Chemical Hygiene and Safety Program Policy and Standards

Provide campus direction for: establishment of advisory Chemical Hygiene and Safety Committees [§29 CFR 1910.1459 (e)(3)(vii)]; creation and maintenance of a Chemical Hygiene Plan [§29 CFR 1910.1450(e)(1)] and Hazard Communication Plans [29 CFR 1910.1200(e)]; creation of a process for appointment of a Chemical Hygiene Officer [§29 CFR 1910.1459 (e)(3)(vii)] as described in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations (See below for references to OSHA site).

Date	Version Number	Change Description	Referenced Section
12/17/13	1.0	New Document	Entire Document
9/10/15	1.1	Minor Revisions
9/6/16	2.0	Major Revisions
1/6/17	2.1	Minor Revisions
11/23/18	2.2	Minor Revisions

 Review Process / Approval

Action:	Units	Date
Policy Review	Environmental Health and Safety Management Services	n/a
Policy Approval	Executive Council Executive Council	12/17/13 9/6/16

All employees, students, guests, and volunteers of SUNY Plattsburgh in situations where risks from hazardous chemicals exists or risks exist from physical dangers. Risks are as defined in §29 CFR 1910.1450 (b) [Lab Standard] and §29 CFR 1910.1200(c) [Hazard Communication Standard].

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          5.1. Chemical Hygiene Officer: The President, or his or her designee, shall appoint a Chemical Hygiene Officer (CHO) as described §29 CFR 1910.1450(e)(3)(vii). The CHO will fulfill the duties as described in §29 CFR 1910.1450 (e). 

              5.1.1. Characteristics of the CHO: The CHO shall have a certification appropriate to the duties of the position.

                  5.1.1.1. Appropriateness of the certification is to be determined by the Office of Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) in conjunction with the appropriate Vice Presidents and Provost.

      5.2. Chemical Hazard Communication Plans (CHCP) and Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP):

             5.2.1. The chairs of the CHC&SCs and CHS&RC in conjunction with EH&S, will work with the various units of the College under their respective charges to develop chemical hazard communication plans and a chemical hygiene plan, respectively.  These plans shall comply with federal statute and are to be approved by EH&S before implementation.

             5.2.2. The chair of each committee (CHC&SCs and the CHS&RC: see section 5.3) in conjunction with EH&S staff and others, will develop educational plans for all staff and faculty covering the implementation and precepts of the CHCPs and the CHP.

                  5.2.2.1. The CHCP and CHP educational plans must be demonstrably effective in ensuring safe handling of hazardous chemicals in laboratories, art studios, museum spaces, theaters, and all other spaces where chemicals are handled by employees.

                 5.2.2.2. Education and training in the directives of the CHCPs and the CHP must take place on: initial appointment; when hazards of activities significantly change; and/or once a calendar year.

            5.2.3. The chairs of the CHC&SCs and the CHO, in conjunction with the staff of EH&S, are responsible for vetting the CHCPs and CHP developed or changes to them. Changing these documents shall be based on the feedback from the employees working in the areas covered by the plans; developments in best safety practices; assessment data, and, changes in applicable legislation and/or regulations. 

      5.3 Chemical Hazard Communication and Safety Committees (CHC&SC) and Chemical Hygiene, Safety, and Radiation Committee (CHS&RC) 

            5.3.1  The President, or his designee, shall appoint the members of the CHC&SCs and the CHS&RC.

            5.3.2. The number of committees created shall coincide with administrative areas having similar chemical hygiene and safety issues. At a minimum, this number would be three: scientific laboratory areas; studios and theater spaces for the visual and performing arts; and facilities.

                  5.3.2.1.  Characteristics and Mandates of the CHC&SCs and the CHS&RC Committees:

                        5.3.2.1.1. each committee will have as its mandate, responsibility to make recommendations: 1) on the content, implementation and effectiveness of the plans; and 2) on the appropriate safety rules, regulations and the implementation and effectiveness of the same, for the administrative areas under its purview.

                        5.3.2.1.2. the chair of each committee shall keep copies of all committee records or reports, and submit copies of them to the Provost, Vice President of Administration, EH&S, the Deans as appropriate, supervisors, the members of their CH&SC as well as the chairs/supervisors of the administrative areas covered by the CH&SC.

