Control of Chemical Hazards - doe-hdbk-1139-1-2000

DOE-HDBK-1139/1-2000

Change Notice No. 1

2.6 Control of Chemical Hazards

Control of chemical hazards should be carried out at all levels (i.e., site, facility,

and activity) following the same hierarchy of controls as any other health and safety

hazard, i.e., substitution, engineering, administrative, and personal protective

equipment. The level and rigor to which chemical hazards are controlled will

depend in part on regulatory or contract requirements, which may include WSS and

S/RIDS. For example, if the quantity of chemicals on site exceeds TQs, the OSHA

and/or EPA process safety standards would apply and a safety analysis may be

appropriate. Conversely, for quantities less than the TQs, the OSHA Permissible

Exposure Limits (PEL) or American Conference of Governmental Industrial

Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Values (TLV) would establish the allowable

airborne concentrations to which workers may be exposed. In either case, a graded

approach should be applied in establishing the controls.

When controls for hazardous chemicals are established, they should be based on the

hazard analysis, including any additive or synergistic effects. All controls should

be evaluated using an integrated approach. Do not duplicate hazard analysis and

overlay controls, i.e., if two types of hazard are present which use similar types of

controls, the more protective control should be used.

To ensure control of chemical hazards, management should:

Cooperate with workers or worker representatives to form chemical safety

teams.

Substitute less hazardous chemicals, when possible.

Provide ventilation and/or enclosure, as needed.

Ensure that all chemicals are in appropriate containers with labels and that

29 CFR 1910.1200

MSDSs are readily accessible. Title 29 CFR 1910.1200, Hazard

Communication, contains important sections about labels and MSDSs, and 29

CFR 1910.1450, Laboratory Standard, also contains a relevant section.

29 CFR 1910.1450

Provide exposure monitoring, including medical surveillance. Management

should establish procedures for monitoring of workers who handle hazardous

chemicals. If worker exposure exceeds acceptable DOE or OSHA levels, an

investigation should be conducted and corrective actions instituted promptly.