Basic Documentation

Laboratory Ventilation Codes and Standards
Siemens Industry, Inc. 8
Term Definition Commentary
Chemical Hygiene
Plan
Chemical Hygiene
Officer
Cleanroom
U.S. OSHA: “A written program developed and implemented by the employer which
sets forth procedures, equipment, personal protective equipment and work practices
that are capable of protecting employees from the health hazards presented by
hazardous chemicals used in that particular workplace and meets the requirements of
paragraph (e) of this section.”
General: A documented comprehensive plan that establishes policies and detailed
procedures for the safe handling of chemicals. All laboratory facilities are required by
law to have and to enforce compliance with the plan. All workers must be made aware
of the plan and routinely follow it’s procedures for their own safety as well as the safety
of fellow workers. The plan must not only address the ‘normal’ handling of chemicals but
also the procedures for handling emergency situations including chemical spills and
accidental worker exposure. Typically a person referred to as the ‘Chemical Hygiene
Officer’ is responsible for implementation and enforcement of the Chemical Hygiene
Plan. Also see Chemical Hygiene Officer.
U.S. OSHA: “An employee who is designated by the employer, and who is qualified by
training or experience, to provide technical guidance in the development and
implementation of the provisions of the Chemical Hygiene Plan.”
General: A well qualified person who understands the hazards associated with
chemicals and is highly knowledgeable on safe laboratory practices. This person is
given responsibility and authority to set safe work practices, policies and chemical
handling procedures. This person is normally responsible for administering (and often
composing) the Chemical Hygiene Plan. Although the Chemical Hygiene Officer has the
responsibility and authority to enforce chemical safety, all of this person’s superiors
(including the CEO) still have the same responsibility of ensuring worker safety–thus the
responsibility for safety cannot delegated away.
A specially constructed tightly enclosed room (space) that is positively pressurized and
supplied with a high rate of ventilation air that is purified by high efficiency particulate air
(HEPA) filters to ensure a specific level of airborne cleanliness is always maintained.
Cleanrooms are classified according to the permissible airborne particulate in a specific
volume. The lowest number classification is the most pure or “cleanest” ambient
condition.
A chemical hygiene plan must address all
phases of handling chemicals (receiving,
storage, internal transport, safe laboratory
usage, and disposal). Laboratory workers
(and all facility workers involved in handling
chemicals) must be properly trained and
made aware of the procedures stipulated by
the chemical hygiene plan. The chemical
hygiene plan must be readily available for
examination by governmental enforcement
agencies.
In addition to the Chemical Hygiene Plan,
laboratories may also need a Radiation
Safety Plan and Biological Safety Protocols to
address the associated hazards.
U.S. OSHA’s ‘non-mandatory’ Laboratory
safety recommendations were largely
extracted form "Prudent Practices" for
Handling Hazardous Chemicals in
Laboratories”, which was published in 1981
by the National Research Council and is
available from the National Academy Press,
2101 Constitution Ave., NW,. Washington DC
20418.
Clean rooms are most often utilized to ensure
purity in the production of pharmaceuticals
and in the fabrication of micro-electronic
devices.