Safety is the responsibility of everybody. This may sound cliché, but it is the cornerstone statement of any successful safety plan, because it is only by working together and watching out for one another’s safety that we can hope to achieve the goal of any good safety plan; zero injuries. The second most critical component of minimizing risk of injury is through the adaptation of a safety plan of action, continually improved by peer review, such that we all know our responsibilities and actions to take to prevent accidental injury, and how to respond if it should occur despite our best efforts. We, the faculty, staff and administration of the Dakota State University (DSU) College of Natural Sciences (CNS), have adapted this plan in an effort to ensure uniform and appropriate behaviors and attitudes regarding specifically chemical and laboratory safety.

This Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) is founded upon several simple but fundamental principles:

1. That the safety of all faculty, staff, administration and students of DSU is the paramount priority taking precedence when necessary even over education;

2. That laboratory and chemical safety begins with a well thought out plan (the CHP), which everybody involved with those laboratories are not only aware of, but also follow and into which they all have input;

3. That said plan incorporates safety features of the physical labs and safety procedures when the labs are in use;

4. That said plan covers emergency procedures, and;

5. That said plan includes the manner in which all reagents present are to be handled from the time of acquisition to the time of disposal (the “cradle to grave” concept).

2. Key Safety Personnel

Although safety is indeed the responsibility of all involved in a laboratory, there are none the less a few key players with additional responsibility. Following is a list of these positions and their definitions. The list of individuals required for each of these given roles is presented in appendix C of this document along with the means of contacting them.

Dean of Natural Sciences: (DNS) The person ultimately responsible for the safety of all persons in the CNS, including faculty, staff, administration and visitors. Appoints the Chemical Hygiene Officer, and is responsible to see to the development and faithful implementation of the CHP.

Chemical Hygiene Officer: (CHO) Reports to the DNS. Responsible for development, implementation, review and update of the CHP, and regular employee safety training. The CHO must be qualified for this position either through training or experience in an appropriate setting.

Departmental Chair or Acting Chair: (DC) Reports to the DNS. Responsible for the safety of all laboratories and personnel falling within the DC’s field, and maintaining any chemical storage facility that lies within their department. Maintenance includes but is not limited to maintaining a complete chemical inventory chemical waste handling, segregation of incompatible chemicals and general facility maintenance. The DC is responsible for periodic inspection of the laboratories to ensure they are in good working conditions and for ensuring that the CHP is being implemented within their area of expertise. Some or all of these tasks may be delegated, but the DC is ultimately responsible to see that they are done.

Laboratory Instructor: (LI) Reports to the DC. Responsible for the safety of all students in the laboratories for which they are responsible. This includes laboratory instructors who are filling in temporarily for the regular instructor who is unable to fulfill their duties for a given period.

Laboratory Personnel: (LP) Reports to LI, DC or DNS. May be assigned duties to ensure the safety of a given laboratory through specific tasks such as cleaning, preparation and proper labeling of reagents, checking of inventory, etc. LP also include approved members of the CNS faculty, staff or administration who work in laboratories for developmental purposes, such as writing new experimental procedures or personal research.

Procurement Officer: (PO) Responsible for maintaining a complete chemical inventory, updated no less than once annually, maintaining an appropriate collection of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS’s), and ensuring that duplicate reagent purchases are avoided. Additionally, the PO oversees the annual removal of waste chemicals.

3. Laboratory Procedures

Although appropriate laboratory procedures can fluctuate drastically for different applications, there are none the less a certain set of safety procedures that can be considered to be general enough that they should be adapted by all laboratories in use. The procedures delineated within this section represent our attempt to outline laboratory practices that should be considered to be minimally required for prudent safety standards. It must be noted that any or all of these procedures may be superceded by laboratory procedures that more appropriately fit the specific details of the laboratory application provided these procedures do not undermine the intent or integrity of this section. The LI is directly and solely responsible for such modifications, and answerable to the DC and/or the DNS should the modifications be insufficient.

3.1 Procedures for LP

Laboratory personnel are often those who work “behind the scenes” to keep a laboratory safe, through cleaning of the laboratories, preparation of reagents, checking of inventories, maintenance of safety equipment, or other miscellaneous tasks too numerous to delineate. They also include those who work in laboratories for developmental purposes, for example an instructor who is developing a new experiment for a class or performing personal research, or maintenance of instrumentation of the physical space of the lab. All laboratory personnel must be granted permission to be in a laboratory by an appropriate superior. The individual granting said permission is responsible for the safety of the LP, including but not limited to ensuring that appropriate measures have been taken to train the LP for the task(s) at hand.

