Personnel [9]
3.1 - University President
The OSHA Laboratory Standard specifically requires the Chief Executive Officer
of the facility to hold the ultimate responsibility for its implementation [10].
The University President has delegated the purview of compliance to the Director
of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS).
3.2 - Director of Environmental Health and Safety
The Director of EHS has responsibility for chemical hygiene within the institution,
and along with other officers and administrators, provides continuing support
for efforts to improve laboratory safety and health.
3.3 - Chemical Hygiene Officer (CHO)
The Chemical Hygiene Officer is a member of the Department of Environmental
Health and Safety. The Officer is responsible to perform the following duties:
a. Evaluate, update, and implement the University Chemical Hygiene Plan and individual departmental CHPs.
b. Keep informed of campus-wide safety- and health-related activities.
c. Provide technical expertise to the laboratory community in the area of laboratory safety and health, and direct inquiries to appropriate resources.
d. Work with the administration to make sure that all of the appropriate resources are provided. [11]
e. With Department personnel, coordinate or conduct Department-specific health and safety orientation sessions. With Principal Investigators and Laboratory Supervisors, develop or conduct lab-specific orientation sessions.
f. According to the provisions of this CHP, ensure that hazardous substances are appropriately labeled, handled, and stored, and that specific standard operating procedures (SOPs) which instruct all personnel in the safe use of these substances are developed and followed.
g. Maintain supplier-provided MSDSs (see Sections 9, 10).
h. According to the provisions of this CHP, review specific operating procedures developed by Department personnel and Principal Investigators for the use, disposal, spill cleanup, and decontamination of extremely hazardous chemicals and substances.
i. According to the provisions of this CHP, review new research protocols prior to their initiation to determine if hazardous chemicals are used and, if so, ensure that proper measures are taken to protect laboratory personnel.
j. Conduct annual inspections of laboratories and storage areas and provide inspection forms to Department personnel and Principal Investigators to conduct their own routine inspections.
k. Write inspection reports and recommend follow-up activities (with input from other members of the inspection team).
l. Review and approve the acquisition, operation, and maintenance of fume hoods, emergency safety showers, eyewashes, and fire extinguishers in all laboratories where chemicals are handled. This duty includes the arrangement for annual EHS or Fire Marshal inspections of hoods, showers, and fire extinguishers; and arrangement for prompt repair when problems are identified.
m. Ensure that hazardous waste generated in laboratories is disposed of in accordance with University policy.
n. Investigate all reports of laboratory hazards incidents, chemical spills, and near-misses to prevent repeat occurrences.
o. Maintain records to ensure their availability to workers and administrative personnel.
p. Review and approve the creation, modification, or closing of laboratories.
q. Act as liaison between the laboratory and the departmental administrator and, if necessary, bring unresolved and potentially serious health and safety problems to the administrator's attention.
r. If such action is necessary to minimize the short- and long-term dangers to laboratory workers, other workers, the community, and the environment, shut down or suspend operations that do not conform to the CHP.
3.4 - Chemistry Department Chair
The Department Chair is responsible to perform or ensure the performance of
the following duties:
a. Know and implement the guidelines and procedures of the CHP.
b. Designate safety responsibilities at the departmental level.
c. Train all laboratory workers and other departmental personnel who may come in contact with hazardous chemicals.
d. Ensure access to Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) for chemicals used in laboratories in the Department.
e. Arrange routine inspections of departmental laboratories and maintain a file of completed inspection forms.
f. Maintain an inventory of chemicals in storage rooms and laboratories in the Department.
g. Purchase and use safety equipment for the Department laboratories.
h. Inform the CHO of the creation, modification or closing of Department laboratories.
3.5 - Chemistry Department Safety Committee
Safety is the responsibility of all Department members. In this spirit, the
departmental Safety Committee does not have any unique safety responsibilities.
The Committee's membership rotates and includes faculty and staff; graduate
students participate in some activities. The Safety Committee is responsible
to perform the following functions:
a. Hold regular meetings to discuss ongoing and current safety issues.
b. Carry out routine inspections of departmental laboratories; produce inspection reports for departmental files.
c. Arrange with the EHS Chemical Hygiene Officer for the annual Fall safety orientation for new Department personnel.
d. Report unresolved safety issues to the attention of the Chair.
The Director of Laboratories and Building Manager are often consulted when safety problems arise. Routine matters are best handled by a call to the Director's office (2-7900).
3.6 - Principal Investigator/Laboratory Supervisor/Instructional Supervisor
The Principal Investigator or Supervisor (hereafter PI) oversees the safe arrangement
of his or her laboratory space and the conduct therein. The PI is responsible
to perform or supervise the duties listed. Appendix IV gives section references
for these duties.
a. Know and implement the guidelines and procedures of the CHP.
b. Ensure that new workers have received safety orientation (available from EHS - see section 11). Check that all workers have received annual EPA hazardous waste training.
c. Develop and communicate lab-specific safety policies, i.e. administrative controls.
d. Designate safety responsibilities at the laboratory level.
e. Ensure workers' access to standard operating procedures (SOPs).
f. When an SOP must be substantially modified for a specific lab situation, or when one is not available, ensure that one be written, a record maintained, and lab workers be appropriately informed.
g. Ensure lab workers' access to required sources of safety and hazard information - OSHA (29 CFR) Laboratory Standard, CHP, MSDSs.
h. Prepare or update MSDSs for new substances or new hazards.
i. Conduct routine inspections of his/her laboratories.
j. Maintain an inventory of chemicals and provide it to designated departmental representatives.
k. Ensure responsible chemical storage and waste disposal.
l. Provide and require the use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
m. Ensure that all appropriate controls including hoods and safety equipment are available and in good working order in his/her laboratories.
n. Implement exposure monitoring when appropriate.
o. Ensure that significant incidents occurring in his/her laboratories are reported to the CHO and that a written incident report is filed.
p. Include provisions for CHP compliance in grant proposals.
3.7 - Laboratory Workers
Because laboratory workers bear the responsibility for their own safety practice,
they must be well-informed about this CHP and act in accord with its provisions.
Specifically, they must consult MSDSs, follow standard operating procedures,
wear appropriate personal protective equipment, and report hazards and exposures
to the PI.
[9] Except as otherwise noted, this section is adapted from the Stony Brook University CHP, pp 4-8.