FEATURE

Intimidators for the new

chemical hygiene of®cer

By Desi Justis relies on for safety information but

there is no one to go to if you need
The intimidation

T caused by not feeling

he appointment as the chemi- help. The realization that you are
cal hygiene of®cer (CHO) for a totally responsible can be overwhelm-
facility is one that is exciting but ing. These feelings of intimidation are quali®ed and isolated
it can also be intimidating. This feeling
of intimidation only increases when the
justi®able, but there are things that can
be done which will make the respon-
can be put to rest as
CHO is not only responsible for the sibility easier to bear. you look for ways to
chemical safety of that facility but is Feelings of intimidation ®rst begin at
an add-on to an already full-time posi- the appointment. The need for a facil- gather information.
tion. There are a signi®cant number of
professionals who are in this situation.
ity to appoint a CHO is a result of the
Occupational Safety and Health
These feelings can
The responsibility of the CHO at small Administration's (OSHA) Laboratory be alleviated by
academic institutions is often given to
laboratory managers or supervisors
Standard (29 CFR 1910.1450). This
standard, promulgated in 1990,
several inexpensive
who are assigned this position because requires that a facility with a laboratory solutions.
of their science background. At nona- on the premises designate a CHO. As
cademic institutions without Environ- stated in the standard, section (b), ``a It costs nothing to become a member of
mental Health and Safety Departments CHO is an employee who is designated safety listservs. Examples of listervs that
the designation of CHO is often given to by the employer who is quali®ed by have very active and informative con-
shift supervisors or laboratory man- training and experience, to provide tributors are: [email protected], saft-
agers, again, given this responsibility technical guidance in the development [email protected], labsaf-
possibly because they may have had a and implementation of the provisions [email protected], [email protected]. These
chemistry class or two in college. There- of the chemical hygiene plan (CHP).'' are places where safety professionals
fore, we have people who are managing The standard is clear in that a CHO are encouraged to post questions and
the laboratories or teaching science must be appointed, and equally clear respond with solutions for other lister's
courses full time and now have the regarding duties of the CHO. What is problems. The listservs serve a variety of
additional responsibility of overseeing not clear are the actual necessary qua- professionals from the academia to the
the chemical hygiene program. li®cations of a CHO. What is meant by industry areas. Reading and participat-
Included in the number of people training and how much experience ing in safety listservs provide informa-
who have taken the added-on respon- does one need? Administrators at tion on what others are doing around
sibility of the CHO are those who may small facilities, wanting to become the country. It is such a relief to hear
have no previous safety experience and compliant for this OSHA regulation, that others have been in your shoes and
with no other person at their site to could interpret training and experi- survived. It is through the sharing of
turn to for assistance. Safety training is ence as someone who knows what common experiences between `sea-
not a standard part of a college degree safety glasses are and understands soned' and inexperienced safety of®cers
in the sciences and is not the focus of how to wear them properly. Fear that professional growth occurs.
the laboratory manager's job. Knowl- results as the new CHO looks at the Other inexpensive sources of infor-
edge of laboratory safety most often responsibilities described in the mation are safety and scienti®c pro-
comes from on-the-job training. It goes laboratory standard and realizes what ducts catalogs, safety websites and
without saying that if the position of an impact the lack of training and local sections of the American Chemi-
CHO is given to someone without experience could have in the safe cal Society. Some of the catalogs have
safety experience then there is no operation of the laboratory and on information on regulatory standards
one else on site who was quali®ed. It human life. It is also intimidating to for personal protective equipment
can be intimidating to know that not realize that OSHA mandates your job. and safety showers/eyeswashes in
only are you the one everyone else The intimidation caused by not feel- addition to comparison charts for
ing quali®ed and isolated can be put to gloves. Information can also be found
Desi Justis is the Chemical Hygiene rest as you look for ways to gather in these catalogs on chemical incom-
Of®cer at Lynchburg College, information. These feelings can be alle- patibilities and disposal methods. For
Lynchburg, VA. viated by several inexpensive solutions. pro®t and non-pro®t safety organiza-

1074-9098/02/$22.00 ß Division of Chemical Health and Safety of the American Chemical Society 27
PII S1074-9098(02)00291-5 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.
tions offer valuable information on standard. Many CHOs are given the to inform them of potential problems.
their websites at no cost. A few exam- responsibility of writing the CHP man- The CHO should never forget that
ples of safety websites that provide free dated by the standard. Because of inex- those in authority are ultimately
information include The Laboratory perience the CHO may not know responsible for the safety of the institu-
Safety Institute, [email protected] where to begin the writing process thus tion and anything that happens within
labsafety.com, Vermont SIRI. This free this is a source of intimidation. The the laboratory should not come as a
information on topics such as chemical Laboratory Standard details the topics surprise to them. Not all administrators
hygiene plans, hazard assessments, that should be covered in a CHP but will be supportive of the safety pro-
and training can either be downloaded practical information is best obtained grams but this should not be a deterrent
from the web or ordered from the from reading CHPs from other facil- from implementing safety programs
company. The Vermont SIRI site has ities. Of course, one of the best sources and from keeping them informed of
PowerPoint presentations that can be for CHPs is from the World Wide Web. the actions of the CHO. The lack of
used for training purposes on a variety A simple web search will return the support may simply be a result of the
of topics. CHPs from many facilities and aca- administrator's not having information
Although attending safety confer- demic institutions that will provide of the way a chemical safety program
ences and meetings are a more expen- useful information. It is best to focus should work and of the consequences
sive solution to the intimidator of on CHPs from facilities similar to of noncompliance. It can only bene®t
feeling unquali®ed and isolated they yours but all are helpful. The Labora- the program if the CHO makes the
do provide a much better means to tory Standard itself provides a tem- effort to train them on the CHP and
professional development. These pro- plate for a CHP in Appendix A that also on the other regulatory issues relat-
fessional meetings are held throughout can be tailored to ®t the needs of the ing to laboratory chemical safety.
the year, all over the country. The facility. At smaller institutions the CHO is
American Chemical Society Division Another intimidator of a new CHO often the entire Environmental Health
of Chemical Health and Safety has a may not come from within the facility and Safety of®ce and is responsible for
program of conferences and poster ses- but from administrators. One way facility inspections. Housekeeping and
sions twice a year. Other meetings such to alleviate this issue is to keep physical plant personnel can be of tre-
as the Laboratory Safety and Environ- those in command up to date with mendous help as inspections are being
mental Management (LS&EM) and all that is being done regarding safety. done. As part of a good working rela-
the National Association of Scienti®c tionship with these two departments
Material Managers (NAOSMM) offer It is recognized that they may supply assistance during
conferences on a variety of safety checks of safety equipment such as
issues as well as pre- and post confer- the single most fume hoods and eyewash/shower
ence workshops. Workshops geared to
issues that directly address the CHO
important contribu- units. The more familiar they become
with the facility's safety program and
are often provided during the confer- tor to a successful equipment the more they can provide
ence. Experienced CHOs or profes- insight on repair and maintenance.
sionals from the academic and safety program is Relying on physical plant expertise
industrial areas teach CHO training
workshops. The Laboratory Safety
``top±down'' man- can relieve the CHOs intimidation by
the large task of inspecting and main-
Institute also offers courses that are agement, in that the taining vital safety equipment. It has
well suited for the new safety of®cer been proven that response time to
with no previous experience. The LSI highest-level admin- work orders is shortened when the
courses provide participants with help- istrators are ``on physical plant personnel understand
ful information and also provide ways that problems in laboratories can be
to sell your safety program to your board'' with the safety life threatening if not addressed in a
facility administrators. At all of these
meetings you will be able to meet other
program. Otherwise, timely manner. This understanding
comes as the relationship between
safety of®cers during mixers, meals, it will not work, ever. your two areas is built on mutual
and roundtables. Throughout these respect. Housekeeping personnel have
activities you will be able to spend It is recognized that the single most proven to be helpful when equipment
time with those who are in similar important contributor to a successful has malfunctioned and help is needed
situations and are more than willing safety program is ``top±down'' man- on the spot to clean up any mess cre-
to share their experiences and ideas. agement, in that the highest-level ated by the problem. The men and
The bene®ts obtained from attending administrators are ``on board'' with women in housekeeping will make
professional meetings far outweigh the the safety program. Otherwise, it will the extra effort to come to your rescue
cost. not work, ever. Regular e-mail updates if the working relationship is on a
As described by the Laboratory and/or meetings inform the adminis- positive basis. At academic institutions
Standard, the CHO is a key player in trators regarding what is being done in student employees or laboratory assis-
the design and implementation of the the safety arena and it can also be used tants can help with many of the routine

28 Chemical Health & Safety, May/June 2002

inspections and checks within the assessments. This information could does help lower the level of intimida-
laboratory. They can be trained to take be the information taken from safety tion so time should be taken to orga-
fume hood readings and to purge safety related listservs and publications. nize ®les and as well as books and
showers. Emergency contacts and phone num- journals.
bers should be posted at every phone so
Finally, there's no no one has to scramble during building
or laboratory emergencies.
No one will ever say
substitute for being Each CHO of®ce should have a well- the job of CHO is easy
stocked library of books, journals and
organized to reduce newsletters relating to safety. Books in or boring. Most often
the intimidations of this library should include Prudent
Practices and The CRC Handbook of
you will hear that it
the position of CHO. Laboratory Safety as a starting place. is frustrating and
One book that all new CHOs should
Finally, there's no substitute for being have is the ACS publication ``Living challenging.
organized to reduce the intimidations of with the Laboratory Standard; A
the position of CHO. The organized Guide for Chemical Hygiene Of®cers.'' No one will ever say the job of CHO
CHO should be able to quickly ®nd This brief booklet breaks down the is easy or boring. Most often you will
compliance materials such as hazard position of CHO into very doable seg- hear that it is frustrating and challen-
waste disposal manifests and material ments. Other books that should be ging. Everyone will say at some point
safety data sheets. Also within reach found in this library are those that in their career that they have been
should be the chemical hygiene and are speci®c to chemical disposal, envir- intimidated by the position and often
spill plans. Notebooks and ®les should onmental management and copies of overwhelmed. This knowledge can be
be well labeled as to contents and cate- regulations such as 29 CFR and the comforting as you take on the new
gorized by subject area for easy retrieval National Fire Protection Associations position. Always remember, you are
of information. One subject could regulations. The Chemical Health not out there alone.
include information speci®c to the topic and Safety publication from the ACS
of CHO. Another could relate to the offers valuable information on a vari- Editor's note: This paper was
CHO position at the facility speci®cally. ety of topics inside each issue. Being derived from a talk given at LS&EM
One notebook could include all of the able to ®nd information quickly 2001. More information on LS&EM
safety inspections along with the hazard when needed from a ®le or bookshelf can be found at www.prizim-inc.com

Chemical Health & Safety, May/June 2002 29