Section
A: Responsibilities
1. Year-Round Responsibilities
- As
stated in official Department reports to the University, the central focus
of Winthrop′s chemistry program is year-round student-centered
research. Implementation of this overriding learning goal often requires
chemistry faculty to work in Winthrop laboratories during periods of time
that Winthrop is not paying them or when they are not teaching. Similarly,
students will often be working in laboratories conducting research or
other learning activities during times in which they are not enrolled in
any courses or being paid by Winthrop. During all of these periods,
faculty and students are considered by Winthrop University and by the
Department to be acting in their official capacities and to be covered by
the existing University insurance policies. During these times, both
students and faculty are expected to comply with all requirements of the
Department Chemical Hygiene and Safety Plan.
- Has
ultimate responsibility for chemical hygiene in the Chemistry Department.
The chair must ensure that an effective hygiene program is in place and
supported by everyone in the department.
- Coordinates
and implements the Chemical Hygiene Plan.
- Maintains
all records required by the Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP).
- Conducts
a formal CHP inspection of all laboratories and chemical storage areas
each semester. Documents results of each semester's inspection; follows up
to ensure appropriate corrections have been made by the responsible
faculty or staff member.
- Advises
course directors, researchers, instructors, and workers of how the CHP
applies to them.
- Works
to continually improve chemical hygiene practices, procedures and
equipment.
- Maintains
an up-to-date safety library that is available to all which includes a
current copy of the CHP.
- Reports
all accidents and other potential exposure conditions to the Chair. Keeps
a central file of all incident and hazard reports.
- Conducts
weekly visits to all chemical areas for compliance with the CHP to
identify and to correct CHP items, which require immediate attention.
- Conducts
annual inventory of all chemicals in all storerooms and labs; updates the
chemical data base with the inventory results.
- Logs
the receipt of each new chemical in the department by:
- Entering
them into data base
- Adding
inventory bar code to container
- Adding
label with receipt date and disposal date
- Obtaining
MSDS sheet, placing copy in central MSDS inventory and in appropriate
MSDS notebook in lab where it will be stored and used.
- Monitors
procurement, use, and disposal of all chemicals used in the department.
- Identifies
and prepares chemical waste and excess chemicals for disposal.
- Works
to ensure that chemicals are properly labeled and stored.
- Tests
all eyewash stations throughout the department and keeps a written record
of these.
- Monitors
and ensures that protective equipment is available and maintained
according to the chemical hygiene plan (i.e. lab aprons are clean and
available, testing of eyewash stations, ensures that spill kits are
properly stocked, fire extinguishers are inspected, etc.)
- Coordinates
with other campus organizations and faculty on chemical hygiene issues.
- Ensures
that copies of MSDS's are available for chemicals in each lab and in a
central location.
- Faculty must attempt to ensure their own safety as
well as the safety of all students under their supervision by:
o Complying with the CHP in teaching and research
laboratories.
o Developing good personal chemical hygiene habits.
o Requiring the use of appropriate personal protective
equipment.
o Requiring visitors to use the proper eye protection
when visiting the laboratory.
o Ensuring that housekeeping and maintenance of all lab
areas are up to standard.
o Reporting all accident and unsafe conditions to the
chair or chemical hygiene coordinator.
o Participating in chemical hygiene training.
o Ensure responsible chemical storage and waste deposal.
o Informing all students of safety precautions and
supervising students to ensure they work safely in the laboratory.
o Ensuring that all students conducting research in lab
attend the required departmental safety training.
o Provide the appropriate training to research students
beyond departmental safety training and maintain records of all training.
- The following is a short list of some of the issues
that should be addressed before the start and during each lab period. The
faculty member or instructor should ensure that:
o Students are briefed on safety/emergency
considerations and procedures for the laboratory work being conducted.
o Students are advised of any MSDS considerations for
the substances being used that day.
o Students are properly informed of the proper waste
disposal produces for each lab, ensuring that all waste containers are properly
labeled and that students adhere to the proper waste disposal procedures.
o Students are actively supervised during lab work to
ensure safe procedures are being followed.
o Chemicals are properly labeled.
o Chemicals are properly stored during and at the end of
each lab period.
o The proper laboratory protective equipment is used by
everyone in the lab, including visitors.
o The laboratory area is maintained in a state of
cleanliness, safety equipment and exit routes are free of obstructions
o At the end of each lab, ensure that all waste
containers are properly closed; equipment is turned off or unplugged if
appropriate and all utility valves are turned off.
- Participating
in chemical hygiene training
- Planning
and conducting each operation in accordance with the Chemical Hygiene
Plan.
- Developing
good laboratory hygiene habits.
- Reporting
unsafe acts or conditions to the instructor or the safety coordinator.
- Being
familiar with procedures for dealing with accidents and emergencies
- All
students are required to ensure the safety of themselves and others by
following all safety precautions as outlined in the Chemical Hygiene Plan.
- Participate
in Department′s safety training program.
- Members:
- Chemical
Hygiene Coordinator
- Laboratory
Chemist
- Chair
of the Department
- A
chemistry faculty member
- A
physics faculty member
- A
geology faculty member
- Duties
- Ensure
that independent inspections of all laboratory areas are conducted and
documented each academic year.
- Conduct
annual review of the Chemical Hygiene Plan and update as necessary.
- Monitors
the use of particularly hazardous chemicals, particularly in research
areas.
- Ensure
that all hoods, safety showers and fire extinguishers are properly
maintained and tested.
- Annually
inspect laboratories and chemical storage areas for compliance with CHP
plan; provide the chemical hygiene coordinator and department chair with
documentation of all such inspections and testing.
- Ensure
that all University employees, outside of the chemistry department, that
have access to any laboratory in the chemistry building are properly
trained as to the safety procedures that must be followed when entering a
laboratory.
- Coordinate
and schedule chemical waste disposal at least twice each year so that no
waste is stored on site in excess of 270 days.