To protect faculty, staff, students, and the public from potential hazards associated with the use of chemicals and to ensure the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign complies with laws and regulations on the safe use of chemicals.
This policy applies to all University Community members engaged in use of Chemicals in university-sponsored Activities conducted in campus facilities or at off-campus locations.
The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation (OVCRI).
All Activities sponsored by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign that involve Hazardous Chemicals must:
Anyone using Hazardous Chemicals for university-sponsored Activities must register with either the laboratory safety program or hazard communication program administered by the Division of Research Safety (DRS). Program applicability is determined by DRS. Enrollment in additional substance or laboratory specific programs may be required based on the Activities taking place.
Significant problems, violations of regulations or policies, or Chemical related incidents must be reported to the CHO. Additional Chemical health and safety programs to ensure compliance with new and evolving regulations promulgated by regulatory authorities or with existing regulations to meet the changing needs of the University will be developed and administered by DRS as needed.
The CHO and DRS have the authority to establish policies, standards, and procedures and to require training as necessary for compliance with applicable laws and regulations or for business management of the chemical safety programs.
Activities include research, teaching, maintenance, application, outreach programs, archival storage, import or export, distribution, transportation, or shipping of Chemicals.
University Community includes but is not limited to university employees, faculty and staff, adjunct and clinical faculty, visiting faculty, postdoctoral appointees, visiting scholars, visiting scientists, students, guests, volunteers, and visitors.
Chemical means any substance that has a defined composition, including solids, liquids, gases, and plasma.
Chemical Hygiene Officer (CHO) means the employee within the Division of Research Safety who is qualified by training or experience to provide technical guidance in the development and implementation of the provisions of the Chemical Hygiene Plan. The CHO ensures that chemical safety programs and procedures are in place and communicated for hazardous chemicals, including the labeling, handling, use, and storage of such chemicals as well as the selection of controls to protect against bodily harm from the risk of exposure or property damage.
Hazardous Chemical means any Chemical which is classified as a Physical Hazard or a Health Hazard, a simple asphyxiant, combustible dust, pyrophoric gas, or hazard not otherwise classified.
Health Hazard means a Chemical which is classified as posing one of the following hazardous effects: acute toxicity (any route of exposure); skin corrosion or irritation; serious eye damage or eye irritation; respiratory or skin sensitization; germ cell mutagenicity; carcinogenicity; reproductive toxicity; specific target organ toxicity (single or repeated exposure); or aspiration hazard.
Physical Hazard means a Chemical that is classified as posing one of the following hazardous effects: explosive; flammable (gases, aerosols, liquids, or solids); oxidizer (liquid, solid or gas); self-reactive; pyrophoric (liquid or solid); self-heating; organic peroxide; corrosive to metal; gas under pressure; or in contact with water emits flammable gas.
The VCRI is responsible for ensuring that research at the University is conducted in conformity with federal, state, and local regulations. The CHO resides within DRS, which reports to the OVCRI. The DRS develops, implements, and oversees comprehensive campus Chemical safety programs to ensure the proper use, handling, transport, and disposal of Chemical materials. DRS partners with faculty, staff, and students in teaching, research, and service by facilitating the control of hazards inherent in the use of Chemicals for those purposes. The DRS will advise and assist faculty, staff, and students in the interpretation and implementation of these policies and programs as well as regulatory requirements that pertain to chemical safety.
The CHO’s responsibilities include:
Chemical Safety Committee
A Chemical safety committee can be formed to address matters such as noncompliance, vetting new chemical compliance programs, review of high hazard processes, etc. Committee membership and charge can be decided by the OVCRI, DRS, or the CHO and will include members with relevant expertise related to the charge of the committee. The committee will report to the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation through DRS.
Chemical Hygiene Plan
All laboratories that use hazardous chemicals as defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) must adopt a Chemical hygiene plan based on the Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories standard (29 CFR 1910.1450).
The Lab Safety Guide/Chemical Hygiene Plan is managed by DRS and provides baseline safety information and expectation for general laboratory practices on campus. The Lab Safety Guide/Chemical Hygiene Plan is reviewed annually by DRS and updated as necessary. A comprehensive Laboratory Safety Plan is required for each laboratory. This includes the Lab Safety Guide/Chemical Hygiene Plan, laboratory-specific safety training, standard operating procedures, policies, and guidance documents specific to individual laboratory hazards and environments.
Hazard Communication Plan
All units that use hazardous chemicals as defined by OSHA in a non-laboratory environment must implement a hazard communication plan based on the “Hazard Communication” standard (29 CFR 1910.1200), also known as Employee Right-to-Know. The campus Hazard Communication Plan is managed by DRS and updated as needed. Unit specific procedures, inventory, and training are necessary to complete the plan.
Chemical Waste Disposal
All University Community members who use Chemicals must dispose of Chemicals in a manner that complies with all federal, state, and local regulations and university policies, standards, and procedures. The Division of Research Safety has adopted procedures that identify how to properly dispose of chemical waste generated on campus. DRS maintains the campus chemical waste contract with a vendor. DRS picks up and processes chemical waste to be shipped through the university vendor in compliance with the RCRA waste permit and terms of the waste contract. Campus personnel shall not initiate off-site shipments of chemical waste without first consulting with DRS in order to ensure the waste is being transported and disposed of legally, and that the amount of waste disposed of is properly recorded on the University’s annual Illinois Environmental Protection Agency report.
Chemical Waste Minimization
All users of Chemicals are responsible for minimizing the amount of chemical waste requiring disposal through thoughtful purchasing, use, and recycling.
There are no exceptions to federal or state laws and regulations. Exceptions to campus standards and guidelines may be made by the CHO on a case-by-case basis.
Contact:
The Division of Research Safety within the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation