University policy on eye and face protection is derived from two items of legislation enacted by the North Carolina General Assembly. The first act: "Policy for Eye and Face Protection," passed in 1969, requires that eye protective devices be worn by students and instructors in shops and laboratories where work involves:

Eye protective devices are to be worn at all times while participating in any of the above programs and shall be furnished free of charge to the student and instructor.

This act also provides that visitors to such shops and laboratories shall be furnished with and required to wear eye safety devices while such programs are in progress.

The second item of legislation, the Occupational Safety and Health Act of North Carolina (OSHANC) became applicable to the University as of August 1, 1974. OSHANC states that:

Eye protective devices must be worn when hazardous operations, including operation of power tools, pouring of molten metal, welding, soldering, etc., are in progress. The wearing of safety glasses in shops at all times is encouraged. This rule applies to employees, students, and visitors.

Eye protective devices must be worn by all employees operating power tools and during hammering, chipping, and cutting operations. Eye protection is also required for other persons exposed within the area of these operations.

The North Carolina legislation specifies that eye and face protective devices, which include spectacles, goggles, and face shields, shall comply with American National Standards Institute (ANSI) F87.1-1979 and later revisions thereof. All eye and face protective devices currently on State Contract meet ANSI standards. Only devices meeting these standards will be purchased by the University.

The type of device required will depend on the nature of the hazard and the frequency with which it is encountered. There are three basic types of eye protection which will meet the majority of University maintenance, shop, and laboratory requirements. These are: safety spectacles (with side shields), dust goggles, and chemical or splash goggles. Each of these meets the basic eye protection standards for frontal exposure to flying particles.

Safety glasses with side shields, or goggles, are required if flying particles are likely to enter at an angle, and are usually required where two or more people are working in close proximity. Safety

glasses with permanently attached side shields, or dust goggles, will provide this protection. Clip-on side shields do not meet ANSI standards.

Safety splash goggles are required to provide protection against corrosive or hot liquids or fine particles capable of penetrating the ventilation holes in dust goggles, (See recommended Laboratory Rules covered in this statement for additional information.)

Dust goggles are the least expensive approved eye protection devices available, fit most head sizes and facial shapes, and may be worn over ordinary glasses. They are recommended for visitors, employees, and students who require eye protection periodically for short durations (less than two hours per day).

Safety glasses are generally more comfortable than goggles and are therefore recommended for employees and students who require eye protection frequently and/or for long durations (more than two hours per day).

Three dimensions that are important in providing a comfortable fit include temple length, nose bridge width, and lens diameter. Safety glasses with side shields, bendable temples, and universal nose bridges are available in various lens diameters through state purchasing contracts. These adjustable glasses are recommended for loaning to students and staff who require eye protection for instructional activities of one semester or less. (See Eye Protection Program for Laboratories, for more details.)

Safety glasses which are professionally measured and fitted to the individual are recommended for permanent employees whose job duties require frequent eye protection.

Several years ago the Federal Food and Drug Administration passed regulations requiring impact-resistant lenses for all eye wear. Although these lenses are a marked improvement over the old style lenses which were likely to splinter on impact, they do not meet ANSI standards for industrial quality safety spectacles. Therefore, prescription safety glasses are recommended for employees wearing glasses who require eye protection frequently and/or for long durations (more than two hours per day). Prescription glasses with side shields are available.

Detailed information on eye protection requirements is available from the Health and Safety Office for the following hazards:

Photogray lenses are not approved for indoor use because the percentage of light transmitted under normal room light conditions is below ANSI standards. Photogray lenses will only be provided for employees needing eye protection whose job assignments are largely out-of-doors.

The National Society for the Prevention of Blindness strongly advises that the use of contact lenses of any type by industrial employees while at work be prohibited, except in rare instances. The Society recommends that any exceptions be verified in writing by the physician or optometrist who sanctions such use in a specific industrial environment. Contact lenses do not protect the portion of the cornea they cover; furthermore, dissolved vapors, liquids, and dust particles tend to creep behind the lens.

Face shields do not meet eye protection standards and are only for face protection. Appropriate eye protection devices must be worn under the face shield.

The University is committed to a policy of providing eye and face protective devices without cost to employees, students, and visitors. Each department is responsible for the funding of its eye and face protection program.

Scheduling and payment for eye examinations to obtain prescriptions for safety glasses are the responsibility of the employee and/or student.

Eye protective devices issued to employees, students, and visitors remain the property of the University and are to be returned when the use of the devices is no longer necessary. For students this will normally be at the end of each semester and for employees it will be on termination of employment or change in duties where eye protection is no longer required. The disposition of prescription glasses shall be determined by the department.

