|
Chemical Hygiene Plan Frequently
Asked Questions
Who can use the Chemical Hygiene Plan Template?
All MIT Departments, Laboratories, and Centers
that engage in the laboratory use of chemicals are required by
law and Institute policy to prepare a Chemical Hygiene Plan. All
Departments, Laboratories, and Centers that are required to have
a Plan are
welcome to use the Template as the foundation for their own Plan.
Is my Department, Laboratory, or Center REQUIRED to use the
MIT Chemical Hygiene Plan Template?
No. Departments, Laboratories, and Centers are
free to utilize a Plan design and framework that best suits their
needs. However, all Plans must meet the minimum standards, objectives,
and requirements contained in the Template. This is to ensure that
all Departments, Laboratories, and Centers are fulfilling their
Institute and legal obligations while ensuring a high level of
protection for personnel from chemicals in the laboratory.
Does the Institute encourage the use of the Template to prepare
Chemical Hygiene Plans?
Yes. Utilizing the Template as the basic starting
point for your Plan will
assist the Institute in ensuring consistent application of prudent
practices in laboratories. In addition, adoption of a consistent
framework will assist the EHS Office in their annual review of
Plans by
accelerating the review process while simultaneously contributing
to continual Plan improvement.
My laboratories employ very unique and specialized chemicals
and procedures; will the Template be able to adequately address
the risks posed by those hazards?
Yes. The Template has been specifically designed to be customized
for the unique conditions posed by individual Department, Laboratory,
or Center laboratories. The Template outlines the administrative
measures and standard operating procedures for using common classes
of chemicals. If your laboratory uses especially hazardous chemical
materials or processes that require specialized operating procedures
to ensure safety, the Template provides a worksheet and additional
template to provide custom standard operating procedures.
How do I obtain and use the Template to customize for my
own Department, Laboratory, or Center?
First, visit and locate the Microsoft Word Chemical
Hygiene Plan Template document on the Chemical
Hygiene Plan Template website at web.mit.edu/environment/ehs/chp.html.
Second, click on the link “Chemical Hygiene
Plan Template” and
choose to open or save a copy of the Template locally on your
computer. The Template is now available to you for customization.
Third, after finalizing the customization of
your Plan,
you can submit the document electronically to the EHS Office for
review via the automated submission form at web.mit.edu/environment/ehs/chp.html.
Upon receipt, the EHS Office will assign a reviewer who will review
the Plan to ensure it meets the requirements of the Institute
and OSHA Laboratory Standard. The EHS Office will notify you via
e-mail when your Plan has been approved or whether adjustments
might be required.
Is there a checklist I could
use while preparing or reviewing my Department, Laboratory, or
Center’s Plan
to ensure it contains all the required content?
Yes. The EHS Office has prepared a Preparer
and Reviewer’s Checklist that outlines the minimum
content required to be addressed in a complete Chemical Hygiene
Plan. The checklist addresses both OSHA and MIT requirements,
as well as selected best management practices.
How can I learn about updates and news regarding the Chemical
Hygiene Plan Template?
To facilitate the tracking and incorporation
of periodic updates to the Chemical Hygiene Plan Template, the
EHS Office has created an Updates
and News tool on the web to highlight and describe all changes
to the Template and news regarding the Chemical Hygiene Plan Program.
The Roles and Responsibilities section of the Template do not
reflect the organizational structure and assignment of responsibilities
in my Department, Laboratory, or Center; can I modify them to accommodate
our organization?
Yes, the tasks, roles, and responsibilities associated
with the development and implementation of the Plan can be reassigned
to best suit your needs. However, all of the tasks, roles, and
responsibilities outlined in the Template must be included in your
Plan to assure full and proper accountability for meeting the requirements
of a compliant Plan .
|