                        5.3.2.1.3. By May 31 of each year, each committee shall report on the effectiveness of the plans, and make recommendations for revisions to make them more effective. The report shall include: an executive summary; description of the assessment efforts of the CHP and the associated education program; the results of the assessment; and, recommendations for improvements to the plans to maintain compliance and to make the educational plans more effective. 

                              5.3.2.1.3.1. The report is to be submitted to the President, Provost, Vice President for Administration, the Campus Compliance Officer, the Chair of the Internal Audit and Control Committee, EH&S, the CHO, Deans and the supervisors of the administrative units covered by the CHP.

                                    5.2.4.1.3.2. Implementation of the recommendations will be the responsibility of the chairs of the committees in conjunction with the CHO and EH&S.

                  5.3.2.2. Chemical Hygiene, Safety and Radiation Committee: The committee shall include at a minimum: the designated CHO, appropriate members of EH&S, at least one representative from each department working with hazardous chemicals in laboratory settings, and any additional individuals deemed by the Provost to have import for the achievement of Committee’s responsibilities.

                        5.3.2.2.1. The CHS&RC is to be chaired by the CHO 

                  5.3.2.3. Arts, Studio and Theater CHC&SC: The committee shall include at a minimum: appropriate members of EH&S, at least one representative from each department working with hazardous chemicals in laboratory settings, and any additional individuals deemed by the Provost and the Vice President of Business Administration to have import for the achievement of Committee’s responsibilities.

                        5.3.2.3.1. The Arts, Studio and Theater CHC&SC is to be chaired by an individual jointly designated by the Provost and Vice President for Business Affairs. 

                  5.3.2.4. Facilities CHC&SC: The committee shall include at a minimum: appropriate members of EH&S, at least  one representative from each department working with hazardous chemicals in the administrative areas, and any additional individuals deemed by the Vice President for Business Affairs to have import for the achievement of the Committee’s responsibilities.

                        5.3.2.4.1. The Facilities CHC&SC is to be chaired by an individual designated by the Vice President for Business Affairs.

      5.4. Record Keeping: The President or his or her designee shall identify an official office(s) for maintenance of records of all correspondence involving changes to the plans; inspections for plan and safety compliance; training of employees; minutes of the committee meetings; and, notifications and remediation of lapses in the adherence to the CHP.

            5.4.1. The CHO, and chairs of the Committees shall copy all documents and communications regarding compliance with this policy to the designated office.

            5.4.2. If any of the record keeping required under this policy is outsourced, then the designated office for record keeping shall ensure that records are adequately secured, and are available on request.

            5.4.3. Records must be readily available to any inspection officer who requests to see the documentation relating to compliance with this policy.

      5.5. Inspections: The CHO, in collaboration with the EH&S, will develop a process for regular inspections of all areas covered by plans.

            5.5.1. The EH&S staff, in a collaborative fashion, will develop a form covering the items to be reviewed on each inspection and share that format with all staff and faculty working in the areas covered by the CHCPs and the CHP.

            5.5.2. The EH&S staff or designees, in a collaborative fashion, will be responsible for leading the inspections of areas covered by the plan.  The CHO will be responsible for the inspections of laboratory spaces.

            5.5.3. The EH&S or CHO, can invite other faculty, students, and staff to participate in the inspections.

            5.5.4. The CHO and EH&S staff will have access to any and all areas covered by the plans at all times.

            5.5.5. The CHO, in conjunction with EH&S, will communicate with office of Emergency Management as appropriate to effectively communicate and collaborate on issues of campus safety.

      5.6. Accountability: The inspector , in conjunction with the CHO and EH&S, will report lapses of adherence to the plans to the appropriate supervisor of an administrative area in a time appropriate to the level of hazard presented by the lapse but no later than one week past the inspection date.

            5.6.1. If the lapse of adherence to the plan is severe enough, and imminent danger of injury or property damage exists, the CHO or EH&S staff, may mandate that the process be ceased immediately until such time as risk of the process can be reduced to acceptable levels. Notifications should be issued following 5.6. 

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Related  Links

OSHA HAZARD COMMUNICATION STANDARDS 

OSHA Laboratory Standard   

Method	Date
Campus Handbook	N/A
Faculty / Staff Digest	N/A
Student Digest	N/A
Other	N/A

There are no specific trainings identified with this policy.