The Management of Hazardous Substances in the Environment

Managing hazardous substances

For more information visit the EPA website. These laws came into force on 30 October There are 22 regulations under this Act covering a broad scope of controls including fireworks and other explosive controls, and the management, disposal, classification, packaging and transport of hazardous substances and new organisms. Hazardous Substances Classes 1 to 5 Controls Regulations Hazardous Substances Classes 6, 8, and 9 Controls Regulations Hazardous Substances Classification Regulations Hazardous Substances Compressed Gases Regulations Hazardous Substances Disposal Regulations This new measures will enter into force on 1st March This regulation has given legal forces to China GHS national standards for the first time.

Companies who fail to classify, label and package hazardous chemicals in accordance with those standards would face a maximum penalty of 50, yuan or a ban on production or import. Even though this regulation will not come into force until 1 Dec , companies shall adopt China's GHS national standards before 1 May , which is the official deadline. Chinese companies who export hazardous chemicals abroad by sea or air need to obtain hazard identification and classification report from designated testing lab in China for example, Shanghai Chemical Industry Testing Centre for Shanghai Port to determine if those chemicals belong to dangerous goods.

If those chemicals belong to dangerous goods, manufacturers of the dangerous goods and packages need to apply for an inspection from local Inspection and Quarantine authorities and get certified by CIQ. Otherwise, the goods cannot be exported. If foreign companies export hazardous chemicals in China, Chinese importer shall apply for inspection from local Inspection and Quarantine authority at the port of entry.

If hazardous chemicals and packaging materials pass inspection, CIQ will issue a certificate of inspection and quarantine of imported commodities and the chemical products can now be sold and used in China.

Substances hazardous to workers

Our services cover new substance notification, registration of the import and export of toxic chemicals, registration of hazardous chemicals, classification and labeling in according to China GHS, Chinese SDS, risk assessment of industrial chemicals, food additives, pesticides and cosmetic ingredients.

We provide one-stop solutions to your regulatory issues in China. We also deliver the most up-to-date regulatory information about chemical control laws in China. Scope of The Regulation - Catalog of Hazardous Chemicals The legislation mainly regulates hazardous chemicals , which are defined as highly toxic chemicals and other chemicals which are toxic, corrosive, explosive, flammable and do harm to human body, facilities and environment.

The current Catalog of Hazardous Chemicals consists of three parts: Top management should set in place procedures to define, document, and endorse a formal EHS policy for an organization. The policy should clearly outline the roles and expectations for the organization, faculty, EHS personnel, and individual employees or students. It should be developed in communication with laboratory personnel to ensure that all major concerns are adequately addressed. The EHS policy and policy statement should be reviewed, revalidated, and where necessary, revised by top management as often as necessary.

It should be communicated and made readily accessible to all employees and made available to relevant interested parties, as appropriate. Management commitment to EHS performance is widely recognized as one of the elements most critical to EHS program success and to the development of a strong culture of safety within an organization.

Therefore, the management system document establishes management commitment with a formal statement of intent, which defines examples of how performance goals are supported. Examples of how this commitment is supported include the following:. Planning is an integral part of all elements of the management system and to be effective involves the design and development of suitable processes and organizational structure to manage EHS aspects and their associated risk control systems proportionately to the needs, hazards, and risks of the organization.

Planning is equally important to deal with health risks that might only become apparent after a long latency period. It also establishes objectives that define the criteria for judging success or failure of the management system. Objectives are identified on the basis of either the results of the initial status review, subsequent periodic reviews, or other available data.

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Various sources of information are used to identify applicable EHS aspects and to assess the risk associated with each. Examples include, but are not limited to, information obtained from the following:. Once applicable EHS aspects are identified, a risk-based evaluation is performed to determine the potential impact and adequacy of existing control measures. If additional controls or corrective actions are needed to reduce risks to acceptable levels, they are integrated into business planning.

Categorizing each item in this manner allows gaps that are identified to be prioritized and incorporated, based on level of importance and available resources. Care should be taken when developing and disseminating new controls and corrective actions. If requirements are perceived by laboratory personnel as unnecessarily onerous, there is potential for lower compliance within the organization and a loss of credibility on the part of EHS personnel.

While understanding that some individuals will never be convinced of the need for new controls, it is important to provide clear, supported justifications for changes to existing protocols to encourage adoption of the new policies and procedures. The design of management arrangements should reflect the organization's business needs and the nature of their risks. However, there should be appropriate activity across all elements of the model policy; planning; implementation; performance measurement, audits, and change management; and management review.

