Responsibilities

Department Head:

Ultimately responsibility for chemical hygiene for the department and must, with other administrators, provide continuing support for departmental chemical hygiene.

Appoints the Chemical Hygiene Officer.

Chemical Hygiene Officer (CHO):

Works with administrators and other employees to develop and implement appropriate chemical hygiene policies and practices.

Maintains volumes of current MSDS sheets for the entire Chemistry Department chemical inventory in a centrally accessible location.

Conducts monthly checks of safety equipment in all teaching and research labs.

Seeks ways to improve the chemical hygiene plan.

Departmental Safety Committee:

Works with the chemical hygiene officer, administrators, and other employees to develop and implement appropriate chemical hygiene policies and practices.

Laboratory Supervisors/Laboratory Instructors/Research Advisers:

Responsible overall for chemical hygiene in their particular laboratory.

Ensures that laboratory workers know and follow the chemical hygiene rules, that protective equipment is available and in working order, and that appropriate training has been provided.

Knows the current legal requirements for regulated substances used in their laboratory.

Determines the required levels of protective apparel and equipment.

Ensures that the facilities and proper training for the use of hazardous materials being ordered/used in the laboratory are adequate.

Laboratory Workers:

Responsible for planning and conducting all operations in accordance with the departmental chemical hygiene plan.

Develops good personal chemical hygiene habits.