MSES provides comprehensive site regulatory environmental, safety and health compliance through the development and implementation of the School District Chemical Hygiene Plan for science laboratories.

Cal-OSHA Standard 1940.1450 requires that when hazardous chemicals are used in a laboratory, the employer must develop and carry out the provisions of a written Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP). The CHP must include the necessary work practices, procedures and policies to ensure that employees are protected from all potentially hazardous chemicals in use in their work area. Also used as a basis for hazard communications and employee training, the Plan must be available to employees, to employee representatives, and to the Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health.

Safety in school laboratories is a high priority to Cal-OSHA, according to the addition of laboratory standards issued in the California Code of Regulations, Title 8, Section 5191. This section of the law requires employers and school districts to take specific actions to minimize employee exposure to hazardous chemicals.

We apply our understanding of these standards in the development of a compliant, school district-specific Chemical Hygiene Plan format that effectively addresses the needs of school district laboratories and other school facilities which use hazardous chemicals.

This format simplifies district-specific plan development by acting as a guidance manual during site-specific investigations and audits. The format is modified with site-specific chemical and logistical data to create an end product that addresses the scope of coverage, the presence and degree of hazards, and specific mitigation procedures for compliance at each district school.

Download and view a sample Chemical Hygiene Plan [287K PDF]. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader software to view this document.

Adobe Acrobat Reader is a free software that lets you view and print Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) files.

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