Though it is the responsibility of each individual researcher to ensure that work is performed in a prudent and safe manner, achieving a safe laboratory environment is a cooperative endeavor between management, EHS personnel, and laboratory personnel. Regulations, policies, and plans will never cover every contingency, and it is important for these different groups to communicate with each other to ensure that new situations can be handled appropriately.

One way to ensure that the needs of all groups are being met is by creating safety committees consisting of representatives from each part of an organization. In this forum, safety concerns can be raised, information can be distributed to affected parties, and a rough sense of the efficacy of policies and programs can be gained. The primary purpose of measuring EHS performance is to judge the implementation and effectiveness of the processes established for controlling risk. Performance measurement provides information on the progress and current status of the arrangements strategies, processes, and activities used by an organization to control risks to EHS.

Measurement information includes data to judge the management system by. All of the components of the EHS management system should be adequately inspected, evaluated, maintained, and monitored to ensure continued effective operation. Risk assessment and risk control should be reviewed in the light of modifications or technological developments. Results of evaluation activities are used as part of the planning process and management review, to improve performance and correct deficiencies over time. Periodic audits that enable a deeper and more critical appraisal of all of the elements of the EHS management system see Figure 2.

To maximize benefits, competent persons independent of the area or activity should conduct the audits. The use of external, impartial auditors should be considered to assist in evaluation of the EHS management system. When performing these reviews, it is important that the organization have a plan for following up on the results of the audit to ensure that problems are addressed and that recognition is given where it is deserved. The concept of change management in the laboratory environment varies markedly from methods typically prescribed, for example, in manufacturing operations.

By its very nature, the business of conducting experiments is constantly changing. As such, a number of standard practices are used to identify appropriate handling practices, containment methods, and required procedures for conducting laboratory work in a safe manner. Several examples of these practices include.

Top management should review the organization's EHS management system at regular intervals to ensure its continuing suitability, adequacy, and effectiveness. This review includes assessing opportunities for improvement and the need for changes in the management system, including the EHS policy and objectives. The results of the management review should be documented. The outputs from management review should include any decisions and actions related to possible change to EHS policy, objectives, and other elements of the management system, consistent with the commitment to continual improvement.

The management system review ensures a regular process that evaluates the EHS management system in order to identify deficiencies and modify them. Systemic gaps, evidence that targets are not being met, or compliance issues that are discovered during compliance or risk assessments indicate a possible need for revision to the management system or its implementation. The system consists of six guiding principles and five core management safety functions.

In addition, in , and in recognition of a gap within the management system, DOE identified four supplemental safety culture elements. It is important that each organization develop a management system to meet the needs of the organization. If the burden of organizational oversight and management of the ESH program is not appropriately tied to the organizational risk, then the safety program may lose credibility in the eyes of the people it supports. The foundation of all management system approaches is the identification of EHS concerns, which if not adequately controlled, can result in employee injury or illness, adverse effects on the environment, and regulatory action.

This standard was created to minimize employee exposure to hazardous chemicals in the laboratory and sets forth guidelines for employers and trained laboratory personnel engaged in the use of hazardous chemicals. A CHP that is facility specific can assist in promoting a culture of safety to protect employees from exposure to hazardous materials.

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The duties of the CHO vary widely from one institution to another but may include the following: Qualified by training or experience to provide technical guidance in the development and implementation of the provisions of the Laboratory Standard. Oversees implementation and more Determining what belongs in the CHP for a given laboratory should be the result of conversations between the Chemical Hygiene Officer CHO , the director of the laboratory, and laboratory personnel.

The laboratory director and the individuals performing the research are responsible for following safe practices, and they are the people most familiar with the work being performed. However, they are less likely to be familiar with all relevant regulations, standards, and codes than the CHO, and they may benefit from assistance in identification and assessment of hazards within the laboratory. Thus there must be communication across the groups to ensure that the CHP is complete and that it contains no irrelevant information e.

Safety rules and regulations are created to protect laboratory personnel from unsafe work practices and exposure to hazardous materials. Consistently following and enforcing the safety rules in order to create a safe and healthful laboratory environment in which to work will help encourage a culture of safety within the workplace. What follows is a description of laboratory safety rules, but these will not cover every contingency. Part of the culture of safety is communication and discussion about safety hazards within the laboratory, so that new concerns can be addressed as quickly as possible.

