3.0 Definitions
3.1 Action Level
A concentration designated in 29 CFR part 1910 for a specific substance, calculated as an 8-hour time weighted average, which initiates certain required activities.
3.2 Chemical Hygiene Officer (CHO)
An employee who is qualified by training or experience, to provide technical guidance in the development and implementation of the provisions of the Chemical Hygiene Plan. In departmental plans, CHO refers to the department's chemical hygiene office. The overall campus-wide, CHO will be a member of the Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) staff.
3.3 Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP)
A written program developed and implemented which sets forth procedures, equipment, personal protective equipment and work practices that are capable of protecting employees from the health hazards presented by hazardous chemicals used in the laboratory. This plan shall be reviewed and updated at least annually.
3.4 Designated Area
An area which may be used for work with select carcinogens, reproductive toxins or substances which have a high degree of acute toxicity. A designated area may be the entire laboratory, an area of a laboratory or a device such as a laboratory fume hood.
3.5 Employee
An employee for the purposes of the CHP is any person who receives compensation for work performed at Ohio University.
3.6 Hazardous Chemical
A chemical for which there is statistically significant evidence based on at least one study conducted in accordance with established scientific principles that acute or chronic health effects may occur in exposed employees. The term health hazard includes chemicals which are carcinogens, toxic or highly toxic agents, reproductive toxins, irritants, corrosives, sensitizers, hepatotoxins, nephrotoxins, neurotoxins, agents which act on the hematopoietic systems, and agents which damage the lungs, skin, eyes, or mucous membranes.
3.7 Laboratory
A facility where the laboratory use of hazardous chemicals occurs. It is a workplace where relatively small quantities of hazardous chemicals are used on a non-production basis.
3.8 Laboratory Scale
Work with substances in which the containers used for reactions, transfers, and other handling of substances are designed to be easily and safely manipulated by one person.
3.9 Laboratory Use of Hazardous Chemicals
Handling or use of such chemicals in which all of the following conditions are met: chemical manipulations are carried out on a laboratory scale; multiple chemical procedures or chemicals are used; the procedures involved are not part of a production process, nor in any way simulate a production process, and; protective laboratory practices and equipment are available and in common use to minimize the potential for employee exposure to hazardous chemicals.
3.10 Laboratory Worker
An individual employed in a laboratory workplace who may be exposed to hazardous chemicals in the course of his or her assignments.
3.11 Reproductive Toxins
Chemicals that affect the reproductive capabilities, including chromosomal damage (mutations), and effects on fetuses (teratogenesis).
3.12 Select Carcinogen
Any substance that meets one of the following criteria:
3.12.1 It is regulated by OSHA as a carcinogen; or
3.12.2 It is listed under the category, known to be carcinogens, in the Annual Report on Carcinogens published by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) (latest edition); or it is listed under Group 1 (carcinogenic to humans) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer Monographs (IARC) (latest editions); or it is listed in either Group 2A or 2B by IARC or under the category, reasonably anticipated to be carcinogens by NTP, and causes statistically significant tumor incidence in experimental animals in accordance with any of the following criteria:
After inhalation exposure of 6-7 hours per day, 5 days per week, for a significant portion of a lifetime to dosages of less than 10 mg/m3; or
After repeated skin application of less than 300 (mg/kg of body weight) per week; or after oral dosages of less than 50 mg/kg of body weight per day.