CCHASP Manual

SECTION 2
College of Chemistry Health & Safety Policies

College Injury and Illness Prevention Program

Under this policy, all employees of the College are required to participate in the College Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP). The IIPP established the basic framework in which all health and safety related activities are based. Please refer to Section 3 in this manual.

College Non-Structural Seismic Bracing Policy

The Dean has established a policy requiring all furniture and equipment that represents a seismic hazard to be braced to a secure structure. Individuals must consult with CCHASP or the College Shops to ensure that seismic bracing is done correctly.

Safety Glasses in Laboratories and Shops

Safety glasses are to be worn in all College laboratories and posted areas of the shops at all times by all employees. Safety glasses and other protective eye wear must meet the ANSI Z87.1989 design standard. Visitors to these areas must also wear safety glasses.

Working Alone in College Facilities

Working alone in laboratories and shops should be avoided, especially after hours. The "Buddy System" shall be employed whenever possible. In situations where the Buddy System is not feasible, researchers and coworkers must inform each other of their whereabouts.

Visitors in Laboratories and Facilities

The safety of visitors in the College are the responsibility of the person hosting the visitor. Personal protective equipment, including safety glasses, must be worn as necessary by visitors to protect them from hazards in our laboratories and work places.

Transportation of Chemicals

All chemicals shall be transported in a safe manner to prevent hazardous spills from occurring. Chemical bottle carriers must be used whenever chemicals are being transported in the corridors of the College, as well as any other places on campus. The only exceptions to using a chemical carrier are the transporation of sand and celite.

Additional information about the safe transportation of chemicals can be found in the EH&S move manual at:

Hazardous Materials Shipping Program

Annual Laboratory Inspections

A comprehensive safety inspection shall be conducted for all research and teaching laboratories each year. Laboratory inspections for a given year should begin over the summer and be completed and submitted to CCHASP by October 1st.

Water Aspirators and Rotoevaporators

The use of water aspirators to evaporate low boiling point organic solvents is prohibited. This practice has been shown to cause solvents to be discharged into the wastewater system. As an alternative to water aspirators, researchers should use oil-less pumps or self-contained aspirators when evaporating low boiling point solvents.

UC Berkeley Health and Safety Policies

Smoke Free Policy

Under this policy, smoking is strictly prohibited inside of any college or campus building. Outside smoking is permitted except within 15 feet of building entrances, exits or building supply air intake equipment. The full version of this policy can be viewed at:

http://campuspol.chance.berkeley.edu/ucbsmokefreepolicy.htm

Berkeley Campus Hazardous Waste Management Policy

This policy states that all hazardous waste generated on campus shall be handled safely and disposed of in an environmentally sound manner. Under this policy management and employees are responsible for observing hazardous waste management procedures, using prescribed personal protective equipment and promptly reporting accidents or conditions that could result in improper disposal of hazardous materials and waste. Campus EH&S is responsible for overseeing the hazardous waste management program and ensuring that materials are disposed of in accordance with all applicable regulations. The full version of this policy can be viewed at:

www.ehs.berkeley.edu/policy/policies/hazwastemgtpolicy.html

Drain Disposal Policy

This policy concerns the use of drains from all campus operations and prohibits the drain disposal of hazardous materials. Guidelines have been established that answer questions about which materials are allowed to be drain disposed. These guidelines are contained in Section 6 of this manual. All researchers who generate liquid or solid waste must consult these guidelines before discharging any laboratory material to the drain.

Hazardous Waste Minimization Policy

The objective of this policy is to protect human health and to reduce the cost of hazardous waste disposal. The policy states that hazardous waste generation should be prevented or reduced at the source and applies to the generation of chemical, low level radioactive and "medical" hazardous wastes. The full version of this policy can be viewed at:

www.ehs.berkeley.edu/policy/policies/hazwasteminpolicy.html

Transportation of Chemicals

All chemicals shall be transported in a safe manner to prevent hazardous spills from
occurring. Chemical bottle carriers must be used when chemicals are being transported in the corridors of the College, as well as any other places on campus.