The Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) ensures that the hazards of chemicals in use in laboratories at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW) are communicated to all UNCW personnel and affiliates.
Safety precautions necessary to prevent exposure shall be ensured by this plan.
A chemical hygiene plan has the following components:
Environmental Health & Safety is responsible for the implementation and monitoring of all safety and environmental programs, including the CHP. EH&S will assist with and monitor compliance with the CHP. EH&S will review the CHP annually, update if necessary, and notify departments of any changes. In addition, EH&S will inspect fume hoods, drench showers and eyewashes, perform exposure and hazard assessments, provide general laboratory training and chemical specific user awareness training.
A Chemical Hygiene Officer is required under this program. The CHO is an individual who can provide technical guidance in the implementation of the CHP. The EH&S Laboratory and Environmental Safety Manager acts as the CHO for the Center for Marine Science (CMS) and the UNCW campus. The CHO will provide the general laboratory training and the chemical specific user awareness training.
Department Chairs are responsible for supporting the Principal Investigators and laboratory staff with the resources necessary to ensure compliance with this program. This includes providing training, time away from work to attend training sessions, safety equipment, and the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).