Chemical Hygiene Plan - Queensborough Community College ...

• Laboratories can use “price tag” style labels in which the chemical name is written out on
a tag, and the tag is then attached to the small container with string or a rubber band.
• For vials in a test tube rack, laboratory personnel can simply label the rack with the
chemical name, and then label the vials with an abbreviation, number, letter, or color
code that corresponds to the label on the test tube rack. For example, if a lab had 10
small vials of ethanol in one rack, the rack could be labeled instead of each vial.
• For preserved specimens, bottles should be labeled with the preservative (e.g., ethanol or
formaldehyde). A large number of these labels could be easily generated by computer
using mailing labels.
• For sample storage in refrigerators, laboratory personnel should label sample containers
with one of the above methods.
***Please keep in mind that some laboratory workers may be color-blind. This fact must
be taken into consideration BEFORE a color-coding system is used.
4.3 Signs
All laboratory employees must be alerted to hazards that exist in an area they enter. The
employer must post a sign at the location where notices are normally posted to inform employees
that they have the right to information from their employer regarding the toxic substances found
in the workplace. In addition, during emergencies, the location of information and emergency
equipment must be clearly marked. The following is a list of some of the most important signs
that must be posted.
1. Laboratory: Potentially Hazardous Substances
A sign with the above words in red on a white background must be posted on the door,
outside of each laboratory at the midpoint of the height of the door. It must be made of
plastic or other durable material and posted at eye level. The height of the letters in the
word "Laboratory" must be at least 1 1/2 inches high. The words "potentially hazardous
substances" must be at least 7/16 inches high.
2. Emergency Equipment and Exit Identification
Signs indicating the location of each safety shower, eyewash station, fire extinguisher,
and exit must be posted and must be large and conspicuous.
3. Emergency Telephone Numbers
Telephone numbers of emergency personnel Ext. 6320, B&G facilities Ext. 6231
supervisors, and the Chemical Hygiene Officer Ext. 5148 must be posted next to the
phone in each laboratory, storeroom/ stockroom, and storage area. If there is no phone in
the room, a sign should be posted indicating the location of the nearest phone (which
should have posted next to it all the pertinent telephone numbers).
4. No Smoking
These should be posted at the entrance to storage areas and laboratories as well as on the
inside of these spaces.
5. Special Hazards
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