Chemical Safety

Hazardous chemicals must be used in accordance with each laboratories Chemical Hygiene Plan, Standard Operating Procedures, or as recommended in reference materials such as Material Safety Data Sheets, etc. In general, all persons using chemicals must have access to information or knowledge about the hazards associated with the materials they handle including physical properties and possible biological effects. At no time should employees be exposed above the Cal-OSHA permissible exposure levels established for the material being handled.

Chemical Hygiene Plan

Campus Chemical Hygiene Plan (PDF)

Campus Chemical Hygiene Plan (Word version for downloading and editing)

UCSC guidelines and procedures for storing laboratory chemicals

Example Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

Lyophilizer SOP

Chemical Waste Disposal

Waste disposal characterization flow chart (liquid waste drain disposal guide is in Section I of the flow chart)

Laboratory hazardous waste storage and disposal guide/FAQ

Chemical Inventory

Campus Chemical Inventory Program FAQ

Key to the color and symbol coding used to categorize compatibility

EH&S chemical inventory report listing particularly hazardous materials is available on request. Contact Brent Cooley, 831-459-5394 for more information.

Fact Sheets

Secondary Containment Guidelines (guidelines for chemical storage on floor or near drains)

Regulated Carcinogen List (Cal-OSHA regulated carcinogens; a select list of common research chemicals)

Chemical Compatibility Categories (based on UCSC Chemical Inventory system)

Campus guidelines for transporting chemicals safely

Other chemical and laboratory safety fact sheets