OSHA Standard Affects Conservation Labs

By Shine Chang

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published its final rule (1910.1450 and appendices) on occupational exposures to hazardous chemicals in laboratories in the Federal Register on January 31 (pp. 3300-3335).  This rule affects all laboratories, defined by "lab scale" and "lab use" in the standard, that use hazardous chemicals.  This includes museum and private conservation laboratories. 

The new laboratory standard appends and supersedes other health and safety standards in 29 CFR 1910 subpart Z, except for the permissible exposure limits (PELs) for airborne exposure; the prohibition of eye and skin contact for chemicals as stated in the Z tables; and exposure monitoring and medical surveillance requirements when the action level of exposure to a particular chemical is reached.

OSHA feels that exposure to hazardous chemicals in labs can pose a significant health risk.  Therefore, OSHA's objective in its standard is to reduce this risk by at least as much as its current health standards but in a manner that is more appropriate and cost effective for laboratories.  Its primary emphasis is on administrative controls necessary to protect workers from overexposure to hazardous substances in laboratories.  This is achieved through a Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) that is developed by the employer and implemented by an Chemical Hygiene Officer.

The CHP will include the following standard operating procedures relevant to safety and health:

• usage of hazardous chemicals in lab work;
• criteria by which the employer determines and implements measures to reduce exposure (engineering controls, use of personal protective equipment, hygiene practices, etc.);
• requirements that protective equipment functions properly and is maintained adequately;
• provisions for additional protection and prior approval for particularly hazardous or new procedures; and
• annual reviews of the CHP.

Other parts of the standard include employee training and information, medical consultation and examinations, hazard identification, provision and use of respirators, and record keeping of any measurements of employee exposures and medical consultations or examinations.

The standard went into effect May 1, 1990 but employers will have until January 31, 1991 to complete a CHP and begin carrying out its provisions.  Files containing a summary, the full lab standard, and its appendices are available for downloading from CSA's computer bulletin board OSHBBS, (212) 385-2034. 
For other information, contact the local area office.

Chicago Area Office
701 Lee Street - Suite 950
Des Plains, Illinois 60016
(847) 803-4800
(847) 390-8220 FAX


Art Hazard News, Volume 13, No. 5, 1990

This article was originally printed for Art Hazard News, © copyright Center for Safety in the Arts 1990. It appears on CAR courtesy of the Health in the Arts Program, University of Illinois at Chicago, who have curated a collection of these articles from their archive which are still relevant to artists today.