11.22 - Chemical Hygiene Policy

Last updated on April 26, 2023

POLICY:  It is the policy of Spoon River College to be in compliance with the Federal Laboratory Standard.

SCOPE:

This policy applies to all Spoon River College employees and students.

DETAILS:

  1. Chemical Hygiene Officer Appointment: In compliance with the Federal Laboratory Standard, Spoon River College realizes our responsibility for the protection of our employees. We hereby institute this Chemical Hygiene Plan to assist us in our safety program. Spoon River College hereby appoints the Vice President, to be our Chemical Hygiene Officer. We acknowledge the Chemical Hygiene Officer has the knowledge and authority to implement and enforce our Chemical Hygiene Plan.  Although Spoon River College is designating the Vice President as our Chemical Hygiene Officer, we realize the success or lack of success of our Chemical Hygiene Plan rests with all of our employees. The ultimate responsibility of the Chemical Hygiene Plan rests with the Board of Trustees and the Administration.
  2. Plan Introduction: All private schools and most public schools have to comply with various Hazard Communication or “Right to Know” laws. For public schools, check with Flinn Scientific or your state regulatory agency to determine if your state requires a Chemical Hygiene Plan. These laws were written for industrial production facilities, and did not address the specific safety concerns found in a laboratory setting. In 1990, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) instituted “The Laboratory Standard”—Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories. This new “Laboratory Standard” has been designed to address the specific safety needs of the laboratory.
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    The Laboratory Standard ensures that employees who work in a laboratory setting will be protected from any chemical exposure that exceeds permissible exposure limits and that employees will be educated as to the hazardous nature of the chemicals they use in the laboratory. To achieve this goal, the Laboratory Standard requires school districts to appoint a chemical hygiene officer to develop, implement, and monitor a chemical hygiene plan.
  3. College Responsibilities: The College has ultimate responsibility to ensure the institution complies with the Laboratory Standard. Several of these tasks are:
    1. Record all employee exposures to hazardous chemicals.
      1. Record all chemical exposures and use monitoring instruments to get hard data*. Obtain and keep up-to-date information provided by a medical examination resulting from a chemical exposure.
      2. Keep these records and allow employees access to their personal records, including all employee exposure and medical records.*Do not get alarmed. This provision is included in the Lab Standard, but clearly states you only have to monitor exposure levels if you know you routinely have an exposure level which is above the permissible exposure level (PEL) and an OSHA Standard exists for the chemical which requires monitoring. If you have no reason to believe you have exceeded a PEL, you do not have to monitor exposure levels.
    2. Train employees to:
      1. understand the hazards of chemicals they use in the laboratory.
      2. recognize signs and symptoms associated with overexposure to hazardous chemicals.
      3. properly use personal protective equipment (fume hoods, respirators, goggles, etc.)
      4. protect themselves from chemical exposure by following good laboratory procedures.
      5. understand the content of the Chemical Hygiene Plan.
    3. Provide access to all employees of:
      1. MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) for all hazardous materials.
      2. previous exposure records (if any).
      3. the Laboratory Standard and Chemical Hygiene Plan.
      4. permissible exposure limits of hazardous chemicals used in the laboratory. (Consult your Flinn Scientific Catalog/Reference Manual.)
      5. their own personal medical records (if any).
    4. Upon receipt of a chemical:
      1. Make sure you have the MSDS (and make them accessible to the employees).
      2. Make sure the label is proper and contains the minimum amount of information.
        • chemical name or identity of contents
        • concentration
        • hazard information including target organs
        • name and address of the manufacturer or name of preparer and date of preparation.

        Note: You must also follow these steps for all chemicals and chemical solutions made and stored in your laboratory or chemical storeroom.

