Laboratory Safety

When working in a laboratory environment, personnel will encounter various hazards associated with the use of hazardous chemicals, equipment, or during certain processes. The Department of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) has developed a University-wide Chemical Hygiene and Safety Plan (CHSP) and other supporting documents which provide general guidance for the recognition, evaluation, and control of these hazards. The CHSP is written in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1450 (The Laboratory Standard), and with the National Research Council’s Prudent Practices in the Laboratory. The CHSP outlines minimum regulatory requirements and the most prudent practices for working safely in the laboratory environment. The CHSP does not adequately address the complete scope of hazards for all laboratory work; therefore, it is the responsibility of the Principal Investigators, or their designee to develop written standard operating procedures (SOPs) for specific operations.

Some research or laboratory activities include the manipulation of microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, cells, etc.), some of which are natural, genetically modified, and/or infectious, and can cause illness and disease in healthy humans. Biosafety can be defined as a combination of factors designed to safely manipulate and contain these microorganisms, while ensuring that human health is not compromised. The Environmental Health and Safety Department (EHS) has developed a Biosafety Manual and other supporting documents, which provide general guidance for the recognition, evaluation, and control of biological hazards. The Biosafety Manual is written in accordance with the recommendations outlined in the Center for Disease Control’s Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) and those outlined in the National Institutes of Health’s Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules.

In addition, EHS has developed a Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan (ECP), which provides general guidance in the recognition, evaluation, and control of hazards associated with exposure to human blood and other potentially infectious materials (OPIM) that may contain bloodborne pathogens such as Hepatitis B (HBV), Hepatitis C (HCV), and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). THE ECP is written in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1030 (OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard), and outlines the minimum requirements for working safely in an environment where exposure to human blood or OPIM is possible.

While EHS has provided general guidance for working safely with biological hazards and bloodborne pathogens, it is the responsibility of the Principal Investigator or his/her designee, or area supervisors to write specific SOPs for work with biohazards and infectious agents, as these documents do not address specific procedures that are used in the work environment.

A particularly hazardous substance (PHS) is defined by OSHA as either a carcinogen, reproductive toxicant, or substance with a high degree of acute toxicity.

Carcinogens are chemicals or chemical products that cause, or are suspected to cause cancer. OSHA has written standards regulating the use of carcinogens in 29 CFR 1910 Subpart Z. Known or reasonably expected human carcinogens are listed in the National Toxicology Programs Annual Report of Carcinogens. The International agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) lists Group 1 (“carcinogenic to humans”) and Group 2A or 2B (“reasonably anticipated to be carcinogens”). The State of California lists chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity on the Proposition 65 List.

Reproductive toxicants are substances that have adverse effects on various aspects of reproduction, including fertility, gestation and/or fetal development (teratogens), lactation and general reproductive performance.

Highly, acutely toxic substances include any chemical that may be fatal or cause damage to target organs as a result of a single exposure or exposure of short duration. Examples given are substances such as hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen sulfide and nitrogen dioxide. OSHA-defined categories are as follows:

• A chemical with a median lethal dose (LD50) of 50 mg or less per kg of body weight when administered orally to certain test populations.

• A chemical with an LD50 of 200 mg less per kg of body weight when administered by continuous contact for 24 hours to certain test populations.

• A chemical with a median lethal concentration (LC50) in air of 200 parts per million (ppm) by volume or less of gas or vapor, or 2 mg per liter or less of mist, fume, or dust, when administered to certain test populations by continuous inhalation for one hour, provided such concentration and/or condition are likely to be encountered by humans when the chemical is used in any reasonably foreseeable manner.

Any chemical where the hazard characteristics are unknown must be treated as particularly hazardous until proved otherwise.

Each KSU employee (researcher, PI, staff, etc.) must be aware of the hazards presented by the chemicals and chemical products that they encounter on the job. To provide additional awareness, EHS has developed written standard operating procedures for some of the most common PHSs used on KSU’s campus. These SOPs are intended to provide general guidance for working with specific substances; however, it is the responsibility of the Principal Investigator or his/her designee to develop SOPs for lab specific procedures using PHSs.

The Radiation Safety Committee (RSC) is charged to provide oversight for all aspects of radiation safety at KSU related to the use of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation sources, equipment or devices in facilities owned or controlled by KSU. The RSC will ensure that all acquisition, possession, storage, use, and disposal of ionizing radiation complies with all Federal (U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission) and State (Georgia) regulations, and in accordance with the specific conditions prescribed in radioactive materials licenses issued to KSU.  The RSC will also ensure that appropriate radiation protection measures are in place to maintain radiation exposures to faculty, staff, students, and the general public As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA). The RSC will ensure that all acquisition, possession, storage, use, and disposal of non-ionizing radiation complies with all Federal and State regulations, and with all applicable standards.