Glasses damaged during normal wear and use may be replaced without charge to the employee or student at the discretion of the department head or designated administrative officer.

Replacement of lost or stolen devices will be the responsibility of the employee or student to whom they were issued.

Eye protective devices are personal items and should be issued for the exclusive use of each individual. Materials for cleaning eye and face protective devices are available and are to be made available to employees and students by each department.

Eye protective devices must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before being issued to another person. Information on procedures for disinfection is available from the Health and Safety Office.

Every laboratory or work place using caustic and/or corrosive chemicals shall be equipped with emergency eye wash facilities.

When the eye has received chemical irritation, the preferred first aid is to flood the eye with water immediately for at least 15 minutes and then seek medical treatment as soon as possible. Neutralizers or other medication should be used only on the advice, or under the direction, of a physician.

Care must be taken to select the eye and face protection appropriate for the job. The following is a general guide in selecting appropriate protective devices. If your requirement is not listed, contact the Health and Safety Office for more detailed information.

(ANSI Z87.1-1968)

Chemical handling Splash, acid and base Splash goggles, or safety burns, fumes spectacles plus face shield. For severe exposure wear face shield over goggles.

Laboratory Chemical splash Splash goggles

Laboratory Glass breakage Safety spectacles, dust or flying particles goggles, or splash goggles

Chipping Flying Particles Dust goggles or safety spectacles

Grinding - light Flying Particles Dust goggles or safety spectacles

Grinding - heavy Flying Particles Dust goggles or safety spectacles

Machining Flying Particles Dust goggles or safety spectacles

Acetylene - burning Sparks, harmful rays Eye protection as specified in

ANSI Z49.1-1973

Acetylene - cutting Molten Metal Eye protection as specified in

ANSI Z49.1-1973

Acetylene - welding Flying Particles Eye protection as specified in

ANSI Z49.1-1973

Arc welding - electric Sparks, Flying Particles Details available from Health and

Safety Office

Spot welding Sparks, Flying Particles Details available from Health and

Safety Office

Furnace Operations Molten Metal, Glare, As specified in ANSI Z87.1-1968.

Heat Details available for Heath and

Safety Office

Molten Metals Heat, Glare, Sparks, As specified in ANSI Z87.1-1968.

Splash Details available for Health and

Safety Office

Lasers Retinal Burns As specified in ANSI Z136.1-1973.

Details available from Health and

Safety Office

Refer to Eye and Face Protection, for the types of hazards and frequency of use for which fitted safety glasses are recommended.

Arrangements have been made with state contract and/or local opticians to provide fitting services for prescription safety glasses. These services are coordinated by the Health and Safety Office. Requests for these services must be sent to the Health and Safety Office and not directly to the optician.

Send a written request to the Health and Safety Office with the following information:

If prescription glasses are required, include the above information, and:

Several years ago the Chemistry Department instituted a safety glass program for its students and staff. Because of the success of the program, it is recommended that other departments institute a similar program.

The Chemistry Department purchased an initial inventory of safety spectacles (with side shields) and splash goggles slightly greater than their enrollment in laboratory courses. A pair of safety spectacles or splash goggles is issued to each student along with other laboratory equipment required for the course. At the end of the semester all equipment, including eye protective devices, is turned in by the students for credit. The eye protective devices are then sterilized and returned to stock, ready to be reissued the following semester.

The Chemistry Department requires that eye protection be worn in laboratories at all times. Face shields must be worn over the eye protection when caustic or corrosive chemicals are being handled or used. Chemistry maintains a supply of face shields in each laboratory for general use, thus the number of face shields required is considerably less than the number of spectacles and splash goggles which are assigned to individuals.

Before ordering an initial inventory refer to Eye and Face Protection, and Selection of Eye and Face Protection Equipment, to determine the appropriate types of devices for your laboratory.

If you have any questions, call the Health and Safety Office for assistance.

Employees are expected to wear footwear appropriate for the duties of their employment. Sandals or other open-toe style shoes are not permitted to be worn in laboratories, shops, or other job locations where glass, caustic or corrosive chemicals, or hot materials are used or handled.

Students are expected to wear appropriate footwear while participating in laboratory exercises, or other instructional activities involving the use of glass, caustic or corrosive chemicals, or hot materials. Generally, sandals or other open-toe style shoes should not be worn in laboratories or during activities which would require the use of eye protection devices. (See Eye and Face Protection.)

Safety shoes are used to protect the feet against injuries from heavy falling objects, against crushing by rolling objects, or against lacerations from sharp edges.