Visitors, including children, are permitted in laboratories where hazardous substances are stored or are in use or hazardous activities are in progress as long as they are properly protected. If minors are expected in a laboratory e. The institution should have a review process regarding minors in the laboratory, and prior to their arrival, scheduled activities should be approved. Other laboratory personnel in the area should be made aware that minors will be present. No pets are permitted in laboratories.

Note that service animals are not pets. They are highly trained and may be present in a laboratory. However, a clean, safe area should be provided where the animal can wait. It is not prudent to work alone in a laboratory. Thus it is imperative that, whenever working in the laboratory, others are actively aware of your activities. If faced with a situation where you feel it is necessary to work alone in a laboratory:.

Many chemicals and solutions routinely used in laboratories present a significant health risk when handled improperly. All things are poison and nothing is without poison. Today, in that same spirit, trained laboratory personnel are encouraged to reduce personal risk by minimizing exposure to hazardous chemicals and by eliminating unsafe work practices in the laboratory. Routes of exposure to hazardous materials include contact with skin and eyes, inhalation, ingestion, and injection. Acute exposure is defined as short durations of exposure to high concentrations of hazardous materials in the workplace.

Chronic exposure is defined as continual exposure over a long period of time to low concentrations of hazardous materials in the workplace. Overexposure to chemicals, whether a result of a single episode or long-term exposure, can result in adverse health effects. These effects are categorized as acute or chronic.

Acute health effects appear rapidly after only one exposure and symptoms include rashes, dizziness, coughing, and burns. Chronic health effects may take months or years before they are diagnosed. Symptoms of chronic health effects include joint paint, neurological disorders, and tumors. For more information on toxicity of laboratory chemicals, see Chapter 4 , section 4.

In addition to the hazards associated with the chemicals themselves, flammable, reactive, explosive, and physical hazards may be present in the laboratory. Reactive hazards include pyrophorics and incompatible chemicals; explosive hazards include peroxide formers and powders; and physical hazards include cryogenic liquids, electrical equipment, lasers, compressed gas cylinders and reactions that involve high pressure or vacuum lines.

For more information about these hazards within a laboratory, see Chapter 4 , sections 4.

2.A. INTRODUCTION

Others automatically create reports that can be e-mailed to recipients. Storing large quantities of hazardous substances If you manage large quantities of hazardous chemical substances, you are subject to additional regulations External link for the protection of employees, the environment, and neighbours: Periodic audits that enable a deeper and more critical appraisal of all of the elements of the EHS management system see Figure 2. Thus there must be communication across the groups to ensure that the CHP is complete and that it contains no irrelevant information e. People who receive involuntary appointments or who serve too long may not maintain the desired level of diligence. The organization demonstrates excellence in performance monitoring, problem analysis, solution planning, and solution implementation.

An array of controls exists to protect laboratory personnel from the hazards listed above. Work practices to minimize exposure to hazardous chemicals can be found in Chapter 6. Good housekeeping practices in the laboratory has a number of benefits. For example, in terms of safety, it can reduce the number of chemical hazards health, physical, reactive, etc.

Practices that encourage the appropriate labeling and storage of chemicals can reduce the risks of mixing of incompatible chemicals and assist with regulatory compliance. From a security standpoint, order in the laboratory makes it easier to identify items out of place or missing. And finally, good housekeeping can help reduce scientific error by, for example, reducing the chances of samples becoming confused or contaminated and keeping equipment clean and in good working order.

More information about housekeeping practices can be found in Chapter 6 , section 6. One of the most important components of a laboratory safety program is chemical management. Prudent chemical management includes the following processes. Preferably, all substances should be received in a central location. Personnel should be trained to identify signs of breakage e. Some organizations have specific purchasing policies to prohibit unauthorized purchases of chemicals and other hazardous materials. The purchaser must assume responsibility for ownership of the chemical.

Because of the possibility of a chemical leak or release and subsequent exposure, chemical shipments should only be received by trained personnel in a laboratory or central receiving area with proper ventilation.

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Neither administrative offices nor the mail room is appropriate for receipt or opening of chemical shipments. To lessen risk of exposure to hazardous chemicals, trained laboratory personnel should separate and store all chemicals according to hazard category and compatibility. In the event of an accident involving a broken container or a chemical spill, incompatible chemicals that are stored in close proximity can mix to produce fires, hazardous fumes, and explosions.

Laboratory personnel should read the MSDS and heed the precautions regarding the storage requirements of the chemicals in the laboratory. A detailed chemical compatibility table is included in Chapter 5 , section 5. To avoid accidents, all chemical containers must be properly labeled with the full chemical name, not abbreviations, and using a permanent marker.

