Components of the Chemical Hygiene Plan

According to OSHA, the Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories standard (29 CFR 1910. 1450) specifies the mandatory requirements of a Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) to protect laboratory workers from hard due to hazardous chemicals. The CHP is a written program stating the policies, procedures and responsibilities that protect workers from the health hazards associated with the hazardous chemicals used in that particular workplace. There are certain components that are required to be in the chemical hygiene plan.

The Required CHP Elements:

1. There must be a standard operating procedure that is relevant to safety and health considerations for each activity that is involved with the use of hazardous chemicals. 

2. It must have criteria that the employer will use to determine and implement control measures that can reduce the exposure to hazardous materials with particular attention given to selecting control measures for extremely hazardous materials. Examples of this includes engineering controls, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and hygiene practices. 

(http://www.slideshare.net/ohscmcvellore/16planning-to-protect-and-preserve-health-at-work-while-handling-chemicals-in-hospitals-chemical-hygiene-plan-dr-theophilus-s-vijaykumar)

Routes of entry and PPE for a chemical hygiene plan

(http://ehsdailyadvisor.blr.com/2015/11/employees-know-prevent-chemical-exposure/)

Example of worker protection by using PPE

3. There is a requirement to ensure that the fume hoods and other protective equipment are functioning properly and to be able to identify the specific measures that the employer will take to ensure proper and adequate performance of such equipment. 

4. The information that should be provided to the laboratory personnel who is working with the hazardous substances should include the contents of the laboratory standard and its appendices, the location and availability of the employer's CHP, the permissible exposure limits (PELs) for the OSHA regulated substances or recommended exposure limits for other hazardous chemicals where there isn't any applicable OSHA standards, the signs and symptoms associated with exposures to hazardous chemicals used in the laboratory, the location and availability of known reference materials on the hazards, safe handling, storage and disposal of hazardous chemicals found in the laboratory including but not limited to the Material Safety Data Sheets received from the chemical supplier. 

5. The circumstances under which a particular laboratory operation, procedure, or activity requires prior approval from the employer or the employer's designee before being implemented. 

6. The designation of personnel responsible for implementing the chemical hygiene plan, including the assignment of a chemical hygiene officer, and if appropriate, establishing a chemical hygiene committee might be implemented.

7. Provisions for additional worker protection for work with particularly hazardous substances. These can include "select carcinogens" reproductive toxins and substances that have a high degree of acute toxicity. Specific consideration must be given to the following provisions and shall be included where the appropriate establishment of a designated area, the use of contaminant devices such as fume hoods or glove boxes, procedures for safe removal of contaminated wastes, and decontamination procedures. 

8. The employer must review and evaluate the effectiveness of the chemical hygiene plan at least annually and update it as necessary. 

Also, worker training for the chemical hygiene plan should include any methods and observations that may be used to detect the presence or release of a hazardous chemical. This includes monitoring conducted by the employer, continuous monitoring devices, visual appearances of any odor of a hazardous chemical that is being released. Also involved in worker training, is the physical and health hazards of of the chemicals in the work area.