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Materials Research Laboratory Combined Prepared by Joe Doyle This document is formally adopted by the Materials Research Laboratory. Dr. Philip PincusActing Director January 20, 1998 It is the policy of the Materials Research Laboratory (MRL) that all persons working under our auspices are entitled to as safe a work environment as possible. It is also our policy that all health, safety, and environmental protection regulations and good practice are to be followed by all persons working within the MRL. This combined Injury & Illness Prevention Plan (IIPP) and Hazard Communication Plan (HCP) spell out our specific commitments to this goal. The following policies apply to all persons working in the MRL Building and otherwise working under the auspices of the MRL, including Faculty, Staff, Post Doctoral Researchers, Graduate Students, Undergraduate Researchers, Summer Interns, and paid student helpers. All of these people will be referred to as employees. The following people hold the offices specified in this document.
Injury & Illness Prevention Plan Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations specifies eight specific topics that must be addressed by every employer in California as part of the required IIPP. In the following the MRL adopts specific policies to meet the demands of Title 8 and to protect the people working under the MRL. Authority & Responsibility The Director of the MRL has the authority and responsibility to carry out the terms of this plan. The Director delegates authority for implementation of this plan to the departmental Hazard Communication Coordinator (HCC) and the departmental Management Service Officer (MSO). Compliance with Safe Work Practices The Director, the HCC, and the MSO are responsible to see to it that all safe work practices are followed at the MRL. The Principal Investigators and laboratory Development Engineers are responsible to see to it that work within their laboratories follow safe work practice. Each person working at the MRL is responsible to understand the nature and hazards of their work and to take all necessary and prudent precautions. Communicating Safety Issues The MRL will make sure that employees become knowledgeable about health and safety issues, practices, and protections through the following practices:
Identifying Work Place Hazards Whenever a unsafe situation is discovered it should be reported to the Laboratory Development Engineer, the Principal Investigator, and/or the HCC. Campus EH&S is to periodically inspect each MRL Laboratory and work place for hazards. The results of these inspections will be transmitted in written form to the MRL MSO, HCC, and Principal Investigators by EH&S. Laboratory Development Engineers are to review laboratory safety practice and hardware periodically. Hazard Report Forms are to be available on the Safety Bulletin Board in Room 2042 of the MRL Building. These forms may be used anonymously. Procedures for Investigating Injuries and Illness Any injury to an employee requires the following response:
All forms may be obtained from the Campus Business Service Office at x4440, from the HCC, or from the MSO. Procedures for Correcting Unsafe or Unhealthy Conditions Whenever an unsafe condition is discovered the Laboratory Development Engineer, the Principal Investigator, and/or the HCC should take timely steps to mitigate or eliminate the hazard. If the unsafe condition poses an immediate hazard to life or health the affected area must be evacuated. If the unsafe condition does not pose an immediate threat, it should be mitigated through improved training, improved procedures, engineering controls, alternative materials, administrative controls, and/or personal protective devices. Safety & Health Training Each supervisor is responsible to see to it that all employees under their direction have received appropriate training for the assigned tasks. Each supervisor must also document that such training has occurred. It is most important that each employee hear their supervisor say that they truly expect the employee to work in a safe and environmentally responsible way even if that requires that work will take more time and/or cost more money. Record Keeping & Documentation The MRL HCC and MSO will see to it that records are kept of safety training, laboratory inspection, and actions taken in response to laboratory inspections. Hazard Communication Program Most of the requirements for the HCP are covered in the IIPP above. Additional policies of the MRL follow. Individual supervisors have the primary responsibility for implementing and assuring compliance with the HCP within their work areas. Usually the supervisor will be the Principal Investigator. The primary focus of the program is to identify all hazardous substances used in the workplace and to identify those employees who may be exposed to hazardous substances so that appropriate training and mitigation occurs and accidents are avoided. Each supervisor is responsible to identify those work areas and procedures which involve the potential use of or exposure to hazardous substances; and ensure that all employees in those areas are fully aware of the specific hazards and mitigation measures. All hazardous substances used in each work area are to be identified and inventoried. A paper copy of the full inventory will be posted on or near the Safety Bulletin Board. Digital copies will be available from the HCC to MRL personnel or other responsible parties on request. Material Safety Data Sheets for all chemicals used in the workplace are to be available for any employee to review at the Hazard Communication Coordinator's office. Such review may be over the Internet. The MRL acknowledges that MSDSs are required by law and are often technically deficient, therefore, other chemical safety reference data shall be kept at the HCC's office. All employees using or potentially exposed to hazardous substances shall be trained in working safely with those hazards. New employees must be trained prior to their beginning work with the materials. Existing employees must be trained regarding the introduction of new hazardous materials into the workplace prior to using new hazardous materials. Such training may consist of verbal instructions, safety classes, reading assignments, group discussions, or other activity as assigned by the supervisor. The training shall include the following:
There shall be no unlabeled containers of chemical substances allowed in the workplace. All containers must be labeled minimally with the following:
Likewise any tubing or piping carrying hazardous materials must be labeled with at least the name of the material. Outside contractors working at the MRL must be informed about any potential chemical or physical hazards to which their workers may be exposed. |