When working within a laboratory environment, the LP’s actions should conform to the following guidelines:

1. No personnel will be authorized to work within a laboratory setting without proper safety training and documentation of said training. Training can be handled through the DSU chemical safety training web site (http://www.departments.dsu.edu/sciences/safety/default.htm) which includes both on-line material for reviewing minimal safety information and an on-line quiz for documenting that the individual has understood the material. All DSU CNS employees are required to take this exam and pass with a minimum of 90% at least once a year.

2. Although it is not always possible, all LP’s are strongly encouraged to avoid working in a laboratory alone. If it is not feasible to wait until another person is present, it is encourage that LP’s at least work when others are in the building and inform at least one other person of their intention to work in a laboratory. When working alone in a laboratory, activities should be restricted to general maintenance procedures and procedures that are well known to be safe and familiar to the LP. Any personnel working alone in a laboratory are doing so with the express knowledge that it is of their own free will and take sole responsibility for their well being and safety while in the laboratory.

3. The purpose of a lab coat is to avoid accumulation of possibly hazardous chemicals on clothing through either spillage or contact with contaminated surfaces. All LP’s are to wear lab coats at all times when working in a lab. To avoid as much as possible bringing chemicals into the environment outside of the laboratory, these lab coats are not to leave the laboratory and should be cleaned only in the laboratory itself.

4. All LP’s must wear safety glasses whenever working in a laboratory. Said safety glasses must be ANSI approved for use in a chemical laboratory.

5. LP’s must be careful to ensure that there are no flammable liquids in the vicinity when flames are to be used.

6. Transportation of hazardous reagents must be done in as cautious a fashion as possible. The method of transportation includes but is not limited to ensuring that the reagent is in a container appropriate for transportation (including being in shatter proof bottles when appropriate) and avoiding transporting chemicals through hallways whenever possible. If a chemical must be transported through a heavily traveled hallway, it should be done at a time when traffic can be expected to be minimal.

7. If the LP is to handle any chemicals determined to be corrosive or toxic through skin contact are strongly encouraged to wear appropriate hand protection.

8. Any spill will be cleaned up immediately and with due regard to safety procedures by the LP.

9. The LP will work to keep the workplace uncluttered and clean as a matter of safety.

The preceding procedures are designed to protect the safety and well being of any personnel within a laboratory setting. Failure to comply with these guidelines is the sole responsibility of the individual who assumes all responsibility for any injury that results.

3.2 Procedures for LI

Laboratory instructors have additional responsibilities to protect the safety of those students who will be under their supervision during an experiment as well as their own. During an experiment, they are expected to assume the role as the expert not only for the procedure, but also for safety of the participants. For this reason, a LI is subject to all of the guidelines of the LP, but should also follow these additional guidelines:

1. The LI will ensure that all students receive appropriate safety training for the type of laboratories which fall under the LI’s area of expertise before any individual student’s first experiment, with refresher training minimally once a year. As part of this safety training, the LI assumes responsibility for documenting that this safety training was received and understood by all students. Only when this is completed will the LI grant permission for students to work in a laboratory.

2. For any given experiment, the LI will assume responsibility of learning the particular chemical and physical hazards of the procedure, and will make the students aware of these hazards, including how to minimize their risks, as appropriate.

3. The LI is to ensure that all students are following proper safety procedures and assumes full responsibility for the safety and well being of students during an experiment.

4. The LI is to ensure that the risks of a given experiment are minimized as much as possible, and that no experiment is performed if appropriate safety equipment is unavailable or if available equipment is deemed unsatisfactory for the procedure either by design or lack of maintenance.

5. The LI not only has the right but the responsibility to refuse to allow students to perform any experiment which they deem puts the student at unreasonable risk for any reason. If necessary, the LI will follow up by taking appropriate actions to ensure that the safety shortcomings that caused any such cancellations are addressed for future classes.

Ultimately, any laboratory instructor must take responsibility for all aspects of safety during an experiment, and is expected to model correct safety procedures as well as teach them.