  4. The Chemical Hygiene Plan — An Overview: The Chemical Hygiene Plan is the major ingredient of the Laboratory Standard. The written Chemical Hygiene Plan must be capable of:
      1. protecting employees from health hazards associated with hazardous chemicals in the laboratory.
      2. keeping chemical exposures below established permissible exposure limits. (Consult your Flinn Scientific Catalog/Reference Manual for specific chemical permissible exposure limits. This catalog is located in the chemistry lab room Taylor 200 on Canton Campus).

    The Chemical Hygiene Plan must be readily available to employees. The College shall review and evaluate the effectiveness of the Chemical Hygiene Plan at least annually and update it as necessary. The Chemical Hygiene Plan should include each of the elements shown below and should include specific measures the College will take to ensure laboratory employee protection.

  5. Chemical Hygiene Plan
    1. Standard Operating Procedures
      1. General Employee Rules and Procedures
        • Minimize all chemical exposures.
        • Skin contact or inhalation of chemicals should be avoided.
        • Avoid underestimation of chemical hazards and risks.
        • Develop a firm goggle policy. Wear appropriate eye protection at all times. Chemical splash goggles must be worn any time chemicals, glassware or heat are used in the laboratory.
        • Never work alone in the laboratory, chemical storage or prep areas.
        • Flammable liquids require special attention. Never use these materials near any source of ignition, spark or open flame.
        • Never perform a first-time chemical demonstration in front of your class. Always perform first- time demonstrations in front of other faculty to evaluate the safety of the demonstration
        • Never store chemicals over, under, or near a sink.
        • Only authorized personnel should be allowed in the chemical storeroom.
        • Have a 100% wool fire blanket easily accessible in case of an accident or fire. There is a wool fire blanket in the chemistry lab (Taylor 200) and biology lab prep area between Taylor 205 and 207.
        • Know the locations for all personal safety and emergency equipment—eyewash, shower, fire extinguisher and spill control materials. All safety and emergency equipment must be placarded.
        • Train all students on how to use all safety devices in the laboratory (e.g., eyewash, fire extinguisher, etc.) and teach all students and employees to find the safety devices quickly in an emergency.
        • Know appropriate procedure in the event of a power failure.
        • Know where and how to use master utility controls to shut off gas, electrical and water supplies.
        • Use a safety shield whenever an explosion or implosion might occur.
        • Read all chemical labels prior to use.
        • Know and understand the hazards of the chemical as stated in the MSDS and other references.
        • Maintain an MSDS library for all chemicals used or stored in the facility.
        • Use protective safety equipment to reduce potential exposure, i.e., gloves, respirators, fume hood, etc.
        • Do not smell or taste chemicals.
        • Know how to properly store all chemicals in their compatible chemical families. (Consult the Flinn Scientific Catalog/Reference Manual for details.) When chemicals are placed in the stockroom, they should have a sticker attached identifying their compatibility family.  These stickers are located in the chemistry stockroom in Taylor 200.
        • Know proper procedures for transporting chemicals around the College.
        • Know and implement proper disposal procedures before ordering or using any chemical. Annual chemical disposal will be coordinated with the biology and chemistry departments and the Chemical Hygiene Officer.
        • Know appropriate emergency procedures, evacuation routes, and fire emergency notification. The evacuation routes are posted in the labs on the wall.
        • Know the proper procedure for contacting the authorities: when to contact, who to contact (college officials, 911, etc.), and how to contact (phone or intercom).
        • Know and understand the personal hygiene practices outlined in the Chemical Hygiene Plan.
        • Chemicals should be ordered in the smallest quantity needed for one year of labs.
        • Chemicals that are hazardous and not used regularly should be disposed of properly.
        • All flammable chemicals should be stored in the yellow flammables cabinet in T204, and all acids should be in the blue acid cabinet in T204. Nitric acid is stored in a separate plastic box within the acid cabinet.
      2. General Laboratory Rules and Procedures
        • Create a written first aid policy; whether it says to treat or call a physician. Your first aid policy must be written down.
        • Post emergency telephone numbers in the classroom/laboratory. Have a telephone or some means of emergency communication in the laboratory.
        • The laboratory should be well-ventilated (a ventilation fan that can remove the air a minimum of eight air changes per hour). Air for laboratory ventilation shall directly flow into the laboratory from non-laboratory areas and out to the exterior of the building. Ventilation must be checked a minimum of every three months. (See Federal Register, Vol. 55, No. 21, p 3332 4–f.)
        • All laboratories must have an eyewash capable of treating both eyes continuously for 15 minutes with copious quantities of potable water.
        • All teachers, employees, and students must be taught how to use the eyewash quickly in case of an emergency.
        • Eyewash effectiveness and operation should be inspected and activated at least every three months. Promptly repair any eyewash that does not meet the water flow requirements of ANSI Z358.1.
        • Safety showers or body drenches should be provided. Showers should be inspected and activated at least every six months. Promptly repair any shower or body drench that does not meet the water flow requirements of ANSI Z358.1.
