In order to keep a safe environment that complies with federal regulations and UNCW standards, parties utilizing the laboratories must follow the guidelines, procedures and responsibilities set forth by the EH&S Department.
Environmental Health & Safety is responsible for the implementation and monitoring of all safety and environmental programs, including the Chemical Hygiene Plan. 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 (CHO) 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).
Individual laboratory workers are responsible for wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment, ensuring that hazards are minimized and controlled, adhering to prescribed safety rules and regulations, and following the Standard Operating Procedures.
Chemical hazards within the laboratory will be identified by the use of hazard communication signs, chemical labels, a chemical inventory, and Safety Data Sheets (SDS).
Online Safety Data Sheet access can be found in MySeaport - Employee Essentials - third column on the right.
Hazard Communication Signs
Laboratory and other potentially hazardous work areas will have a hazard communication sign at all doors leading into the workspace. These hazard communication signs will identify the categories of potentially hazardous materials contained in the lab.
Emergency contact information will also be included on the sign. This emergency contact information will provide the names and phone numbers of individuals who would know the hazards that may result from an emergency in the laboratory.
EH&S will provide the hazard communication signs for the laboratories after receiving a completed Laboratory Safety Data Sheet for the laboratory. The Laboratory Safety Data Sheet and the hazard communication signs will be reviewed annually and revised if necessary by the CHO and Principal Investigator.
The UNCW JHA Training Check List, identifies all the OSHA required training based on the question "How often does the employee perform a certain task?" This form can be obtained on the link provided above.
In completing the above form, carefully consider if any of these tasks are part of the employees job responsibility and mark the applicable block indicating the frequency of performance and level of involvement along with any comments.
Safe operating procedures are written step-by-step procedures for a specific non-repetitive task that may be hazardous or critical. The purpose of a safe operating procedure is to provide written guidance for a particular task so the employee can successfully complete it without risk of injury or illness. For The purpose of the UNCW Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) is to identify safety training, personal protective equipment (PPE) and Safe Operating Procedures necessary for UNCW employees to comply with OSHA regulations and ensure a safe and secure environment for the university community.
For example, a safe operating procedure with appropriate warnings and cautions would best be developed and used for tasks such as confined space entry, lockout-tagout, laser equipment use, etc. Although UNCW safety policies already exist, safe operating procedures are required to provide task specific safety instructions. EH&S can provide a sample program and is available to assist supervisors in developing a safe operating procedure. Upon completion, the original should be kept in the department, a copy provided to the employee and a copy forwarded to EH&S.
The OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910.1030 requires employers to provide a safe and healthful work environment for all employees who face a significant health risk as the result of occupational exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials because they may contain bloodborne pathogens including Hepatitis B Virus which causes Hepatitis B, a serious liver disease, and Human Immunodeficiency Virus, which causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
OSHA concludes that this significant health risk can be minimized or eliminated using a combination of task identification, engineering and work practice controls, personal protective clothing and equipment, training, medical follow-up of exposure incidents, vaccination (where applicable), and other provisions.