Additional Resources & Information
Door Labeling
The Boston Fire Department requires the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 704 Diamond be posted on all laboratory doors. These diamonds are also displayed on most chemical labels. The laboratory must inform EHS if the lab acquires different chemicals or gases so the door sign can be updated. Other hazards may be identified on the laboratory door as well.
Lab-Specific SOPs
Each laboratory is responsible for developing their own SOPs beyond what is described in this Chemical Hygiene Plan’s SOPs, as necessary. The process of developing laboratory-specific SOPs is intended to characterize various toxicological, regulatory and physical criteria or to identify conditions that might require additional control measures, as well as to aid in the identification of those control measures.
It is the responsibility of the Laboratory Supervisor/Principal Investigator (PI) to review all materials and substances being used. Upon such review, a determination and implementation of more stringent Site-Specific SOPs will need to be developed by the individual laboratory, as necessary. Contact Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) for assistance in generating laboratory-specific SOPs.
Other Chemical Safety Information
- Chemical Waste
- Hazard Communication/SDS
- GHS Hazard Pictograms
- DHS Chemicals of Interest Information
- Transporting Chemicals
- Chemical Segregation and Storage
- Chemical Containment Levels for Animal Administration
Resources
- American Chemical Society
- American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Hazard Communications Page
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Laboratories Page
- Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) 5th Edition A document published and updated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Institutes of Health. It describes the Biosafety levels (1-4) recommended for research involving various biohazardous agents.
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration Bloodborne Pathogen Standard 1910.1030: A federal standard which sets forth practices to be employed when handling blood, tissues, body fluids, or other potentially infectious materials. This standard is often cited as “Universal Precautions.”
- American Biological Safety Association (ABSA) : This is a national Biosafety Association for Biosafety professionals, support personnel and others to share field expertise. ABSA provides numerous references.
- ABSA Risk Group Classifications ABSA has provided reference material for the risk groups of various bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.
- Canadian SDS’s for Infectious Agents The Public Health Agency of Canada has created SDS sheets for biological materials.