Lab Safety Procedures

Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) (Lab Safety Manual)

• High Haz Chemicals Requiring Protocol Review (CHP App. 5)
• Chemical SOP Template (editable, CHP App. 6) 
• CHP Acknowledgement of Review (CHP p.126)

Hazard Communication Plan (go to pages 48-53 of CHP)

Research applications must be submitted at least 3 weeks in advance to EHS@uhcl.edu. 

Submit the research application, review the Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) (Lab Safety Manual) and submit acknowledgement form, and release of indemnification form.  Advanced Lab Safety Training will be assigned to student researchers and visiting researchers with their UHCL email.

Student Researchers Policy & Procedures

• Student Researcher Application (request with EHS)
• Release of Indemnification form
• Graduate Student Request to Work Independently After Hours (request with EHS)

Minors in the Lab Policy & Procedures 

• Minors Lab Research Application (request with EHS)
• Release of Indemnification Form
• Person of Interest Form (ePOI)

Visiting Researchers Policy & Procedures

• Visiting Researchers Application (request with EHS)
• Release of Indemnification Form
• Person of Interest Form (ePOI)

Page links:

• Chemical Safety
• Lab Safety
• Safety Data Sheets
• Training

• High Haz Chemicals Requiring Protocol Review (CHP App. 5)
• Chemical SOP Template (editable, CHP App. 6) 
• CHP Acknowledgment of Review (CHP p.126)
• Lab Decommissioning and Equipment Clearance Procedure and Forms (request with EHS)

Page links:

• Chemical Safety
• Lab Safety
• Safety Data Sheets
• Training

All chemical containers must be labeled with Full Chemical Name(s) and Hazard(s), with the original manufacturer's label, or:

1. Replacement Label if the original container label gets damaged or becomes illegible.
2. Secondary Container Label with chemical name and hazards.
   • Secondary Container Label Template with Checkboxes
   • Secondary Container Label Template with Pictograms
3. Small Containers or Samples – can have one or combination of:
   
   • A label hanging on the container or attached using tape;
   • Logbook visible in the lab nearby with chemical name and hazards, when only sample number may fit on the container;
   • Acronyms list posted in the lab nearby with chemical name and hazards, when only acronym may fit on the container.  Recommended option, include spaces for write in later.
   • Other Options: 
     • lab experiment list (pre-lab) with hazard pictograms added
     • syllabus / course experiment list with chemicals and hazard pictograms posted in lab or tub / tray
     • lab procedure with chemical names & hazard pictograms posted

Chemical Labels & Labeling - Replacing original labels, labeling secondary containers (prepared solutions, samples), and Wastes. See also Chemical Safety dropdown below for label Hazard Information.

Not Food or Drink Labels - Print on Avery 5160 return address labels and place on consumable items used for lab experiments.

• Glassware Disposal - Intact or Broken 
• Controlled Glassware and Precursor Chemicals

Mercury (Hg) Thermometers – are not allowed on campus. See CHP Chemical Waste Disposal Procedures.  Any Hg thermometers found on campus will be collected by EHS for disposal.  

Inspections are done within the EHSA software, with notifications emailed to responsible individuals.  Corrective actions are done by and entered into EHSA software by responsible individuals according to the inspection procedures outlined in the Chemical Hygiene Plan.

EHSA Software Login

Safety in Academic Chemistry Laboratories - American Chemical Society publication

The Lab Safety Institute has compiled over 5,000 examples of accidents in labs for over 40 years.