Hazardous Chemicals

General Information:

Exposure to potentially hazardous biological, chemical and physical agents should be monitored. Protective devices should be used when possible and other good practices consistent with current safety guidelines should be adopted. Potentially hazardous chemicals in the animal labs and facilities may be found in disinfectants, cleaning agents, pesticides and feed and bedding contaminants.

Hands should be washed after removing gloves, handling chemicals, infectious materials, animals and before leaving the laboratory. Infectious materials should be handled in a biological safety cabinet; a fume hood should be used when handling toxic materials. All work surfaces—after work and daily—should be decontaminated. All contaminated materials should be decontaminated (by autoclaving or chemical disinfection) before washing, reuse or disposal.

A chemical will be deemed as hazardous and require an "Investigation Involving the Use of Hazardous Chemicals and Animals" form if the chemical poses either of the following hazards:

  • Health Hazard- Includes chemicals which are carcinogens, toxic or highly toxic agents, reproductive toxins, irritants, corrosives, sensitizers, hepatotoxins, nephrotoxins, neurotoxins, agents which act on the hematopoietic systems, and agents which damage the lungs, skin, eyes, or mucous membranes or that acute or chronic health effects may occur in exposed employees per OSHA definition.
  • Physical Hazard- Includes chemicals which are a combustible liquid, a compressed gas, explosive, flammable, an organic peroxide, an oxidizer, pyrophoric, unstable (reactive) or water-reactive per OSHA definition.

Refer to your chemical’s Material Safety Data Sheet to verify if it references either of these hazards. If you are not sure if the chemical you are using is considered hazardous, contact University Safety & Assurances at x5808 or x6339.

Forms:

Chemical Specific Standard Safe Operating Procedures:

Updated May 29, 2007 by SAK