Action level. A concentration designated in Title 8, California Code of Regulations for a specific substance, calculated as an eight (8)-hour time weighted average, which initiates certain required activities such as exposure monitoring and medical surveillance.
Carcinogen (see "select carcinogen").
Chemical Hygiene Officer. An employee who is designated by the employer, and who is qualified by training or experience, to provide technical guidance in the development and implementation of the provisions of the Chemical Hygiene Plan. This definition is not intended to place limitations on the position description or job classification that the designated individual shall hold within the employer's organizational structure.
Chemical Hygiene Plan. A written program developed and implemented by the employer which sets forth procedures, equipment, personal protective equipment and work practices that
Chief. The Chief of the Division of Occupational Safety and Health.
Designated area. An area which may be used for work with "select carcinogens," reproductive toxins or substances which have a high degree of acute toxicity. A designated area may be the entire laboratory, an area of a laboratory or a device such as a laboratory hood.
Emergency. Any occurrence such as, but not limited to, equipment failure, rupture of containers or failure of control equipment which results in an uncontrolled release of a hazardous chemical into the workplace.
Employee. An individual employed in a laboratory workplace who may be exposed to hazardous chemicals in the course of his or her assignments.
Hazardous chemical. Any chemical which is classified as health hazard or simple asphyxiant in accordance with the Hazard Communication Standard (Section 5194).
Health hazard. A chemical that is classified as posing one of the following hazardous effects: Acute toxicity (any route of exposure); skin corrosion or irritation; serious eye damage or eye irritation; respiratory or skin sensitization; germ cell mutagenicity; carcinogenity; reproductive toxicity; specific target organ toxicity (single or repeated exposure); aspiration hazard. The criteria for determining whether a chemical is classified as a health hazard are detailed in Appendix A of the Hazard Communication Standard (Section 5194) and Section 5194(c) (definition of "simple asphyxiant").
Laboratory. A facility where the "laboratory use of hazardous chemicals" occurs. It is a workplace where relatively small quantities of hazardous chemicals are used on a non-production basis.
Laboratory scale. Work with substances in which the containers used for reactions, transfers, and other handling of substances are designed to be easily and safely manipulated by one person. "Laboratory scale" excludes those workplaces whose function is to produce commercial quantities of materials.
Laboratory-type hood. A device located in a laboratory, enclosed on five sides with a movable sash or fixed partial enclosure on the remaining side; constructed and maintained to draw air from the laboratory and to prevent or minimize the escape of air contaminants into the laboratory; and allows chemical manipulations to be conducted in the enclosure without insertion of any portion of the employee's body other than hands and arms.
Walk-in hoods with adjustable sashes meet the above definition provided that the sashes are adjusted during use so that the airflow and the exhaust of air contaminants are not compromised and employees do not work inside the enclosure during the release of airborne hazardous chemicals.
Laboratory use of hazardous chemicals. Handling or use of such chemicals in which all of the following conditions are met:
Medical consultation. A consultation which takes place between an employee and a licensed physician for the purpose of determining what medical examinations or procedures, if any, are appropriate in cases where a significant exposure to a hazardous chemical may have taken place.
Mutagen. Chemicals that cause permanent changes in the amount or structure of the genetic material in a cell. Chemicals classified as mutagens in accordance with the Hazard Communication Standard (Section 5194) shall be considered mutagens for purposes of this section.
Physical hazard. A chemical that is classified as posing one of the following hazardous effects: Explosive; flammable (gases, aerosols, liquids, or solids); combustible liquid; oxidizer (liquid, solid, or gas); self-reactive; pyrophoric (gas, liquid or solid); self-heating; organic peroxide; corrosive to metal; gas under pressure; in contact with water emits flammable gas; water-reactive; or combustible dust. The criteria for determining whether a chemical is classified as a physical hazard are in Appendix B of the Hazard Communication Standard (Section 5194) and Section 5194(c) (definitions of "combustible dust," "combustible liquid," "water-reactive" and "pyrophoric gas").
Protective laboratory practices and equipment. Those laboratory procedures, practices and equipment accepted by laboratory health and safety experts as effective, or that the employer can show to be effective, in minimizing the potential for employee exposure to hazardous chemicals.
Reproductive toxins. Chemicals which affect the reproductive capabilities including chromosomal damage (mutations), effects on fetuses (teratogenesis), adverse effects on sexual function and fertility in adult males and females, as well as adverse effects on the development of the offspring. Chemicals classified as reproductive toxins in accordance with the Hazard Communication Standard (Section 5194) shall be considered reproductive toxins for purposes of this section.