3.3 Procedures for Students

Students are by nature just beginning to learn about laboratories. It stands to reason, then, that the well being of students must be protected by direct supervision of a laboratory expert. The following guidelines are designed to protect students:

1. No student shall ever be permitted to work in a laboratory without direct supervision of at least one LI.

2. No student shall ever be permitted to work in a laboratory without first receiving appropriate safety training and having documentation that said training has occurred.

3. Students shall always be required to wear appropriate safety attire during an experiment.

All LI must be aware that the risks in any laboratory are always at their highest when students are present, not only because of the greater number of people within the laboratory but also because of the inherent lack of experience students bring with them. For this reason, the LI must be especially aware of the activity during an experiment with special attention to be given to minimizing risks.

4. Risk Minimization

Risk minimization involves special procedures designed to protect all members of the DSU community, both inside a laboratory as well as outside, from the risks and hazards of laboratories. Involved are general procedures for handling reagents, safety equipment for laboratories, and training of employees. Like anything else, these guidelines may be superseded by guidelines that are more appropriate for specific situations that are handed down from an appropriate expert provided the standards of these guidelines are not compromised. In most situations, however, these guidelines should be generally applicable to any laboratory setting.

It is the policy of the DSU CNS that any and all complaints involving chemical or physical hazards are immediately investigated and addressed. This includes but is not limited to complaints of ailment that may be related to the CNS, safety issues, spillages, and oversights. A complete record of all such concerns and responses to these concerns is kept on file by the DNS.

4.1 Procedures Involving Reagents

Reagents pose special problems unique to laboratory settings. Almost all reagents are hazardous to health, reactive, and in the wrong hands can cause serious damage to health or property either through accidental misuse or by design. For this reason, special precautions must be put into place to protect personnel from the hazardous effects of reagents as well as to ensure that said reagents do not fall into the wrong hands. The following guidelines are based on two fundamental assumptions; that all reagents are to be treated as hazardous materials, and that minimization of reagents leads to minimization of the hazards associated with these materials.

4.1.1 Procurement

Accumulation of large quantities of any given reagent or a large number of unused reagents for an extended period of time can lead to degradation products of these reagents with unpredictable consequences. For this reason, the simple rule of thumb that “less is more” will be strictly adhered to, and all efforts will be made to prevent the accumulation of unused or unwanted reagents. The following guidelines should be followed at all times:

1. The PO will maintain at all times a current chemical inventory, which is to include all chemicals in storage in all laboratories within the DSU CNS, updated no less frequently than once a year. This inventory is to minimally include the chemical name, quantity, storage location(s), and unusual hazards (such as, for example, shock sensitive explosives that any individual should be aware of even before having the opportunity to read the label). An electronic database with all stored chemicals in the CNS will be made available on the intranet for CNS faculty only, protected by password.

2. The PO will ensure that a single and complete collection of MSDS sheets is up to date with all reagents in the inventory represented in the collection. This collection is to be kept in the CNS front office, deemed to be a location where all DSU CNS personnel can have access at all times.

3. Before any new chemicals are ordered, the PO must be given the opportunity to see if the chemicals desired are present within the CNS already in appropriate amounts to cover the current needs. If so, no new reagents will be ordered.

4. If new reagents must be purchased, the quantity of reagent purchased will be only enough to cover the current needs. Ordering large quantities based on price minimization is strongly discouraged.

5. The PO must be informed of the purchase. On receipt of the reagent, it is the responsibility if the PO to make the appropriate entry in the chemical inventory and ensure that the MSDS has been procured and placed in the appropriate location.

6. It is the responsibility of the purchaser to ensure that the reagent and any excess from the experiment for which it was purchased is appropriately stored on receipt and the label annotated to reflect the date that the chemical was received.

7. As chemicals may be ordered for any given chemical storage facility, it is the responsibility of the DC to ensure that these guidelines are followed within their department.

The importance of effective communication cannot be stressed enough in the minimization of chemical inventory. A single point of reference, specifically the PO, is critical to the task, and special care must be taken by all personnel to go through this individual before putting forward any new purchase requests.