        • Have appropriate types and sizes of fire extinguishers. ABC dry chemical fire extinguishers are appropriate for laboratories. Carbon dioxide fire extinguishers are not appropriate for laboratories. A Class D fire extinguisher should be available when working with flammable solids. Fire extinguishers should be visually inspected monthly and maintained every six months. (Check local fire codes.)
        • All laboratories must have a 100% wool fire blanket available for spills and fire suppression.
        • An approved eyewash station, fire blanket, and fire extinguisher should be within 10 seconds (about 25 feet) of the chemical stores area.
        • Neutralizing chemicals, such as a spill kit, dry sand, Kitty Litter, and other spill control materials should be readily available. A spill kit is located in the chemistry lab and biology prep room.
        • All safety items must be visible and placarded.
        • In the event of an accident, when time allows, fill out an accident report describing the event in detail.
        • Read all labels carefully—the names of many chemicals look alike at first glance.
        • Be thoroughly familiar with the hazards, safety precautions, and disposal procedures before using any chemical. Study the MSDS and label before using any chemical substance.
        • Unlabeled products should not be stored anywhere in the College.
        • All exits must be clearly marked.
        • Keep all aisles clear and uncluttered.
        • Access to exits, emergency equipment, and master utility controls must never be blocked.
        • Have an alternative evacuation route in the event your primary route becomes blocked.
        • Practice your emergency plans.
        • Do not use chipped, etched or cracked glassware. Glassware, which is chipped or scratched, presents a serious breakage hazard when heated or handled.
        • Do not drink from lab glassware or other lab vessels.
        • No food in the laboratory. Do not eat, drink, or chew gum in the laboratory.
        • Do not apply cosmetics in areas where laboratory chemicals are present.
        • Do not run in the laboratory.
        • No horseplay, practical jokes, or pranks are allowed in the laboratory.
        • Do not operate electrical equipment with wet hands.
        • Never pipet by mouth.
        • Thermometers must never be used as a stirring rod.
        • Avoid the use of contact lenses in the laboratory. If contact lenses must be worn, the science teacher must be informed so special precautions can be taken.
        • Never perform unauthorized laboratory experiments.
        • Dispose of all chemicals properly. All disposal procedures used should conform to state and local regulations.
        • All accidents or near accidents (close calls) should be carefully analyzed with the results distributed to all who might benefit.
        • Laboratories and storerooms must undergo annual inspection.
      3. Personal Hygiene Guidelines
        • Do not apply cosmetics, eat, chew gum, or drink in the laboratory.
        • The use of tobacco products in the laboratory is prohibited.
        • Do not pipet by mouth—always use a pipet bulb or other appropriate suction device.
        • Clean work area thoroughly before leaving the laboratory.
        • Wash hands thoroughly after any chemical exposure and before leaving the laboratory.
        • Never smell chemicals directly; always waft the odors to your nose using your hand.
        • Foodstuffs, opened or closed, become part of your chemical supplies when brought into the laboratory, chemical prep, or storage area.
        • Never taste any substance to determine its identity.
      4. Protective Clothing Requirements
        • Appropriate eye protection must always be worn by teachers, students, and visitors. Chemical splash goggles must be worn any time chemicals, glassware or heat are used in the laboratory.
        • All eye protection must meet ANSI Z87.1 Standard.
        • Wear eye protection and face shields when dealing with extremely corrosive liquids, (i.e., full strength acids and bases).
        • Goggles should be cleaned/sterilized between uses.
        • Wear gloves that offer protection for all hazards you may find in the lab. Check for holes every time you wear your gloves.
        • Always wear a full-length lab coat or a chemical-resistant apron when performing experiments, preparing chemical solutions, and during cleanup in the lab.
        • Do not wear open-toed shoes or sandals of any kind. Wear low-heeled shoes and always wear socks in the laboratory.
        • Wear a respirator with the appropriate cartridge if you feel you might exceed permissible exposure limits as specified in the MSDS. You must have appropriate training before performing any activity that requires a respirator.  Contact the fire department if you have questions.
        • Do not wear shorts—wear long pants.
        • Do not wear loose or baggy clothing—especially long sleeves. Secure all loose clothing.
        • Tie back long hair.
        • Avoid the use of contact lenses in the laboratory. If contact lenses must be worn, the science teacher must be informed so special precautions can be taken.
        • Do not wear hanging jewelry.
        • Secure a long or loose necktie.
        • Do not wear an absorbent watchstrap.
        • Inspect all protective safety equipment before use. If defective, do not use.
      5. Housekeeping Rules
        • Keep all chemicals in a locked chemical prep and storage area. If chemicals are moved to the classroom for lab, they must be returned to their proper storage location at the end of the day’s laboratory periods.
        • Waste materials require proper containers and labels.
        • Do not store items in the fume hood. The storage of items in the fume hood is a fire hazard and decreases the efficiency of the fume hood.
        • Label all chemicals, even solutions. The label must include:
          • Chemical name or identity of contents
          • Concentration
          • Hazard information including target organs
          • Name and address of the manufacturer or name of preparer and date of preparation
        • Access to exits, emergency equipment, and master utility controls should never be blocked.
        • Clean up all spills properly and promptly.
        • Work and floor surfaces should be cleaned regularly and kept free of clutter.
      6. Spill and Accident Procedures
        • Remember “NEAR”
          • Notify—Call for help.
          • Evacuate—Get everyone to a safe location.
          • Assemble—Assemble and take attendance of all students and employees.
          • Report—Fill out a detailed accident report after the emergency is over.
        • Clean up spills immediately and thoroughly. Follow approved spill cleanup procedures—spills should only be cleaned up by approved personnel.
        • A bucket of dry sand should be available to aid in providing traction on a slippery floor after a spill. Spill kits are located in the chemistry lab and biology prep area.
        • To make it easier to clean up, transport, and dispose, an absorbing agent, such as Kitty Litter, should be used to absorb a liquid spill.
        • Neutralizer for both acid and base spills should be available in the event of a chemical spill.
        • A 100% wool fire blanket will contain and control a spill and its vapors if no other spill control materials are available.
      7. Chemical Storage Rules and Procedures
        • Post emergency telephone numbers in the classroom/laboratory. Have a telephone or some means of emergency communication in the laboratory.
        • Keep an updated inventory of all chemicals, their amounts and location. Stored chemicals should be examined annually for replacement, deterioration and chemical integrity. Your entire Chemical Hygiene Plan is based on the proper updated inventory always being available.
        • Establish a procedure to update the chemical inventory by updating the quantity of each chemical as it is used or restocked. This procedure should be used by all teachers to ensure that the chemical inventory is always up to date.
        • Label all chemical solutions you make with the identity of the contents, date, concentration, hazard information, and your name.
        • Label all chemicals with the purchase date. This will allow anyone to determine the age of a substance at a later date.
        • Establish a separate, secure, and locked storage area for chemicals.
        • Do not allow incoming shipments of chemicals to be opened and transported by college personnel other than qualified science teachers. The special and expensive shipping containers used are frequently discarded and may prove valuable for chemical storage. The required MSDS sheets may also be misplaced or become separated from their respective chemical.
        • All chemicals should be stored in chemically compatible families (see Flinn Scientific Catalog/Reference Manual for details).
        • Determine the maximum amount of a chemical needed for two to three years of instruction and only order and store this amount.
        • Store corrosives in appropriate corrosives cabinets.
        • All flammable materials should be stored in an approved flammables storage cabinet.
        • Do not store chemicals under a fume hood.
        • Avoid storing chemicals on shelves above eye level.
        • The storage area and cabinets should be labeled as to identify the hazardous nature of the products stored within. This will allow fire department officials to quickly see a potentially hazardous area.
        • Shelving above any work area, such as a sink, should be free of chemicals or other loose miscellany.
        • Shelving sections should be secured to walls or the floor to prevent tipping of entire sections.
        • Shelves should be equipped with lips to prevent containers from rolling off.
        • Chemicals should not be stored on the floor except in approved shipping containers.
        • The chemical storage area should be ventilated by at least four changes of air per hour. Isolate the chemical storage exhaust from the general building ventilation system. Since organic vapors are heavier than air, the exhaust system must draw vapors from the floor.
        • Never store food in a laboratory refrigerator. Never store flammables in refrigerators unless the refrigerator is explosion proof. A spark from the compressor, thermostat, light bulb, or electrical switch in a household refrigerator or freezer can ignite vapors that build up inside.
        • Store all poisons inside a locked cabinet.
        • Only authorized personnel are allowed in the chemical storage area. Students should never be allowed in this area.
        • Avoid exposing chemicals to heat or direct sunlight.
    2. Storage Requirements—Compressed Gas Handling Instructions: Spoon River College Science Department on the Canton Campus does NOT currently have any compressed gas cylinders.  Permission from the Chemical Hygiene Officer is necessary before purchasing any compressed gases.  Below are the typical storage requirements for compressed gases.
      1. Compressed gases should be handled as high-energy sources, and therefore, as potential explosives.
      2. Always protect the cylinder valve stem.
      3. Avoid exposure of cylinders to heat. Do not store gas cylinders in direct sunlight.
      4. Never lubricate, modify, force, or tamper with a cylinder valve.
      5. Cylinders of toxic, flammable, or reactive gases should be used only under a fume hood.
      6. Do not extinguish a flame involving a combustible gas until the gas is shut off—otherwise it can reignite—possibly causing an explosion.
      7. Gas cylinders must be secured in place. The best way to secure a cylinder is with a chain that is securely attached to a wall. The gas cylinder must be protected from falling since this may damage or dislodge the valve.
    3. Storage and Handling Requirements—Flammable Chemicals
      1. Store all flammables in a dedicated flammables cabinet.
