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Environmental Health & Safety

La Sierra University is committed to providing a safe and healthy work environment for employees. The La Sierra University Hazard Communication Program has been established to improve communication and training associated with hazardous substances. The program is designed to maintain a healthy work environment by increasing employee awareness of hazardous substances used in the workplace. These substances include, but are not limited to, chemicals, paints, inks, glues, cleaning agents, and compressed gases.Employees who use or may be exposed to potentially hazardous substances or harmful physical agents shall be informed about the hazards of those substances or physical agents and shall be trained in the precautions to take to prevent exposure and what to do if they are accidentally exposed. No employee shall engage in or be required to perform any task, which is determined to be unsafe or reasonably hazardous.

Click here to access the La Sierra University Hazard Communication Program

Department Chairs and Directors are responsible for providing the resources to effectively implement this program throughout their department(s), and for establishing systems to ensure departmental compliance.

Hazardous Waste Removal Request Form

PREPARATION

1. Determine if you can neutralize, detoxify or recycle the chemicals yourself. If you can, there is no need to fill out the Hazardous Waste Removal Request form. Refer to the Laboratory Safety Manual for guidelines.
2. Separate solids from liquids.
3. Containerize it. Containers shall be compatible with the chemical(s), shall be sturdy, leak-proof, have a tight cap/lid/seal, and clean on the outside. Unless other arrangements have been made, all containers must be 5-gal. or less in volume. Milk jugs or other food containers, thin trash bags, bio-hazard bags, radioactive bags, 5-gal. thin-walled metal solvent cans, 5-gal. glass carboys are NOT to be used.
4. Label the containers with label HM-95-2. (Available from Physical Plant.)

  • a. List ALL the chemical constituents with approximate percentages. Heavy metals should be listed in mg/1 or ppm if under 0.1%.
    b. Do not use abbreviations or chemical symbols. Use common or IUPAC chemical names.
    c. If applicable, list trade name AND chemical constituents. Please include a copy of the SDS.
    d. For pesticides, list the common name and the chemical name.
    e. Physical Plant or Hazmat Waste Vendor will NOT pick up unidentified chemicals, [i.e. "unknowns."]
    f. Number each container. [i.e., Department is Chemistry, date is Jan 1, 2010, container number is one.]

5. Fill out the Hazardous Waste Removal Request form. You may scan, fax, email or deliver completed form to La Sierra University Risk Management Office.

FILLING OUT THE FORM1. Generator Information. The responsible faculty/staff person is the person who is in charge of the laboratory/maintenance site. The contact person is the person whom La Sierra University Risk Management would contact about the chemicals.2. Identification/Description of the Chemicals.

  • a. List all components and their respective percentages. Do not use chemical symbols or abbreviations.
    b. List physical state and pH, if applicable. (pH paper is adequate.)
    c. List number and type of containers.
    d. List volume (liquids) or weight.
    e. List any hazards associated with this material, e.g., flammable, oxidizer, organic oxidizer, poison, corrosive, water-reactive, pyrophoric, mutagen/teratogen, carcinogen, shock-sensitive, etc.

Other Information

The chemicals must be prepared for pickup BEFORE sending this form to La Sierra University Risk Management. The request will be processed as it arrives. Chemicals that are improperly packaged, labeled, or identified WILL NOT be picked up. Pickup can be expected within two weeks of receipt by Risk Management. This form must be filled out as completely, specifically and legibly as possible (please print or type). Improperly, inadequately, or illegibly prepared forms will be returned for completion/clarification. If you have questions, a request of special urgency, or if Physical Plant has not picked up your chemicals within two weeks, PLEASE call 951-785-2102.

Chemical Safety in Laboratories 

Summary: A major component of the La Sierra University Hazard Communication Program is Safety Data Sheets (SDS). SDSs provide necessary information about precautions for protecting against known hazards associated with chemical materials. They often include useful information on chemical, physical and toxicological properties, along with suggestions for storing, transporting and disposing of chemicals. SDSs are the best general source of information on chemicals that is available.

Safety Data Sheets (SDS)

An SDS should be obtained for each chemical that is used by your department, laboratory or maintenance shop. Each SDS must be specific to the product that it describes and specific to the manufacturer of the substance. Risk Management recommends that each department or laboratory that uses chemicals, place one person in charge of maintaining the Safety Data Sheets. This person is responsible for making sure that there is an SDS on file for every hazardous substance in the in area. Each SDS needs to be kept in a location where everyone in the division or lab group can access the information. Risk Management recommends filing SDSs in a binder labeled SDS and keep it an area where safety and emergency information is kept. While an electronic format is an acceptable way to store SDSs, it is recommended to keep a hard copy as well (in case of a power outage or computer failure).

Web Based Retrieval

The web is a convenient and quick way to retrieve Safety Data Sheets (SDSs). However, one should use caution when retrieving SDSs from the Internet. Some of the SDSs found on the Internet may be of questionable quality or may not be the most current version of the SDS. You should be using the most current SDS for that chemical and be sure that it is specific to the manufacturer of the chemical as well, when in doubt consult with Risk Management.

Manufacturer SDS Retrieval

The manufacturer or distributor of hazardous substances is required to provide an SDS for every substance that they distribute. The manufacturer is often the best source of the SDS, since the information provided is usually the most current and accurate. Manufacturer SDSs are available through the following routes:

Included with Chemical Shipment

Often the SDS for the chemical is received with the shipping papers. If so, simply collect the most recent copy and file it in your SDS binder.

Requesting an SDS from the Manufacturer

Information about the manufacturer should be present on the label of the substance or with the shipping papers. Call the manufacturer and request an SDS. Many companies will fax the SDS to you as soon as they get a request. Many companies also have SDSs available on their website. Contact EH&S for assistance, if you do not receive a response from the manufacturer within 1 week.

Risk Management Assistance

Risk Management is available to help you get started in collecting the SDSs that you require. If you are having trouble getting an SDS from a manufacturer, please call Risk Management for assistance.

Container Labeling

Another component of Hazard Communication is container labeling. All containers of chemicals at La Sierra University should be labeled as to the contents even if you know what is in the container. Labels on purchased chemicals must contain:
  • The identity of the chemical
  • Appropriate hazard warnings
  • The name of the company that manufactured or distributed the chemical
Risk Management recommends that chemicals are dated as they are received. Good labeling practices will prevent laboratory accidents and can avoid costly charges for disposal of unknown chemicals.
Click here for the Safety Data Sheet Employee Training PowerPoint. Click here for a Safety Data Sheet sample.
Click here for the SDS Labeling Fact Sheet.

Safety Data Sheets  (Laboratory Workers)

Internet SDS Sites

Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety - SDS & CHEMINFO Search Tool

National SDS Site

SIRI Site Mirror

Interactive Learning Paradigms Incorporated - This is an excellent site that contains numerous links to other SDS sites, including a link to a glossary of terms used on MSDSs.

Kansas State University SDS

Oxford University SDS

VWR Scientific Products - The current Cornell preferred vendor.

Fisher Scientific

Sigma Aldrich

Other Chemical Hazard Information Sites

Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety

New Jersey Chemical Fact Sheets

Hazardous Chemical Database at the University of Akron

National Institute for Occupational Health (NIOSH)

National Library of Medicine (NIH) TOXNET

Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ASTDR)

International Program on Chemical Safety - access to internationally peer reviewed information on chemicals commonly used throughout the world.

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