4.1.2 Reagent Storage

Three primary concerns must be addressed with chemical storage: appropriate separation of incompatible materials; protection of safety of CNS personnel; and preventing the reagents from falling into the wrong hands. Towards these ends, the following guidelines will be used in the storage of reagents:

1. There will be one primary storage area for any given department, which will contain all chemicals for long-term storage and is the responsibility of the DC who is ultimately responsible to ensure that the following guidelines are met within their area.

2. All storage areas will have appropriate security such that they can be locked independently from any working laboratories to prevent students or inappropriate persons from entering the chemical storage area. These areas are to be kept locked as a matter of routine except during times of heavy usage by appropriate LP.

3. Ventilation of these storage areas will be appropriate for the task of the area. Accumulation of possibly toxic fumes can only be avoided by appropriate ventilation.

4. Reagents will be appropriately segregated to keep incompatible materials from coming into contact with one another.

5. Acids are to be stored independently from other reagents in cabinets appropriate for handling any possible fumes that may emanate from their containers.

6. Chemical waste may not be stored for longer than one year. Chemical waste disposal procedures will be followed thoroughly.

7. Students will not be permitted into chemical storage areas even during experiments.

8. Volatile reagents that must be refrigerated will be kept in an explosion proof refrigerator.

9. Reagents that have not been used recently or will not be anticipated to be used within the near future will be disposed of either as chemical waste or through a chemical exchange program. Exceptions to this rule include chemicals that are used in small quantities but frequently (such as chemical indicators in their solid form, the solutions of which are used regularly but rarely need replenishment because of the quantities typically used) or reagents that are deemed both safe for extended storage and expensive to replace should the need for the reagent arise. Searches specifically for infrequently used chemicals are to be performed no less frequently than once every five years. A convenient method for identifying infrequently used reagents is to “mark” all reagents with a removable sticker. As the reagent is used, the sticker is removed. At the end of an appropriate period of time (ideally two years), only bottles that still have a marking sticker will be considered for disposal due to infrequent use.

Additional guidelines for materials with specific hazards associated with them may have additional guidelines imposed.

4.1.3 Reagent Usage

Reagent usage refers to the handling of reagent between the times that it is in storage and when it becomes classified as chemical waste. Typical usage includes the use of the reagent in an experiment, or in preparation of a solution or other material for use in an experiment, but may also include temporary storage in preparation for an upcoming class. The following guidelines are designed to protect personnel during such usage:

1. Appropriate attire will be donned whenever reagents are in use.

2. Dilutions are to be performed slowly, always adding any acidic material to basic when appropriate, with careful attention paid to prevent excessive heat formation. Labels for diluted solutions should minimally contain the solution name (including all components of the solution), concentration, date of creation and initials of the individual responsible for making the reagent.

3. Excess reagents in diluted form may be stored subject to the guidelines of reagent storage.

4. Reagents may be stored outside of regular storage areas for up to 24 hours provided they are to be used in an experiment during that time.

5. Reagent labels will under no circumstances be removed or defaced until the container is completely empty. Should it be necessary due to age and corrosion, labels may be recreated as needed and should contain as much identical information as possible as the original label.

Other guidelines specific to the usage and reagents involved will also apply.

4.1.4 Chemical Waste

All chemical waste is to be considered hazardous and disposal of which will inevitably be expensive. To minimize the hazards and costs associated with chemical waste, special care must be taken to avoid the most common problem associated with chemical waste; lack of knowledge. It is all too common that wastes are generated haphazardly with little regard given to documentation of the exact components of the waste. The following guidelines are designed to avoid hazardous accumulation and lack of knowledge of chemical waste:

1. No waste is to be stored for more than one year, with the exception of partially filled waste containers with waste that is deemed safe for extended storage.

2. A waste management service will be contracted minimally on an annual basis to remove all hazardous waste.

3. All waste containers are to be appropriately labeled with the date, the name of the individual accumulating the waste, a log entry number and the contents of the waste container with special care taken to denote any known heavy metal, flammable, organic, corrosive, explosive, health and/or other particular hazards associated with the waste.

4. All DC’s will maintain a logbook of waste containers accumulated within their department. The log books are minimally to contain a log entry number for each waste container, the dates in which waste was added to the container, the name of the person(s) adding the waste, the contents of the waste and any known hazards.

5. Organic and/or water waste may have its volume reduced by evaporation provided that no heat is applied whatsoever during the process as heat can lead to the formation of side products with unpredictable properties. All evaporation processes of chemical waste must be performed within a functioning fume hood.