Safety shoes are required for employees whose routine job duties require the lifting, carrying, or moving, etc., of objects which, if dropped, would likely result in foot or toe injury. Examples of job classifications likely to require safety shoes or boots include, but are not limited to, carpenters, welders, electricians, plumbers, maintenance mechanics, laborers, grounds workers operating power machinery or tools, and power plant maintenance workers.

Flexible steel midsoles are required for employees who are likely to step on sharp objects, such as nails in boards, or stakes, that could possibly penetrate normal shoe soles.

Six or eight-inch safety shoes are recommended for employees involved in activities where ankle abrasions are likely. These activities include, but are not limited to, climbing, crawling, construction, and demolition.

Over-the-shoe rubber footwear to be worn over standard (or safety) footwear or boots are required in wet locations. The rubbers or boots are required in addition to the safety footwear recommendations listed above. Rubber boots with toe and metatarsal protection are recommended for employees working in flooded trenches or other locations where ordinary over-the-shoe protection would be inadequate to insure that the employee's shoes would remain dry.

Specialized footwear that would not customarily be worn off-the-job must be provided without cost to employees by their department. Examples of such specialized footwear include slip-on rubbers, and calf-length and knee-length rubber boots.

When safety shoes are required, the cost of one pair per year, not to exceed the State subsidy, will be paid by the University. Employees are to purchase the shoes and submit receipt to their department for reimbursement.

Once a job has been designated as requiring safety shoes, employees will not be allowed to work without the required foot protection.

Safety footwear shall conform to ANSI Z41.1-1967 Class 75, and subsequent revisions.

There are many products available that can minimize or eliminate skin problems associated with abrasive tasks or chemical exposure. The most common types of prevention involve the use of barrier creams, gloves or a combination of both. UNCA will rely on gloves rather than barrier creams for most circumstances due to current tasks and economics.

It is important to realize that one type of glove will not protect the wearer from all types of hazards. For example, cloth and leather gloves are perfectly acceptable for abrasive work, but offer absolutely no protection against exposure to corrosive liquids. Based on this principle, employees in certain areas will need to wear work gloves while others need chemical resistant gloves.

Personnel will be provided with the necessary type of hand protection before being assigned work that may result in injury. The type of glove will be compatible for the type of work being performed. Normally, nitrile, neoprene or polyvinylchloride gloves offer good chemical resistance to most chemicals. Chemical/glove compatibility charts are available from the manufacturer for reference.

Individual departments are responsible to purchase required hand protection and maintain an adequate supply of replacements. Because glove life will vary depending on the care, nature and frequency of use, replacement will be made by exchanging worn, ineffective gloves for a new pair on an as-needed-basis after initial pair is issued. Issuance/ replacement log sheets will be maintained by the person responsible for this function in each department. If gloves are lost or stolen, replacement will be at the expense of the employee.

The Occupational Safety & Health Act (OSHA) and the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) have established specific levels of occupational noise which can impair and deteriorate an individual's hearing capability. The purpose of this policy is to identify specific areas/operations

which pose a threat to an employee's hearing, methods used to determine these hazardous areas/ operations, and steps to be taken to protect the employee from hearing loss. This policy is based on Section 1910.95 by OSHA and AIHA's TLV booklet.

The Safety Office will determine if a specific area or operation is deemed hazardous to employees based on representative noise surveys and established criteria from the two resources given above. In order to obtain representative noise surveys the Safety Office must measure personal, and in some instances, area employee exposure levels during the course of normal work activities. Measurements must be obtained by using equipment approved by the American National Standard Specification for Sound Level Meters and accepted industrial hygiene procedures.

Employees on whom personal samples are taken will be told their exposure level within five working days once the results are obtained. When area exposure levels are taken the affected employees within the pertinent area will be informed of the test results with five working days after receiving results.

During periods after a hazardous area or operation has been identified, but has not yet subjected to a complete noise survey, the Safety Office can require the affected employee(s) to wear hearing protection until appropriate documentation can be collected. Once the documentation has been reviewed the Safety Office will determine if the wearing of hearing protection is necessary. Appropriate personnel will be advised of this decision.

The Safety Office will provide affected employees with training should a hearing conservation program be implemented. Individual departments will be responsible to procure, issue and enforce the wearing of hearing protection of affected personnel as identified by the Safety Office. The Safety Office will identify a suitable type and level of hearing protection device to be purchased based on the noise level documented and the environment in which the device will be worn.

Regulating agencies require that all employees identified as having an eight hour noise exposure level of 85 decibels must be entered into a hearing conservation program which includes medical surveillance. At a minimum the medical surveillance program must include the following:

The required audiometric testing must be at no cost to the employee. Testing must be performed by a licensed or certified professional. UNCA will obtain audiometric testing services from the Skyland branch of Saint Joseph's Urgent Care Center. All audiometric test results will be reviewed by the Safety Office and forwarded to Human Resources for placement in the employee's permanent record.