All transfer vessels should have the following label information:.

Regulations on Safe Management of Hazardous Chemicals in China - Decree 591

Incoming chemical shipments should be dated promptly upon receipt, and chemical stock should be rotated to ensure use of older chemicals. It is good practice to date peroxide formers upon receipt and date again when the container is opened so that the user can dispose of the material according to the recommendations on the MSDS. Peroxide formers should be stored away from heat and light in sealed airtight containers with tight-fitting, nonmetal lids. Test regularly for peroxides and discard the material prior to the expiration date.

For more information about storage and handling of peroxides, see Chapter 4 , section 4. Do not store liquid chemicals higher than 5 ft on open shelves. Do not store chemicals within 18 in. Use secondary containment devices i. Do not store chemicals in the laboratory chemical hood, on the floor, in the aisles, in hallways, in areas of egress, or on the benchtop. Chemicals should be stored away from heat and direct sunlight. Only laboratory-grade explosion-proof refrigerators and freezers should be used to store properly sealed and labeled chemicals that require cool storage in the laboratory.

Periodically clean and defrost the refrigerator and freezer to ensure maximum efficiency.

Hazardous Substances Management

Domestic refrigerators and freezers should not be used to store chemicals; they possess ignition sources and can cause dangerous and costly laboratory fires and explosions. Do not store food or beverages in the laboratory refrigerator. For more information, see Chapter 7 , section 7.

Highly hazardous chemicals must be stored in a well-ventilated secure area that is designated for this purpose. Cyanides must be stored in a tightly closed container that is securely locked in a cool dry cabinet to which access is restricted. Protect cyanide containers against physical damage and separate them from incompatibles. When handling cyanides, follow good hygiene practices and regularly inspect your PPE. Use proper disposal techniques. Flammable liquids should be stored in approved flammable-liquid containers and storage cabinets.

Observe National Fire Protection Association, International Building Code, International Fire Code, and other local code requirements that limit the quantity of flammables per cabinet, laboratory space, and building. Consult the local fire marshal for assistance, if needed. Store odiferous materials in ventilated cabinets.

Chemical storage cabinets may be used for long-term storage of limited amounts of chemicals. Rooms that are used specifically for chemical storage and handling i. If flammable chemicals are stored in the room, the chemical storage area must be a spark-free environment and only spark-free tools should be used within the room. Special grounding and bonding must be installed to prevent static charge while dispensing solvents.

Important information about handling chemicals can be found in the MSDS. A comprehensive file of MSDSs must be kept in the laboratory or be readily accessible online to all employees during all work shifts. Trained laboratory personnel should always read and heed the label and the MSDS before using a chemical for the first time.

Laboratory personnel should be familiar with the types of PPE that must be worn when handling the chemical. Ensure that the ventilation will be adequate to handle the chemicals in the laboratory. One should be familiar with the institutional CHP and EAP so that appropriate actions are taken in the event of a chemical spill, fire, or explosion. On a basic level, you cannot safely manage something if you do not know that you have it on-site. Thus, a system for maintaining an accurate inventory of the laboratory chemicals on campus or within an organization is essential for compliance with local and state regulations and any building codes that apply.

Every laboratory should maintain an up-to-date chemical inventory. A physical chemical inventory should be performed at least annually, or as requested by the CHO. Although the software that is used to maintain the inventory and the method of performing the chemical inventory will vary from one institution to another, ultimately, the chemical inventory should include the following information:.

Note that the chemical name should be listed with its synonyms. This will allow for cross-indexing for tracking of chemicals and help reduce unnecessary inventory. Once the inventory is complete, use suitable security precautions regarding the accessibility of the information in the chemical inventory. For more information about laboratory security, see Chapter It is prudent practice to use a secondary containment device i.

When transporting several containers, use carts with attached side rails and trays of single piece construction at least 2 in. Bottles of liquids should be separated to avoid breakage and spills. Avoid high-traffic areas when moving chemicals within the building.

When possible, use freight elevators when transporting chemicals and do not allow other passengers. If you must use a general traffic elevator, ask other passengers to wait until you have delivered the chemicals.

Always ground and bond the drum and receiving vessel when transferring flammable liquids from a drum to prevent static charge buildup. Use a properly operating chemical fume hood, local exhaust, or adequate ventilation, as verified by monitoring, when transferring PHSs. All outgoing domestic and international chemical shipments must be authorized and handled by the institutional shipper.