6. The PO is responsible for accumulation of waste on an annual basis and hiring a company for its removal. This work may be delegated as necessary.

All chemical waste must be handled with extreme care and special attention must be paid to remain vigilant in its correct identification.

4.2 Minimum Laboratory Requirements

Any laboratory by nature has special risks associated with it. For this reason, special care must be made to ensure that appropriate equipment and design goes into the laboratories to ensure that these risks, while impossible to remove, are at the very least minimized. Such items include safety equipment, appropriate space, continual ventilation and security measures to prevent usage by non-approved individuals. The following guidelines must be met in the laboratory environments:

1. All laboratories will have a minimum of two fire escape routes.

2. All laboratories will have a minimum of two fire extinguishers located on opposite sides of the laboratory designed for use on all types of fires.

3. All laboratories utilizing reagents will have a minimum of two eye wash stations located on separate sides of the laboratory. Eye wash stations may be permanent or portable.

4. All laboratories will have a minimum of two fire blankets located on opposite sides of the laboratory. Exceptions include laboratories in which a permanent emergency shower has been installed which can be used for extinguishing fires on individuals.

5. Chemistry laboratories and laboratories which regularly utilize large quantities of corrosive reagents will have at least one emergency shower.

6. Laboratories that utilize reagents with known fume hazards will be equipped with appropriate ventilation for the entire room and fume hoods for use with the reagents by individuals.

7. All laboratories will have at least one first aid kit, containing no less than adhesive elastic and stretch bandages, adhesive tape, antiseptic wipe, bandage compresses, scissors, tweezers, at least one pair of latex gloves and disposable one-way CPR micro shields.

8. Every laboratory will have a minimum of 30 square feet of working space per student within the laboratory, with a maximum capacity in any laboratory that utilizes hazardous reagents of 24 students.

9. Laboratories with specific and unique hazards other than those typically associated with chemical reagents will be appropriately equipped to handle the hazards.

10. Pathways to laboratory safety equipment (fire extinguishers, eye wash stations, etc) must never be blocked by any object, even temporarily, including by chairs or stools.

11. All working benches must be kept clear of clutter, and aisles are never to be obscured or blocked.

12. All laboratory safety equipment will be kept in good working condition and inspected minimally once a semester. The check sheet included in Appendix E of this document can be used to log these inspections.

Laboratory regulations are designed to prevent accidents, but accidents can always occur. Only by properly equipping a laboratory for every possible contingency will anybody be able to truly claim that the hazards of their laboratories have been minimized.

4.3 Employee Training

Employee safety training consists of two parts, initial training and refresher training, and is the responsibility of the CHO. Initial training is typically assumed for those who enter a position with degrees that would have included such safety instruction (such as a degree in biology, chemistry, or physics). However, all other personnel must be given proper safety training before being allowed to handle or be exposed to hazardous chemicals.

To avoid the hazards associated with forgetfulness of safety procedures due to lack of practice, all employees who may work in a laboratory setting or who may handle hazardous reagents must receive refresher training at least annually. Training of new employees can be included in this training as their initial safety instruction. Such training must minimally include handling hazardous materials, procedures for purchasing and disposing of reagents, record keeping procedures, safety equipment and attire, and reading MSDS’s and the information contained therein. A written record of the employees receiving such training and the date of the training is to be kept by the CHO.

Employee training shall incorporate at least the following:

1. Information on their rights as delineated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

2. The contents of this CHP.

3. The concept of permissible exposure limits (PEL) and OSHA regulations of such limits, including but not limited to definition, where to find PEL’s, and signs and symptoms of overexposure to hazardous chemicals.

4. The location and availability of safety reference material on the hazards, safe handling, storage and disposal of hazardous chemicals found in the laboratory.

5. Methods and observations that may be used to detect the presence of hazardous chemicals.

6. The physical and health hazards associated with working in a laboratory and means of protection from such hazards.

7. The right of all employees to seek medical attention free of charge should symptoms appear of toxic exposure or when exposed to chemicals above the PEL.

DSU has developed an on-line safety refresher and documentation site (http://www.departments.dsu.edu/sciences/safety/default.htm). This site can be used to refresh safety training or for initial employer safety training. Included is an on-line safety exam that must be taken and passed with a minimal score of 90% by all DSU CNS employees no less frequently than once a year.

5. Emergency Procedures

The best plans of safety cannot prevent injury from occurring due to either accident or unforeseen circumstances. It is assumed that, should an injury occur, there will be an appropriate expert nearby (either a LI or a LP) who will know how to handle the incident immediately. We are more concerned here with follow-up procedures to ensure that the situation is not propagated.

5.1 Bodily Injury

There is, naturally, a distinct difference between minor and serious bodily injury. Injuries that are deemed minor by the LI (scrapes, cuts, or minor burns for example) can be handled immediately. Such injuries should be noted by the LI, who can then make a judgment as to whether or not to report the injury to the health services (HS). The primary reason for reporting such incidences is to inform the HS that a given student may develop symptoms because of the injury sustained. Any person developing symptoms which may be the result of exposure to chemicals or who are known to have been exposed to a chemical at concentrations above the permissible exposure limit (PEL) will be assumed to have received a bodily injury and as such will receive a free examination and treatment if necessary at the HS.

Handling of more severe accident depends on the extent of the injury. Any of these injuries must be reported to HS. If the students is well enough to walk on their own, then they can walk to the HS but only with the accompaniment of the LI or an individual appointed by the LI. Injured students are never to walk to the HS alone. If the student cannot walk, then 9-911 is to be called and the HS is to be apprised of the situation.

All injuries resulting in the need for a physical examination and/or medical treatment must be reported to the DNS. The DNS will maintain a record of all persons injured in CNS laboratories, including the nature of the injury, the chemical(s) involved in the incident if applicable, the date, and response to the injury including but not limited to medical procedures incurred. The form included in Appendix F of this document should be filled out and filed for each injury that occurs.

Should any person need to be examined by a medical professional, the medical professional must be provided with the identity of the hazardous chemical(s) to which the person was exposed, a description of the conditions under which the exposure occurred including quantitative exposure data if available, and a description of the signs and symptoms of exposure that the person is experiencing if any. The form included in Appendix G of this document can be used to transmit this information to the attending physician. In return, the physician is requested to offer a written opinion based on the examination which includes any recommendations for medical follow-up, the results of the examination including any tests that were performed, any medical condition which may be revealed in the course of the examination which may place the person at increased risk as a result of exposure to hazardous chemicals, and a statement that the individual has been informed of the results. This written opinion is to be kept on file by the DNS.

5.2 Physical Damage

It is assumed here that the incident resulting in the damage, either fire, explosion or spillage, has been contained and eliminated. Should major physical damage occur to a laboratory or laboratory equipment, the first priority will always be to treating the injured. Assuming the injured have been attended to, the LI is to make a decision as to whether or not the laboratory is in suitable condition for use by students. If it is not, laboratories will be moved or cancelled until reparations can be made. If the incident occurred during a class, the class will be cancelled if the laboratory is deemed unsafe because of the incident or if the students are deemed overly distressed to be able to continue by the LI. Before the laboratory can be used again, the damage must be repaired at least to a state where there is no physical danger in using the laboratory and the safety standards are met.

5.3 Uncontrollable Situations

Here we assume that the incident which has occurred cannot be eliminated and is still occurring, such as, for example, fires or chemical spillage producing toxic fumes. In such a situation, both the laboratory and the college is to be evacuated immediately and the correct emergency agency, fire department or HAZMAT team, is to be notified. Any injured students are to be carried to safety and treated immediately for their injuries. The LI or LP present when the situation arose must remain available to explain the situation to the appropriate emergency response professionals.

6. Special Safety Procedures

Special safety procedures include the handling of radioactive or infectious materials that may be used in experiments. Currently, the DSU CNS does not work with or store such materials, so procedures for handling these types of material are not necessary now. Should we begin utilizing this type of material, appropriate modifications will be made to this CHP.

7. Conclusion

This document began with the statement that safety is the responsibility of everybody. Throughout the document, we have delineated the responsibilities of many people, and hopefully gave the impression that there is enough responsibility to share. Only through vigilant effort can we ensure that our college is as safe as possible. We are all in this together; we all have to do our part to see that we stay well.

Appendix A: Types of Hazards and Hazardous Materials²

Aerosol, Flammable: An aerosol that yields a flame protection exceeding 18 inches at full valve opening or a flashback at any degree of valve opening.

Carcinogen: Regulated by OSHA as a carcinogen, listed under the category “known to be carcinogens” in the Annual Report on Carcinogens by the National Toxicology Program (NTP), listed under Group 1 (“carcinogenic to humans”) in the latest editions by the International Agency for Research on Cancer Monographs (IARC), or listed in either Group 2A or Group 2B by the IARC or under the category “reasonably anticipated to be carcinogens” by the NTP.

Combustible Liquid: Any liquid having a flashpoint at or above 100 ^oF (37.8 ^oC) but below 200 ^oF (93.3 ^oC).

Compressed Gas: A gas or mixture of gases having, in a container, pressure exceeding 40 psi at 70 ^oF (21.1^oC) or exceeding 104 psi at 130 ^oF (54.4 ^oF).

Explosive: A chemical that causes a sudden, almost instantaneous release of pressure, gas, and heat when subjected to a sudden shock, pressure or high temperature.

Gas, Flammable: a gas that forms a flammable mixture with air at a concentration of 13% by volume or less, or a gas that forms a range of flammable mixtures with air wider than 12% by volume.

Hazardous Chemical: A chemical for which there is statistically significant evidence based on at least one study in accordance with established scientific principles that acute or chronic health effects may occur in exposed persons. The term “health hazard” includes chemicals which are carcinogens, toxic, reproductive toxins, irritants, corrosives, sensitizers, hepatoxins, nephrotoxins, agents which act on the hematopoietic systems, and agents which damage the lungs, skin, eyes, or mucous membranes.

Liquid, Flammable: Any liquid having a flashpoint below 100 ^oF (37.8 ^oC).

Organic Peroxide: An organic compound that contains the bivalent –O-O- structure.

Oxidizer: A chemical other than a blasting agent or explosive that initiates or promotes combustion in other materials, thereby causing fire either of itself or through the release of oxygen or other gases.

Physical Hazard: A chemical for which there is scientifically valid evidence that it is a combustible liquid, a compressed gas, explosive, flammable, an organic peroxide, an oxidizer, pyrophoric, unstable (reactive) or water-reactive.

Reproductive Toxins: Chemicals which affect the reproductive capabilities including chromosomal damage (mutagens) and effects on fetuses (teratogensis).

Solid, Flammable: A solid other than a blasting agent or explosive that is liable to cause fire through friction, absorption of moisture, spontaneous chemical change, or retained heat from processing, or which can be ignited readily and when ignited burns so vigorously and persistently as to create a serious hazard.

Unstable (reactive): A chemical which is the pure state, or as produced or transported, will vigorously polymerize, decompose, condense, or will become self-reactive under conditions of shocks, pressure or temperature.

Water-reactive: A chemical that reacts with water to release a gas that is either flammable or presents a health hazard.

Appendix B: Terms and Definitions

Chemical Hazard: Any known hazard of a reagent that could cause harm to an individuals health, including but not limited to respiratory ailments, burn hazards, or damage to mucous membranes.

Chemical Hygiene Plan: The plan which is approved by the faculty, staff and administration of the DSU CNS on appropriate procedures and policies concerned with safety in laboratories.

Corrosive: Any chemical that causes erosion of skin and/or matter such as containers or surfaces.

Experiment: Any procedure in which the outcome is either not known in advance, or in which the outcome is to drive those performing the procedure to a given conclusion through experience.

Explosive: Any chemical known to react violently creating excessive force and/or heat.

Fumes: Toxic and/or corrosive airborne chemicals from reagents that are typically in liquid or solid state in the form of either gases or small particles (mist).

Flammable: Chemicals with a flash point below 200^oF (93.3^oC).¹

Flashback: flame extending back to the source of the flammable material

Flash Point: That temperature at which a liquid or solid will begin to burn when exposed to a source of ignition (spark or flame).

Hazardous: Any reagent or situation that exposes an individual or group to chemical or physical hazards.

HAZMAT Team: Professionals specifically trained to deal with spillage of hazardous materials.

Heavy Metal: A heavy metal (such as lead, Pb or mercury, Hg, for example) with special hazards including lifetime cumulative effects.

Laboratory: Any room or physical space so designated for experiments for the express purpose of either education or professional research.

Laboratory Procedures: Guidelines for behavior in laboratories designed to minimize risk of injury.

Material Safety Data Sheet: Obtained from the reagent’s manufacturer, the Material Safety Data Sheet is a listing of all known hazards and appropriate safety responses.

Organic: Any chemical or mixture containing one or more compounds with carbon and hydrogen. Organics tend to have safety hazards associated with health risks and flammability.

Permissible Exposure Limit: A limit of exposure as a function of concentration and time as set by OSHA and reported on a chemical’s MSDS.

Physical Hazards: Any hazard associated with a reagent that could cause physical harm, including but not limited to corrosive properties, flammability, or explosion hazards.

Reagents: Any chemical or mixture of chemicals ordered for the express purpose of use in a laboratory setting.

Student: Any person working within a laboratory for the express intent of learning through a laboratory procedure.

Appendix C: Index of Abbreviations

ANSI: American National Standards Institute

CHO: Chemical Hygiene Officer

CHP: Chemical Hygiene Plan

CNS: College of Natural Sciences

DC: Department Chair or Acting Chair

DNS: Dean of Natural Sciences

DSU: Dakota State University

HS: Health Services

IARC: International Agency for Research on Cancer

LI: Laboratory Instructor

LP: Laboratory Personnel

MSDS: Material Safety Data Sheet

NTP: National Toxicology Program

OSHA: Occupational Safety and Health Administration

PEL: Permissible Exposure Limit

PO: Procurement Officer

Appendix D: List of Key Personnel

Title	Name	Office Phone	Email
DNS	Dale Droge	5183	Sandberp@pluto.dsu.edu
CHO	Richard Bleil	5822	Bleilr@pluto.dsu.edu
PO	Richard Bleil	5822	Bleilr@pluto.dsu.edu
DC Physical Science	Richard Bleil	5822	Bleilr@pluto.dsu.edu
DC Biology	Donna Hazelwood	5187	Hazelwod@pluto.dsu.edu
DC Mathematics	Jeffrey Palmer	5190	PalmerJ@pluto.dsu.edu
DC Respiratory Care	Bruce Feistner	5184	FeistneB@pluto.dsu.edu

Appendix E: Laboratory Safety Equipment Check Sheet

Date: Room Number: Name of Inspector:

Fire Blankets:

Two fire blankets on opposite sides of lab: yes no

If no, is there a safety shower present? yes no

Rips or Tears in blanket(s): yes no

Safety Showers:

Adequate flow? yes no emergency shower not present in this room

Eyewash Stations:

Two stations on opposite sides of the lab? yes no

Station 1:

permanent disposable

if permanent, adequate water flow? yes no

if disposable, has the bottle been compromised? yes no

Station 2:

permanent disposable

if permanent, adequate water flow? yes no

if disposable, has the bottle been compromised? yes no

First Aid Kits:

Still sealed from the previous inspection? yes no

If no, are the following items present?

adhesive bandages : yes no

elastic bandages : yes no

stretch bandages : yes no

adhesive tape : yes no

bandage compresses : yes no

scissors : yes no

tweezers : yes no

latex gloves : yes no

disposable one-way valve CPR micro shield : yes no

Fume Hoods:

Adequate flow? yes no

Appendix F: Injury Report Form

Date: Room Number:

Name of teacher: Name of injured:

Briefly describe the nature of the injury:

Were safety procedures properly followed? yes no

If not, explain:

Are there safety procedure or equipment modifications that could have prevented this injury?

yes no

If yes, explain:

Provide a complete list of chemical reagents in use during the time of the injury:

Briefly describe the action taken in lab:

Was the student escorted to the health office or clinic for further treatment? yes no

If yes, attach doctor’s report

Appendix G: Injury Fact Sheet for Physicians

Date: Room Number:

Name of teacher: Name of injured:

Briefly describe the nature of the injury:

Provide a complete list of chemical reagents in use during the time of the injury:

Is this a complete list or partial list of the most hazardous chemicals?

Briefly describe the action taken in lab:

Bibliography

1. Jay A. Young, Warren K. Kingsley, and George H. Wahl, Jr., Developing a Chemical Hygiene Plan (American Chemical Society, USA, 1990).

2. Federal Registry 55, number 21, Jan. 31, 1990 as reproduced in reference (1).