Many diseases have been associated with the inhalation of hazardous air-borne contaminants in the form of dust, fume, mist, gas, fog, smoke, vapor or spray. In most cases the control of these contaminants will be through the proper design, construction and installation of adequate engineering controls. In some instances where feasible engineering controls are not available, or when occupational exposure to a hazardous component must be kept to the lowest possible level, respiratory protection equipment may be used.

All respiratory protection equipment must be approved and accepted by Mine Safety and Health Administration, MSA, and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, NIOSH. This policy extends to air-purifying respirators such as disposable respirators, half-face respirators, full-face respirators, and self-contained breathing apparatus.

All respiratory protection equipment must be approved for type and use by the Safety Office prior to purchase. Individual departments will be responsible for the expenses associated for the procurement and maintenance of respiratory protection equipment. The Safety Office is the only authorized area at UNCA which can issue respiratory protection equipment. Only university employees will be issued respiratory protection with the extreme exception of students doing special projects.

The use and storage of hazardous chemicals potentially pose threats to the health and safety of employees and citizens at large as evidenced by events such as the methyl isocyanate gas release in Bhopal, India. The threat is especially great for fire and emergency response workers and potentially severe for employees and citizens in the vicinity of bulk storage facilities.

In response to the perceived danger, the NC General Assembly passed the Hazardous Chemicals Right to Know Act, which became effective May 25, 1986. Sponsors of the Act seek to inform firefighters and citizens of potential hazards, thereby assuring a better-planned response in the event of an accident. An informed citizenry is also better able to assess the relative safety or danger of workplaces in their neighborhoods.

The purposes of the Act are to ensure that fire chiefs have access to all information about hazardous chemicals necessary for emergency responses and to ensure that citizens have access to sufficient information about hazardous chemicals for them to assess any hazards posed by local workplaces.

The requirements of the Hazardous Chemicals Right-to-Know Act apply to all employers and any subdivision thereof who have hazardous chemicals in amounts as noted under Requirements 1 below.

CLASS Gallons Pounds

A Less than 55 Less than 500

B 55 - 550 500 - 5,000

C 550 - 5,500 5,000 - 50,000

D 5,500 plus 50,000 plus

1. The Act also provides a limited exemption for laboratories under the direct supervision of a technically qualified person, if the laboratory is not used primarily to produce hazardous chemicals in bulk for commercial purpose. The limited exemption does not include number 2 and 3 of this requirement.

Planning and implementation of control practices for the prevention of occupationally acquired cancer and for the protection of the general environment is to be included in all research programs involving known or suspected chemical carcinogens.

Chemical carcinogens are chemicals which have been demonstrated to cause tumors in mammalian species by induction of a tumor type not usually observed, by induction of an increased incidence of a tumor type normally seen, by the appearance of such tumors at an earlier time than would be otherwise expected, or by promotion of tumors initiated from exposure to other chemicals.

These policies apply to known or suspected chemical carcinogens. The OSHA Laboratory Standard 29 CFR 1910:1450 defines select carcinogens as those chemicals which are: regulated by OSHA as carcinogens; listed by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) as "known to be carcinogens"; listed by the International Agency for Research on Cancer Monographs (IARC) in Group 1 (carcinogenic to humans); listed by NTP as reasonably anticipated to be carcinogens or by IARC in Group 2A (probably carcinogenic to humans); and listed by IARC in Group 2B (possibly carcinogenic to humans) and causing statistically significant tumor incidence in experimental animals. The Health and Safety Office is to be consulted when questions arise about the carcinogenic potential of certain chemicals handled in laboratories. Lists of these chemicals are contained in the UNCA Laboratory Safety Manual.

Principal Investigators are responsible for assuring that laboratory personnel are trained in safe practices, for reporting exposures or potential exposures to chemical carcinogens to the Health and Safety Office, and for the submission of a Safety Plan for the research under their direction to the Health and Safety Office.

The Safety Plan is to describe the procedures that will be used to insure the safe handling of chemical carcinogens, an assessment of the potential risks, the need for medical surveillance, procedures for handling accidental spills, and waste disposal methods. The Laboratory Safety Manual describes safety procedures for working with chemical carcinogens.

Proposed research projects involving chemical carcinogens are to be reviewed with the Health and Safety Office to insure that the budget considers the specialized needs required to insure the safe conduct of the research.

All overt accidental exposures of personnel to chemical carcinogens, such as exposure to a concentrated contaminated aerosol through research procedures, accidental spills, or accidental inoculation with a contaminated needle, are to be reported to the Health and Safety Office.

Detailed standards governing the use of chemical carcinogens are available from the Health and Safety Office on request .

