Environmental Health and Safety

Chemical Hygiene Program

The university maintains a Chemical Hygiene Program (CHP) that addresses general requirements for the institution. This CHP applies to all spaces on Kansas State University campuses that engage in the laboratory use of hazardous chemicals. It does not apply in laboratory uses of hazardous chemicals which present no potential for employee exposure.

The following components make up the Chemical Hygiene Plan:

  1. General criteria to determine if safety controls are required and which to implement; giving particular attention to extremely hazardous chemicals (See Hazard Assessment)
  2. Standard Operating Procedures for all processes involving hazardous chemicals that take place in the laboratory
  3. Measures to ensure proper and adequate performance of laboratory engineering controls (fume hoods, glove boxes, biosafety cabinets, etc.)
  4. Documentation of employee Training, which must take place upon the employee’s initial assignment to a work area containing hazardous chemicals prior to assignments involving new exposure situations.
  5. The circumstances under which a certain procedure requires prior approval before being performed
  6. Medical consultation and examinations whenever;
    1. An employee develops signs or symptoms associated with a hazardous chemical to which the employee may have been exposed in the laboratory
    2. Environmental monitoring reveals an exposure level above the action level or PEL
    3. A chemical spill, leak, explosion or other release takes place which results in a hazardous exposure
    4. When respirator use is necessary to maintain exposure below the TLV. Every effort will be made by the Department Head to provide the necessary engineering controls (such as mechanical ventilation) to relieve the need for respirators
  7. Designation of individuals responsible for implementing the CHP

The university maintains a Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) Program as outlined in 29 CFR 1910.1200. This program includes an inventory of every hazardous chemical on campus, proper chemical labels, collections of Safety Data Sheets with Right-to-Know access, training, and a written program detailing how each portion of the Hazard Communication Program operates.

To view the university HCSP, see:

Hazard Communication Standard