If your lab deals with particularly hazardous substances (PHS), you will need an approval process before employees work with such materials. The following, from Princeton University's Department of Chemistry is an example of such an approval plan:
Laboratory workers planning to use a particularly hazardous substance must first receive explicit written approval from their Principal Investigator and/or Chemical Hygiene Officer, per the Departmental Chemical Hygiene Plan. The following steps must be taken:
1. Laboratory workers must complete a Particularly Hazardous Substance Use Approval form. Information required on the form includes:
- Identity, physical characteristics, and health hazards of the substances involved
- Consideration of exposure controls such as fume hoods, glove boxes and personal protective equipment
- Designation of an area (hood, glove box, portion of lab, entire lab) specifically for experimental procedures with the substances involved
- Plans for storage and secondary containment
- Procedures for safe removal of contaminated waste
- Decontamination procedures
2. The laboratory worker submits the form to the Chemical Hygiene Officer and/or Principal Investigator and receives approval.
3. The area where the PHS will be used is posted as a designated area. Signs for this purpose are available through EHS or may be made by the department or laboratory worker, as long as it includes the following information:
DANGER
DESIGNATED AREA
for select carcinogens, reproductive toxins and high acute toxicity chemicals
AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY
4. The laboratory worker proceeds with the experiment, following the practices outlined in the Particularly Hazardous Substance Use Approval form, as well as the appropriate work practices included in the Safe Work Practices and Procedures section of their lab's safety manual. All work is conducted within the Designated Area.
5. The laboratory worker decontaminates all equipment and disposes of waste promptly, as outlined in the Particularly Hazardous Substance Use Approval form.