As a generator of hazardous waste, the University is required to comply with federal standards promulgated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). These regulations require documentation of the transfer of hazardous waste from the point of generation to final disposal. Each principal investigator is responsible for identifying the hazardous waste generated in his/her laboratory, and ensuring its proper disposal.

The Health and Safety Office assists principal investigators by picking up the waste from individual laboratories and preparing the waste for shipment to a hazardous waste disposal site. Laboratories are to notify the Health and Safety Office when waste is ready for pick up. They are to complete a Hazardous Material Transfer form for each waste container. (Note: Forms are not required for chemicals in their original containers.) The form is to be attached to the container and the top copy pulled and sent to the Health and Safety Office. The Health and Safety Office transports the waste to the UNCA Hazardous Material Facility (HMF) where it is segregated into compatibility groups according to Department of Transportation (DOT) hazard classifications. Wastes that cannot be treated on-site are prepared for shipment as follows:

Liquid Wastes - Compatible flammable solvent wastes are poured into 55-gallon barrels to await transfer to an incinerator where they are used as fuel. Other compatible liquid wastes are packed in vermiculite in 55-gallon barrels for shipment to a hazardous waste incinerator.

Solid Wastes - Leftover reagents in their original containers are set aside for possible recycling or distribution to other laboratories. If reuse is not practicable, compatible chemicals are packed in barrels with vermiculite for shipment to a hazardous waste incinerator.

Current EPA regulations apply to wastes having the following characteristics:

Ignitability - liquids with a flash point of less than 60 oC (140 oF); oxidizers, solids capable of burning vigorously and persistently after ignition through friction, absorption of moisture, or spontaneous chemical changes at standard temperature and pressure.

Corrosivity - aqueous solutions with a pH less than or equal to 2 or greater than or equal to 12.5; liquids which corrode steel at a rate greater than 6.35 mm per year at 55 oC.

Reactivity - chemicals normally unstable that undergo violent change, react violently with water, form potentially explosive mixtures with water, emit toxic vapors when mixed with water, capable of detonation or explosive reaction.

Toxicity - heavy metals and certain pesticides.

The most significant way that individual laboratories can assist in the management of hazardous waste is to reduce the volume of waste required to be handled by the Health and Safety Office. Principal investigators are encouraged to consider ways of reducing the volume of waste or preserving the usability of the materials through the redesign of experiments. Recyclable materials should be kept separate from other waste. Efforts should be made to decontaminate, detoxify,

neutralize, or otherwise render the waste non-hazardous. The Health and Safety Office welcomes ideas and suggestions about how production of hazardous waste can be reduced through source reduction, recycling, redesign of experiments, or decontamination.

Procedures for segregation, labeling and disposal of various types of wastes are contained in the UNCA Laboratory Safety Manual. Call the Health and Safety Office to obtain a copy.

The OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard requires that all employees who have occupational exposures to blood or other potentially infectious materials receive training, which must be documented, on the requirements of the standard and be offered hepatitis B vaccine.

The Exposure Control Plan, available by request from the Safety and Health Office, describes the procedures designed to minimize or eliminate exposures to employees. A copy of the Plan is provided to attendees of the Health and Safety Office's bloodborne pathogens training session and contains the forms for requesting or declining hepatitis B vaccine.

Attendance at a Health and Safety Office bloodborne pathogens training session is required of all new employees occupationally exposed to blood or other potentially infectious materials. Refresher training will be provided annually.

OSHA 1910:1450, "Occupational Exposures to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories" (henceforth referred to as the Laboratory Standard) dictates that employers limit employees' exposure to hazardous chemicals to below the permissible exposure limit (PEL) (or action level, if applicable) for a specific chemical. This Laboratory Standard requires that employees be apprised of the hazards of chemicals present in their work area through information and training. It also requires that a written "Chemical Hygiene Plan" be developed, implemented, and made available to employees. The Laboratory Standard applies only to laboratories, and, in general, supersedes other OSHA health standards.

The Health and Safety Office is responsible for development and implementation of the Chemical Hygiene Plan and will assist Principal Investigators in developing their Laboratory Safety Plans, and obtaining chemical hazard information including material safety data sheets (MSDSs). The Health and Safety Office provides training for employees on the Laboratory Standard and on general chemical safety. In addition, the Health and Safety Office is available to offer advice on chemical hazards in the laboratory and will monitor employee exposures upon request.

The Principal Investigator or laboratory supervisor is responsible for developing and implementing a Laboratory Safety Plan for his/her laboratory, providing training and information on chemical hazards, and enforcing safety procedures in the laboratory.

The Chemical Hygiene Plan is a written program developed and implemented by the employer which sets forth procedures, equipment, personal protective equipment and work practices that are capable of protecting employees from the health hazards presented by hazardous chemicals used in that particular workplace. At UNCA the Chemical Hygiene Plan is a Laboratory Safety Manual plus a Laboratory Safety Plan developed by the Principal Investigator. The Chemical Hygiene Plan is to be readily available to employees.

The laboratory safety plan is given to all employees to communicate the investigator's, and University's, expectations of safety in the laboratory. The safety plan also serves as written documentation of how hazardous materials are handled. The laboratory safety plan is to be reviewed and updated annually, and a copy sent to the Health and Safety Office. The following areas should be addressed in the safety plan:

Employees shall be apprised of the hazards and of chemicals present at the time of initial assignment and whenever a new hazard is introduced in the laboratory. Training of employees must be documented with an outline of the content, signatures of attendees, and dates given. A training session covering the items listed below is required for all laboratory personnel.

For laboratory uses of OSHA regulated substances, employees' exposures must not exceed permissible exposure limits for such substances as specified in 29 CFR part 1910, subpart Z. If employees believe that exposure levels to a regulated substance routinely exceed PELs (or action level, if applicable) they should contact the Health and Safety Office to measure exposure levels.

Laboratory hoods are used for operations which might result in release of toxic chemical vapors or dust. Hoods are inspected by the Health and Safety Office annually. A minimum average face velocity of 100 feet per minute is required for all laboratory hoods on campus. A continuous monitoring device is required for all new fume hoods and is recommended for all existing hoods. Information on obtaining continuous monitoring devices is available from the Health and Safety Office. Questions concerning hood efficiency should be directed to the Health and Safety Office.

Additional precautions must be taken to protect employees when particularly hazardous substances, such as chemical carcinogens or highly toxic materials, are handled in the laboratory. Handling precautions for chemical carcinogens are described in the UNCA Laboratory Safety Manual. These additional precautions are also to be considered when handling chemicals with a high degree of acute toxicity or reproductive toxins.

Experiments involving chemical carcinogens, as defined below, must be approved by the Health and Safety Office. The approval process involves sending a copy of the laboratory safety plan for those substances requiring approval to the Health and Safety Office. The Health and Safety Office will review the plan, and then send written approval and/or recommendations to the principal investigator. Chemical carcinogens are defined as chemicals which are:

Employees who work with hazardous chemicals are provided an opportunity for medical consultation and/or medical examinations under the following circumstances:

• whenever there is a likelihood that an employee was exposed to a hazardous chemical as a result of a spill, leak, explosion, or other release.

Planning and implementation of control practices for the prevention of laboratory-acquired infections and for the protection of the general environment are to be included in all research programs involving biohazardous agents.

Biohazardous agents are infectious microorganisms, or their toxins, which cause or may cause human disease.

These requirements apply to microorganisms and viruses listed by the CDC/NIH Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories Manual. These agents are listed in the Biological Safety Manual available from the Health and Safety Office.

Prior to initiation of work with a biohazardous agent, the principal investigator is to notify the Health and Safety Office of the agent to be used and the location of the laboratory.

There are no facilities on campus appropriate for working with dangerous class 4 viruses, so work involving these agents is prohibited.

Each principal investigator is responsible for: ensuring that laboratory personnel are trained in safe practices; reporting exposures and potential exposures to these biohazardous agents to the Health and Safety Office; and submitting a Safety Plan for research under his/her direction to the Health and Safety Office.

The Safety Plan is to describe the procedures that will be used to insure the safe handling of biohazardous agents, an assessment of the potential risks, the need for medical surveillance, and procedures for handling accidental spills and waste disposal methods.

Proposed research projects involving biohazardous agents should be reviewed with the Health and Safety Office to ensure that the budget includes consideration of any specialized requirements to insure the safe conduct of the research.

All overt accidental exposures of personnel to biohazardous agents, such as exposure to a concentrated contaminated aerosol from research procedures, accidental spills, or accidental inoculation with a contaminated needle, should be reported to the Health and Safety Office.

Recommended safety practices and facilities for the use of biohazardous agents are given in the Biological Safety Manual available from the Health and Safety Office.

The University is committed to protecting its employees from environmental hazards that arise out of or during the course of employment.

The industrial hygiene program deals with the recognition, evaluation, and control of environmental health hazards. Environmental health hazards may include conditions which cause legally compensable illnesses, or any conditions in the work environment that impair the health of employees to the extent that they lose work and/or efficiency.

The program provides industrial hygiene surveys and monitoring to identify hazards, inspections, and other information necessary to control the recognized health hazards.

Measures are provided for the control of stress producing hazards such as:

Records of all survey results and employee exposures are maintained. Record keeping is particularly important in the area of environmental health hazards where the effects of exposure may not be apparent for several years, and delayed litigation results. Records of environmental monitoring, employee training programs, and medical examinations are maintained.

The handling, storage, and utilization of all compressed gases in cylinders shall be in accord with the provisions of the Compressed Gas Association as set forth in Pamphlet P-1 "Safe Handling of Compressed Gases."

Although oxygen is quite safe under normal temperature and pressures, elevated temperature and/or pressures or contamination may result in the rapid and violent oxidation of normally non-reactive materials. For example, a regulator used on oil-pumped nitrogen could produce a serious explosion if subsequently used for oxygen due to the oil residue.

2. Flammable Gases -- Acetylene

3. Toxic and Poison Gases

Bromo-acetone

Cyanogen

Cyanogen Chloride (containing less than 0.9% water)

Diphosgene

Ethyldichloroarsine

Hydrocyanic Acid

Lewisite

Methyldichloroarsine

Mustard Gas

Nitric Oxide

Nitrogen Peroxide (Nitrogen Tetroxide)

Phenylcarbylamine Chloride

Phosgene

4. Liquid Gases

1. Standard

2. Transporting

1. Standards

2. Support Required

The provisions of the NC OSHA Hazard Communication Standard require employers to provide employees with information concerning the hazards associated with the chemicals in their workplace. This standard requires a written hazard communication program, container labels, inventory of chemicals, area warning signs, material safety data sheets, and chemical safety training and information sessions.

For Facilities Management shops, instrument shops, chemical storerooms, and other department functions that use or store hazardous chemicals, the Department Head or his/her designee has responsibility to ensure that labels are proper, that material safety date sheets are obtained and maintained, that chemical safety training is provided, and that the inventory of the hazardous chemicals used or stored in the work area is readily available to employees.

The Health and Safety Office will coordinate implementation of the Hazard Communication Standard and will assist Departments in obtaining material safety data sheets and in conducting general safety training and workplace hazard communication inspections.

This document shall serve as the written Chemical Hazard Communication Program for the University. It is to be readily available to employees upon request.

The requirements of the Chemical Hazard Communication Program apply to chemicals with one or more of the following hazardous properties: Physical Hazards: combustible, flammable, explosive, reactive, pressurized (compressed gases); Health Hazards: toxic, carcinogenic, or corrosive, irritant, and sensitizing. A chemical is considered to be carcinogenic if (a) it has been evaluated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and found to be a carcinogen or potential carcinogen; or (b) it is listed as carcinogen or potential carcinogen in the Annual Report on Carcinogens published by the National Toxicology Program (NTP); or, (c) it is regulated by OSHA as a carcinogen.

Chemical manufacturers, importers, or distributors are required to ensure that each container for hazardous chemicals is labeled with the identity of the hazardous chemical(s); appropriate hazardous warnings; and the name and address of the chemical manufacturer, importer or other responsible party. University departments are to ensure that chemicals they receive are labeled with the identity of the hazardous chemicals(s) and appropriate hazard warnings. This includes chemicals received from the UNC Scientific Supply or other campus storerooms.

Warning signs are to be displayed in areas where there may be airborne hazardous chemicals. This would include areas such as welding; operation of internal combustion engines, indoor application

of paint, or adhesives; grinding and sanding operations; and removal of asbestos containing materials. The person responsible for producing the above potentially hazardous environments is responsible for posting the area warning signs. All pipes containing hazardous chemicals are to be labeled.

A current inventory of all hazardous chemicals present in the workplace is to be maintained. The inventory should be kept with the MSDS file.

Chemical manufacturers are required to send a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) with the initial shipment of a chemical. The MSDS contains detailed information about physical and chemical properties of the chemical, the physical and health hazards, safe handling precautions, spill clean-up procedures, emergency and first aid procedures.

University departments are to maintain all MSDSs received and to make them readily available to their employees in a file or notebook. If an MSDS for a chemical is not received, the chemical manufacturer or distributor should be contacted to obtain the MSDS. Efforts to obtain the MSDS are to be documented by either a telephone log or with copies of correspondence. Assistance in obtaining MSDSs is available from the Health and Safety Office.

All employees who work in areas where there are hazardous chemicals are to receive documented chemical safety training. This training is to be done at the time of initial employment and before a new hazard is introduced in the workplace.

Hazardous chemical safety training is to include the following essential information:

• Interpreting information on labels and MSDSs

• Location of hazardous materials in the workplace

• Location and availability of material safety data sheets

• Acute and chronic effects of chemicals

• Safe handling procedures

• Personal protective equipment

• Methods used to detect leaks and releases

• First Aid

• Spill clean-up and emergency procedures

• Waste disposal

The Health and Safety Office has developed training programs including slide programs explaining the Chemical Hazard Communication Program, the toxic effects of chemicals, and the safe handling of hazardous chemicals in the workplace. The Health and Safety Office should be contacted to schedule these programs.

In addition to general chemical safety training it is the responsibility of the supervisor to provide training for the specific chemicals used or stored in the work area and whenever a new hazard is introduced. Training should be documented by keeping records of when training sessions were held, who attended, and the contents/outline of the training.

All jobs or projects involving hazardous chemicals that are being done for the first time or done periodically, shall be considered non-routine tasks.

Contractor employees are to be informed of hazardous chemicals that they may encounter at their work location on campus and provided with the name of the University person(s) from whom chemicals safety information is available. Contractors who use hazardous chemicals are to maintain a list of the chemicals and the MSDSs at the work location on campus.

In some cases, the chemical manufacturer may withhold the complete chemical identity from the MSDS if it is a trade secret. However, the chemical and physical properties must be disclosed on the MSDSs. Trade secret information will be available to health professionals for medical treatment of exposed personnel, assessment of hazards and employee exposures, and selection of appropriate safety precautions.

The following requirements are designed to eliminate or reduce injuries involving material handling, whether performed manually or through automation.

These requirements shall apply to all University work areas where materials are handled or stored in the workplace. Nothing in these requirements shall relieve the University from the compliance requirements of other regulatory agencies whether federal, state or local.

In most cases, gloves, or other hand protectors must be used to prevent hand injuries.

When opening a wire-bound bale or box, employees must wear eye protection as well as stout gloves, and take special care to prevent the ends of the bindings from flying loose and striking their face or body. The same precaution applies to coils of wire, strapping, or cable. Use cutters that clamp ends when cut.

If material is dusty or toxic, follow University guidelines for hazardous substances.

Before employees are assigned to jobs requiring heavy and/or frequent lifting, make sure they are physically suited for the job.

If a load is thought to be more than one employee can handle, assign two employees to the operation or supply materials handling equipment. Instruct all employees in the proper way to lift.

Here are six steps to safe lifting:

When bulky objects are to be handled or when objects are to be carried on the shoulder, employees shall be trained in these techniques for special situations.

When possible when moving barrels and drums they should be moved by using a dolly or other mechanical devices.

If two employees are assigned to up-end a full drum, they should use the following procedures:

When two employees are to overturn a full drum, they should use this procedure:

To roll a barrel or drum, an employee should push against the sides with his/her hands. To change direction of the roll, he/she should grip the chime, not kick the drum with his/her feet.

To lower a drum or barrel down a skid, turn it and slide it end-wise. Do not roll it. To raise a drum or barrel up a skid, two employees stand on opposite sides of the skid (outside the rails, not inside, and not below the object being raised). They roll the object up the incline. Handling drums and barrels can be hazardous, even when using utmost care. Special handling equipment and tools must be made available to make the job safer and easier.

In 1985, North Carolina passed a law which requires that all front seat passengers of a motor vehicle wear seat belts. This law will be in effect when state vehicles are used either on or off campus.

Individual departments are responsible for insuring that state vehicles are operated by state employees for only those duties and functions within the scope of their employment. Every operator of a motor vehicle will posses a valid North Carolina driver's license at all times. It is the supervisor's and/or individual issuing assigned vehicles to insure that this requirement is followed, and that all restrictions stated on the driver's license are followed. It is also this supervisor's responsibility to notify the Safety Officer if a vehicle operator's driver's license is not valid, or of any restrictions that can not be successfully accomplished. University personnel who operate a state-owned vehicle will be required to provide documentation of possessing a valid North Carolina driver's license by supplying a photocopy of their driver's license to their supervisor who will forward it to the campus receptionist.

University owned vehicles are strictly forbidden to be used to conduct personal business or other activity which lies outside the scope of employment.

Individual departments are responsible for insuring that all vehicle operators receive adequate training in the safe operation of their motorized vehicle. A valid North Carolina driver's license will be sufficient for operation cars and vans with the appropriate classification. In cases where the driver will be operating such vehicles as heavy machinery, tractors, golf carts, lawn mowers, etc., the proposed driver will demonstrate a proficiency in safely operating the assigned vehicle. Documentation of this certification will be filed with the photocopy of their driver's license with the supervisor. Training will be provided by the supervisor or other responsible party.

It is the responsibility of all vehicle operators to drive in a safe manner and to conform to all applicable laws and regulations. Additionally, operators are responsible for the conduct and actions of their passengers. The following guidelines should be used to facilitate safe driving practices: