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Chemical Safety

Ensuring the safe handling, use, transport, collection, storage, and disposal of chemicals generated by teaching, research, or support activities.

Diann Stedman

Your EHS contact for Chemical Safety
dqs6143@psu.edu
814-865-6547

Program Applicability

Applies to all laboratories that handle or use chemicals in which all the following criteria are met: 

  • Chemical manipulations are carried out on a laboratory scale. Laboratory scale means work with substances in which the containers used for reactions, transfers, and other handling of the substances are designed to be easily and safely manipulated by one person. “Laboratory scale” excludes those workplaces whose function is to produce commercial quantities of materials. 

  • Multiple chemical procedures or chemicals are used. 

  • The procedures involved are not part of a production process, nor in any way simulate a production process. 

  • “Protective laboratory practices and equipment” are available and in common use to minimize the potential for employee exposure to hazardous chemicals. 

Program Requirements

See the relevant information in the Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP)

Documents and Forms

Program Specific Information

Chemical Inventory: 

Chemical Labeling and Storage:

Chemical Waste Management:

Hazard Communication Program: 

The Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200), commonly known as HazCom, ensures that employees are informed about the chemical hazards they may encounter in the workplace. At Penn State, HazCom applies to work areas that are not covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Laboratory Standard (29 CFR 1910.1450). This includes operational environments such as maintenance shops, farms, housing and food services, and construction sites, as well as laboratory-like spaces that are not engaged in laboratory-scale research or teaching covered by the Laboratory Standard, such as many art studios and similar instructional or support areas. Compliance requires proper labeling, access to Safety Data Sheets (SDS), chemical inventory management through LionSafe, and annual reviews. Supervisors must ensure that appropriate training is provided, and employees must understand the hazards and safe handling procedures for the chemicals they use. HazCom complements the Laboratory Standard by ensuring that chemical hazard communication requirements are met in all applicable university workplaces.

Laboratory Incidents, Accidents, and Emergencies: 

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): 

  • Personal Protective Equipment webpage                                                                                                                                                                    

Use of Safety Data Sheets (SDSs): 

Additional Resources

GHS (Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals)

GHS was developed by the United Nations as a way to bring into agreement the chemical regulations and standards of different countries. GHS includes criteria for the classification of health, physical and environmental hazards, as well as specifying what information should be included on labels of hazardous chemicals as well as safety data sheets.