SECTION I - SECTION II - SECTION III - SECTION IV - SECTION V (APPENDICES)
I.Cover | I.A | I.B | I.C | I.D | I.E

Section 1B

B. Scope and Application

This Chemical Hygiene Plan is intended to safely limit laboratory workers' exposure to hazardous chemicals regulated by the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Administration (WISHA). Laboratory workers must not be exposed to hazardous chemicals in excess of the permissible exposure limits listed in WAC 296-841, Airborne Contaminants. This list of air contaminants and their permissible exposure limits is found in Appendix B of this Plan.

This standard applies where "laboratory use" of hazardous chemicals occurs. Laboratory use of hazardous chemicals refers to two factors: 1) when the handling or use of chemicals occurs on a "laboratory scale," that is, the work involves containers which can easily and safely be manipulated by one person and 2) when multiple chemical procedures or hazardous chemicals are used. Applying the "laboratory use" criteria, all teaching, research and clinical laboratories at Washington State University are considered to be subject to the Laboratory Safety Standard. Certain non-traditional chemical use areas may be included under this standard at the option of individual departments within the University. Also, it is the policy of the University that students in laboratories, while not legally covered under this standard, are afforded the same level of protection as University employees. (Students are not covered by Workers' Compensation in the event of an injury.)

This standard does not apply to laboratories whose function it is to produce commercial quantities of material. Also, this standard will not apply where the use of hazardous chemicals provides no potential for employee exposure, such as in procedures using chemically impregnated test media and commercially prepared test kits. When laboratory work is limited to use of these commercially available kits, a chemical hygiene plan is not required.