Select carcinogen. Any substance which meets one of the following criteria:
Note: Appendix A of this section is non-mandatory but provides guidance to assist employers in the development of the Chemical Hygiene Plan.
Where the use of respirators is necessary to maintain exposure below permissible exposure limits, the employer shall provide, at no cost to the employee, the proper respiratory equipment. Respirators shall be selected and used in accordance with the requirements of Section 5144.
Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 8, § 5191
2. Editorial correction of printing errors (Register 92, No. 33).
3. Change without regulatory effect amending Appendix B subsections (b)1. and (c)1. filed 12-28-92 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 93, No. 1).
4. Editorial correction of Appendix A subsection D.11.(b) (Register 95, No. 24).
5. Amendment of Appendix A, subsection E.1.(a) filed 1-18-2012; operative 1-18-2012 pursuant to Labor Code section 142.3(a)(4)(C). Submitted to OAL for printing only pursuant to Labor Code section 142.3(a)(3) (Register 2012, No. 3).
6. Amendment of definitions within subsection (b) and amendment of subsections (f)(3)(E), (h)(1)(B) and (h)(2)(C) filed 5-6-2013; operative 5-6-2013 pursuant to Labor Code section 142.3(a)(4)(C). Submitted to OAL for printing only pursuant to Labor Code section 142.3(a)(4) (Register 2013, No. 19).
7. Amendment of definitions within subsection (b) and amendment of subsections (f)(3)(E), (h)(1)(B) and (h)(2)(C) refiled 11-6-2013; operative 11-6-2013 pursuant to Labor Code section 142.3(a)(4)(C). Submitted to OAL for printing only pursuant to Labor Code section 142.3(a)(4) (Register 2013, No. 45).
8. Repealer of 11-6-2013 order by operation of law 5-6-2014 pursuant to Labor Code 142.3 (Register 2014, No. 19).
9. Amendment of subsection (b) repealing definitions of "Combustible Liquid," "Flammable" and "Flashpoint" filed 5-5-2014; operative 5-6-2014 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3) (Register 2014, No. 19).
10. Amendment of definitions within subsection (b) and amendment of subsections (f)(3)(E), (h)(1), (h)(1)(B) and (h)(2)(C) filed 5-5-2014; operative 5-6-2014 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3) (Register 2014, No. 19).
11. Change without regulatory effect amending subsection (b), definition of "Laboratory scale" filed 9-27-2017 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2017, No. 39).
Note: Authority cited: Sections 142.3 and 9020, Labor Code. Reference: Sections 142.3, 9004(d), 9009 and 9020, Labor Code.
2. Editorial correction of printing errors (Register 92, No. 33).
3. Change without regulatory effect amending Appendix B subsections (b)1. and (c)1. filed 12-28-92 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 93, No. 1).
4. Editorial correction of Appendix A subsection D.11.(b) (Register 95, No. 24).
5. Amendment of Appendix A, subsection E.1.(a) filed 1-18-2012; operative 1-18-2012 pursuant to Labor Code section 142.3(a)(4)(C). Submitted to OAL for printing only pursuant to Labor Code section 142.3(a)(3) (Register 2012, No. 3).
6. Amendment of definitions within subsection (b) and amendment of subsections (f)(3)(E), (h)(1)(B) and (h)(2)(C) filed 5-6-2013; operative 5-6-2013 pursuant to Labor Code section 142.3(a)(4)(C). Submitted to OAL for printing only pursuant to Labor Code section 142.3(a)(4) (Register 2013, No. 19).
7. Amendment of definitions within subsection (b) and amendment of subsections (f)(3)(E), (h)(1)(B) and (h)(2)(C) refiled 11-6-2013; operative 11-6-2013 pursuant to Labor Code section 142.3(a)(4)(C). Submitted to OAL for printing only pursuant to Labor Code section 142.3(a)(4) (Register 2013, No. 45).
8. Repealer of 11-6-2013 order by operation of law 5-6-2014 pursuant to Labor Code 142.3 (Register 2014, No. 19).
9. Amendment of subsection (b) repealing definitions of "Combustible Liquid," "Flammable" and "Flashpoint" filed 5-5-2014; operative 5-6-2014 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3) (Register 2014, No. 19).
10. Amendment of definitions within subsection (b) and amendment of subsections (f)(3)(E), (h)(1), (h)(1)(B) and (h)(2)(C) filed 5-5-2014; operative 5/6/2014 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3) (Register 2014, No. 19).
11. Change without regulatory effect amending subsection (b), definition of "Laboratory scale" filed 9-27-2017 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2017, No. 39).