July 2008, version 1.1
This document replaces all previous versions of the UA Chemical Hygiene Plan

Getting Started

2. Roles And Responsibilities

An essential component of any laboratory chemical safety program is to clearly articulate and clarify the different roles and responsibilities of all the stakeholders. Clarifying roles and responsibilities for implementing the Laboratory Chemical Safety Manual (the Manual) will establish accountability, streamline processes, enhance safety and avoid confusion and questions in meeting the Manual's objective.

2.1) Administrators: All university administrators including the President, Vice Presidents, Provosts, Deans, Departments Heads and Directors are responsible for:

2.1.1) Ensuring that individuals under their management have the authority to implement the Manual, and
2.1.2) Ensuring that areas under their management are in compliance with the Manual.

2.2) Supervisors: All laboratory supervisors, including principal investigators, laboratory managers, and others having direct supervisory authority are responsible for maintaining a laboratory environment that protects the health and safety of Lab Workers under their supervision and ensures ongoing regulatory compliance. This responsibility entails:

2.2.1) Registering their laboratory hazardous chemical use on the web-based Laboratory Chemical Safety (LSC) Management System.
2.2.2) Ensuring that all Lab Workers under their immediate direction and control successfully complete the web-based general laboratory chemical safety training, which is part of the Laboratory Chemical Safety (LCS) Management System;
2.2.3) Recognizing the safety and health hazards to which these people may be exposed;
2.2.4) Acquiring, and/or developing and implementing commensurate hazard controls;
2.2.5) Providing laboratory-specific training and information to Lab Workers on these hazards and the methods used to control these hazards;
2.2.6) Requiring that all Lab Workers read, know and follow the work practices and procedures specified in the Manual;
2.2.7) Requiring that all hazardous (chemical) waste is properly contained, labeled, and accumulated and that the parties responsible for waste removal from the lab are notified;
2.2.8) Conducting periodic surveillance of activities (e.g., laboratory chemical safety self-evaluations, which is part of the Laboratory Chemical Safety (LCS) Management System) to ensure that hazard controls are effective and to identify any new hazards;
2.2.9) Investigating and reporting accidents, and
2.2.10) Ensuring that adequate records are kept of all training, accidents, inspections, and corrective actions taken.

2.3) Lab Workers: Lab Workers are responsible for:

2.3.1) Successfully completing the web-based general laboratory chemical safety training, which is part of the Laboratory Chemical Safety (LCS) Management System, and attending laboratory-specific chemical safety training;
2.3.2) Reading and understanding the applicable details of the Manual;
2.3.3) Planning and conducting each operation in accordance with the Manual;
2.3.4) Staying informed about the chemicals they may come in contact with in the laboratory where they work;
2.3.5) Developing good personal chemical safety habits, and
2.3.6) Informing supervisors of accidents and conditions or work practices they believe to be a hazard to themselves, others, or the environment.

2.4) Risk Management and Safety: RM&S is responsible for:

2.4.1) Making the Manual and general laboratory chemical safety training available to supervisors for via the internet;
2.4.2) Providing guidance and technical assistance to Lab Workers, supervisors, and Administrators in identifying, evaluating, and controlling health, safety, and environmental problems;
2.4.3) Conducting periodic unscheduled and planned inspections of University facilities to ensure compliance with the Manual;
2.4.4) Conducting exposure monitoring when indicated to assess exposures to chemical and physical hazards;
2.4.5) Eliminating or curtailing any activity considered to constitute a significant danger to the health and safety or the environment;
2.4.6) Providing emergency chemical spill response and clean-up services (excluding medical services) for incidents involving hazardous chemicals;
2.4.7) Providing a safe, efficient mechanism for the removal of hazardous wastes (excluding radioactive materials and compressed gases in cylinders larger than lecture bottle size and lecture bottle size cylinder which are non-returnable) from University laboratories and arranging for proper subsequent management and disposal of those wastes;
2.4.8) Serving as a liaison on behalf of the University to regulatory agencies concerning regulatory compliance with occupational safety and health and environmental concerns, and
2.4.9) Ensuring that adequate records are kept of all inspections, exposure monitoring, emergency responses, and hazardous waste activities.

2.5) Chemical Safety Officers: The Director of RM&S and/or his/her designee shall serve as the Chemical Safety Officers (Program Administrators). The Chemical Safety Officers are responsible for:

2.5.1) Managing the development of the Manual and the general laboratory chemical safety training;
2.5.2) Overseeing the administration of the Manual and the training;
2.5.3) Annually reviewing and evaluating the effectiveness of the Manual and the training and updating them as necessary;
2.5.4) Providing advice and clarification in regard to the Manual;
2.5.5) Serving as technical support to the Institutional Chemical Safety Committee.

2.6) The Institutional Chemical Safety Committee: The ICSC is responsible for:

2.6.1) Initially, and annually thereafter, reviewing, evaluating and revising (if necessary) the University of Arizona Laboratory Chemical Safety Manual;
2.6.2) Approving the provisions of the Manual and submitting the Manual to the President's Office for adoption as University policy; Reviewing and approving those procedures and/or hazardous chemicals specified in the Manual as requiring prior approval. This review process will also determine and specify conditions under which such procedures and/or hazardous chemical use may be conducted;
2.6.3) Serving as a hearing board and quality review body when issues arise concerning potential violations of the Manual, other applicable regulatory violations, or other laboratory chemical safety concerns, to prescribe remedial action when necessary;
2.6.4) Reviewing ongoing and proposed programs in laboratory chemical safety and health and providing recommendations for program enhancements and improved compliance.

2.7) Other Departments: Other departments or agencies involved with various aspects of chemical safety include the following:

2.7.1) Facilities Management is responsible for the maintenance and repair of the physical facilities including ensuring that safety devices installed as permanent improvements or installations of the building by Facilities Management or through Facilities Design and Construction, are in proper working condition (e.g. fire extinguishers, fire alarm systems, emergency eyewashes and showers, and fume hoods).
2.7.2) The Department of Procurement and Contracting Services Stores and the University Research Instrumentation Center Cryogenics & Gas Facility are responsible for the safe procurement and delivery of all chemicals purchased through them with University funds. They are also responsible for the safe disposal of all compressed gases in cylinders larger than lecture bottle size.
2.7.3) University Police and the Tucson Fire Department provide emergency services (e.g. medical, fire, security).
2.7.4) Campus Health Services Occupational Health Clinic will provide treatment and referral for work-related injuries and illnesses to university employees and students. The University Medical Center or closest emergency room or trauma center will provide medical treatment for life-threatening situations or for work-related injuries or illness occurring after regular work hours.

Go to Getting Started Section Three