There are hundreds of chemical products used on campus, for everything from chemistry course labs to cleaning the residence halls. These products may cause a range of effects from watery eyes to cancer when not used properly. Safe chemical handling is key to protecting both our health and the environment.
The Hazard Communication Code (WAC 296-800-170) was developed to make sure employees are informed of chemical hazards in the workplace. PLU has a written hazard communication program. The program requires that material safety data sheets (MSDS) be on site, that a list of all hazardous products be maintained by the users, that chemical containers are labeled, and that employees receive training for chemical hazards.
The Chemical Hygiene Plan, or CHP, is based on WAC 296-828-200 and OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1450. The CHP covers the laboratories in Rieke Science Center and sets safe work practices for laboratory chemical work.
PLU places priority on minimizing waste by substitution, scale reduction, inventory control, and exchanges between laboratories. Our pollution prevention plan lays out specific goals and methods for reducing the quantity of hazardous waste that we generate.
Our second priority is to recycle hazardous waste. Our third priority is to treat hazardous waste on site. Our final priority is to dispose of the waste through a commercial hazardous waste vendor.
Please see the guide in the Emergency Procedures Manual for handling spills.
If you work in Rieke Science Center, please contact the Chemical Hygiene Officer to dispose of Hazardous Waste. All other areas of campus must submit a work request form to Facilities Management to pick up the material. If you are not sure whether your waste is hazardous, please contact the Environmental Health and Safety Manager.
EHS is required to keep on file all of the current as well as archive MSDS that different departments utilize. Listed below are the indexes that are up-to-date. If the actual MSDSs are needed, please contact the EHS assistant at x8935 or ehs@plu.edu.