      2. Keep the flammable storage area cool, between 55 °F and 80 °F, at all times.
      3. Store flammable materials away from all sources of ignition.
      4. Store all flammable and combustible materials away from all oxidizers.
      5. Never store flammables in refrigerators unless the refrigerator is explosion proof.
      6. Avoid storing any chemicals, especially flammable materials, in direct sunlight.
      7. A chemical storeroom that contains flammable materials should be equipped with an ABC fire extinguisher, fire blanket, and smoke detector.
      8. Dispense flammable liquids from an operating fume hood.
    4. Storage and Handling Requirements—Corrosive Materials
      1. Store corrosives in appropriate corrosives cabinets.
      2. If possible, keep certain items in the original shipping package, e.g., small containers (less than 500 mL) of acids and bases in the special and expensive Saf-Cube®.
      3. Working with corrosive materials requires special eyewear. Wear chemical splash goggles when working with corrosives. Also, consider wearing a chemical splash face shield when handling corrosive materials.
      4. If your corrosives cabinet has metal shelf clips, inspect these clips every three months. These shelf clips rust easily and may break, leading to a collapsed shelf. They require special attention.
      5. Do not store glacial acetic acid and nitric acid next to each other in the corrosives cabinet.
      6. Label all prepared acid solutions with the name, concentration, hazard warning and date before storing them.
      7. Always use plastic or rubber bottle carriers if transporting acids from one room to another.
      8. Dispense concentrated acid from a fume hood.
    5. Procedure—Specific Safety Rules and Guidelines (for extremely hazardous chemicals)
      1. Use extremely hazardous chemicals only when their use is of educational value. If a chemical is commonly used in other laboratory activities, you can generally say it has educational value.
      2. Use a fume hood when the permissible exposure limit for a chemical is less than 50 ppm as indicated on the chemical’s MSDS. This includes methanol, a commonly used laboratory chemical.
      3. Use carcinogens, mutagens, teratogens, and allergens only under a fume hood.
      4. Handle toxic, corrosive, flammable, and noxious chemicals under a fume hood.
      5. Do not expose flammable liquids to open flame, sparks, heat, or any source of ignition, except under controlled laboratory conditions.
      6. Only use flammable solids (sodium, potassium, lithium, etc.) in very small quantities. Use a safety shield when igniting flammable solids. Students in CHE 170/180 are the only students allowed to use flammable solids.
      7. Water-reactive solids (sodium metal, potassium metal, etc.) should be stored under dry oil.
      8. Use extreme caution when handling finely divided (dust-like) material. Finely divided materials may form explosive mixtures with air.
      9. Open cans of ether (ethyl ether) should be properly disposed of after use and not stored unless absolutely necessary. Substances such as ethyl ether should only be ordered when necessary for CHE 206/207 labs, and it should be ordered in the smallest quantity possible.  There is currently no diethyl ether in the chemical inventory on Canton Campus.
  6. Prior Approval Procedures: There may be some procedures which require prior approval before a faculty attempts to perform them. These procedures must be determined by cooperation and communication between the Science Department and the Chemical Hygiene Officer.
    1. Ordering of any compressed gases.
    2. Ordering of any Extremely Hazardous Substances as designated by OSHA, mercury and mercury compounds, or any elemental alkali metals such as sodium. (See: OSHA: Appendix A to § 1910.119 - List of Highly Hazardous Chemicals, Toxics and Reactives )
    3. Purchase and use of any liquid nitrogen must be done by a full-time faculty member with permission from the Chemical Hygiene Officer. An appropriate container must be used.
    4. Allowing any chemicals in the chemical inventory to be borrowed or given to anyone outside of SRC (including chemical disposal) must be approved.
    5. Design and implementation of any “at-home” laboratory kits for courses such as CHE 105 or BIO 106 must be approved by the Chemical Hygiene Officer and Dean of Transfer Education.
    6. Live animals in the Biology Department should be purchased and cared for by the biology faculty with permission from the Dean of Transfer Education.
  7. Safety Equipment Inspection: There are many safety items necessary for compliance with the Laboratory Standard. They include, but are not limited to:
    1. One of the most important sections of the Laboratory Standard states that all safety equipment in the facility must always be in good operating condition. While the Laboratory Standard requires some safety equipment and highly recommends other equipment, the standard is very clear on the point that if you have a piece of safety equipment, it must be functional at all times. This statement applies to all safety equipment, required or recommended.
      1. Goggles must always be clean and functional.
      2. Laboratory ventilation must meet the standard of eight air changes per hour and must be tested quarterly.
      3. Fire extinguishers must be of the right type, dry chemical ABC, and they must be regularly inspected.
      4. Eyewashes must be functional and flushed at least once a month.
      5. Emergency showers or body drenches should be functional and tested at least once every six months.
      6. Fume hoods must be operational at the level of 70–100 linear feet per minute as measured by a vinometer. Fume hoods should be tested every three months.
      7. A respirator must be fit tested and the appropriate cartridges must be available. No activity that requires a respirator should be done without safety training on respirator use from the fire department or a recommended agency.

    All of the above items and all safety equipment must be inspected every three months at the minimum. Any safety equipment failing this quarterly inspection or reported to be out of order at any time must be repaired immediately. Any safety equipment found to be out of order is a serious violation of the Laboratory Standard. Remember to document the inspection, including the date and initials of the inspector.

  8. Employee Training: Spoon River College provides ongoing training sessions for our employees. Our training includes:
    1. content and location of this Chemical Hygiene Plan and The Laboratory Standard.
    2. potential hazards involved in using chemicals.
    3. signs and symptoms of overexposure to chemicals. How to detect potentially harmful exposures before they are harmful.
    4. location and availability of chemical Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS).
    5. understanding of the permissible exposure limits (PELs) used in the college.
    6. the proper use and location of all safety equipment.
    7. the proper storage and labeling of laboratory chemicals.
  9. Exposure Evaluation: It is the communicated policy of Spoon River College to investigate all suspected overexposures to chemicals in a prompt and timely fashion.In the event of an overexposure, after the immediate event, all chemicals and circumstances involved in the overexposure will be documented. This information should be used to change safety practices to further improve lab safety. It is the college’s obligation to maintain these files and make them accessible to the employees.  Signs of overexposure are numerous; they include:
    1. accidental breakage of a hazardous material container.
    2. a skin rash or irritation resulting from contact with a chemical.
    3. caustic splash to eyes, face, or body.
    4. symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, and others.

    If monitoring of the air is determined to be necessary, the results of the monitoring must be made available to the employees within two weeks.

  10. Medical Evaluations: It is the policy of Spoon River College to make medical consultation and examination available to our employees when:
    1. any sign or symptom of an overexposure to a chemical is present.
    2. monitoring has indicated an overexposure to a chemical has occurred.
    3. there has been a spill or uncontrolled release of chemical fumes.

    The College will provide the physician with the names of the chemicals used, circumstances of the exposure, and all signs and symptoms of the exposure.

    The medical examinations dealing with the overexposure must be documented and other employees working under the same conditions must be notified. All documentation must be kept on file and accessible by other employees working in this area.

    All medical examinations and consultations shall be performed by or under the direct supervision of a licensed physician and shall be provided without cost to the employee, without loss of pay.

  11. Monitoring: Monitoring will be necessary for substances regulated by a standard only if there is reason to believe that exposure levels for that substance routinely exceed the PEL for that substance. If you have no cause to suspect a hazard or an exposure, no monitoring is necessary.If monitoring is performed and this initial monitoring shows no evidence of exposure, the monitoring may be discontinued. If initial monitoring indicates an exposure, steps must be taken immediately to reduce the exposure to permissible limits. Monitoring must then be performed periodically to verify that the steps to reduce the exposure have been effective. Monitoring may be terminated after complying with the applicable standard for the hazardous material.All monitoring results and activities shall be fully accessible and in full knowledge of the employee(s).
  12. Emergency Evacuation Plan: Establish a chain of communication. Remember, notify before proceeding to handle the incident. It is often better to notify someone else than to proceed in addressing the problem by yourself.Evacuation may or may not be necessary depending on the incident. Once it has been determined that evacuation is necessary, proceed in an orderly fashion as you would in a fire drill evacuation. Send everyone to a pre-designated area and then count heads to make sure everyone is out of the building.Proper evacuation procedures must be thoroughly planned, detailed in writing, and properly communicated in advance. In case of an emergency, you will not have time to determine “What do I do next?” The evacuation plan in Spoon River College’s Policies and Procedures Manual is considered to be part of the Chemical Hygiene Plan.