Regulation overview
OSHA Laboratory Standard (29 CFR 1910.1450)
The OSHA Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories standard (29 CFR 1910.1450), usually called the Laboratory Standard or the Chemical Hygiene Standard, requires laboratories that use hazardous chemicals to have a written Chemical Hygiene Plan, train their workers, and keep safety data sheets accessible. In covered laboratories it takes the place of most of the HazCom requirements, though some HazCom duties remain.
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Who it applies to
The standard applies to employers engaged in the laboratory use of hazardous chemicals. It defines "laboratory use" as handling or use of chemicals in which several conditions are met: chemical manipulations are carried out on a laboratory scale, multiple chemical procedures or chemicals are used, the procedures are not part of a production process, and protective laboratory practices and equipment are available and in common use. Typical examples are research, teaching and quality control laboratories. Production facilities that use chemicals at an industrial scale are generally covered by HazCom and the substance-specific standards instead.
What it requires
- A Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP). A written program, available to employees, setting out the procedures, equipment, PPE and work practices that protect employees from the hazards in the lab, plus criteria for exposure controls such as fume hoods and for when particularly hazardous substances need extra measures.
- A Chemical Hygiene Officer. A qualified person responsible for implementing the plan.
- Employee information and training. Employees must be told about the standard, the plan, exposure limits, signs and symptoms of overexposure and the location of reference materials including SDSs, and trained on lab hazards and the plan.
- Exposure assessment. The employer must measure employee exposure when there is reason to believe exposure levels routinely exceed the action level (or, where there is none, the PEL) for a substance regulated by an OSHA standard, and notify employees of the results.
- Medical consultation and examination. Provided to employees in specified circumstances: signs or symptoms associated with a hazardous chemical, monitoring that routinely shows exposure above the action level for a substance with medical surveillance requirements, or an event such as a spill, leak or explosion likely to have caused a hazardous exposure.
- Special provisions for particularly hazardous substances, including select carcinogens, reproductive toxins and substances with a high degree of acute toxicity.
- Recordkeeping. Records of exposure monitoring and medical consultations, retained according to the records access standard. See how long to keep SDS records.
Labels and SDSs in laboratories
Under the Laboratory Standard, employers must ensure that labels on incoming containers of hazardous chemicals are not removed or defaced, and that SDSs received with incoming shipments are maintained and readily accessible to laboratory employees. These two items correspond to HazCom, which still applies to shipments received. The standard does not set a labeling requirement for containers prepared in the lab, but in practice the chemical hygiene plan and good practice call for labeling; many labs use their own label format with the chemical name, concentration, date, preparer and hazards. See secondary container labels.
If a lab ships chemicals to others, HazCom's supplier duties and transport rules may apply. See DOT HMR.
Key differences versus OSHA HazCom
| Topic | Laboratory Standard | HazCom |
|---|---|---|
| Written program | Chemical Hygiene Plan covering lab practice, controls and medical aspects | Written hazard communication program |
| Labels | Do not deface incoming labels; no specific label rule for lab-made solutions | Shipped container labels and workplace labeling rules |
| SDS | Maintain those received and make them accessible | Maintain for each hazardous chemical and make accessible, with a list of chemicals |
| Training | Covers lab hazards, the plan and exposure limits | Covers hazards, labels, SDSs and protective measures |
| Medical surveillance | Specified consultation and examination triggers | None in HazCom itself |
| Hierarchy | Prevails over most other health-related OSHA standards in labs, except for certain provisions | General |
For the main standard see OSHA HazCom.
Practical points for labs
- Keep the Chemical Hygiene Plan current and specific to your lab, not a generic template.
- Use SDS Sections 7, 8 and 10 to design procedures, storage and PPE. See storage compatibility.
- Date peroxide-forming and other time-sensitive chemicals when received and opened.
- Maintain an inventory linked to sheets; it supports waste, emergency and regulatory reporting.
- Educational institutions often face rules outside OSHA too, for example state rules for students and non-OSHA-covered staff.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Chemical Hygiene Plan?
A written program required by the OSHA Laboratory Standard describing the procedures, equipment, PPE and work practices that protect laboratory employees from hazardous chemicals.
Does HazCom apply in laboratories?
The Laboratory Standard replaces most HazCom requirements in covered labs, but labels on incoming containers must be kept and SDSs must be accessible, and some employers also have HazCom duties for non-laboratory operations.
Do university labs need to follow it?
Where the employer is covered by OSHA or an OSHA-approved state plan, yes. Public universities in some states are covered by state plans instead of federal OSHA.
Who is the Chemical Hygiene Officer?
A qualified person designated by the employer to provide technical guidance in developing and implementing the Chemical Hygiene Plan.