Chemical Hygiene Plan - Queensborough Community College ...

shipment of improperly labeled products. Any laboratory employee finding containers
without the minimum required information, unlabeled containers, or labels that are torn
or illegible must report it immediately to the EHSO.
2. Newly Synthesized Chemicals
Principal investigators in research laboratories will be responsible for ensuring that newly
synthesized chemicals are used exclusively within the laboratory and are properly
labeled. If the hazards of a substance produced in the laboratory are unknown, it must be
assumed to be hazardous, and the label must indicate that the potential hazards of that
substance have not been tested and are unknown. The principal investigator should
develop a preliminary Material Safety Data Sheet at the earliest opportunity, and add to
it, as properties of the chemicals become known. See Chapter VI for the special
precautions that should be taken when handling these substances.
4.6. Material Safety Data Sheets
1. OSHA Laboratory Standard Requirements:
The OSHA Laboratory Standard and the New York State Right to Know Law (for public
sector laboratories only) require that Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) be collected
and maintained for virtually all chemicals used and stored in the laboratory area. As with
labels, the Hazard Communication Standard mandates that chemical manufacturers
provide Material Safety Data Sheets for each chemical. MSDSs provide basic
information about the safety and health hazards
posed by a chemical and precautions to take when using it.
2. Collection and Distribution of MSDSs
Material Safety Data Sheets must be collected and distributed in each science department
to ensure that all employees may have access to them. Following is a description of the
system used to collect and distribute these sheets. MSDS received will be placed on the
web based Environmental Management System, copied and distributed as follows:
One copy to the EHS Office
One copy to the Public Safety Office
One copy to the user of the chemical
Other hazard information resources that must also be made available to employees are discussed
further in Chapter X, Laboratory Employee Training and Information.
MSDSs must be accessible at all times. Access to MSDSs can mean access to paper copies or
electronic access via the internet. P.I.s and laboratory supervisors are strongly encouraged to
keep paper copies of MSDSs in the laboratory; however, having MSDS websites bookmarked is
acceptable as long as all employees in the workplace know where to find the MSDSs and are
trained on the use of computers to access MSDSs. If a laboratory chooses to use electronic
access, it is recommended that the MSDS website link be posted on the computer or in another
conspicuous location.
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