PROCEDURE NAME: Hazardous Material Handling
Number: KU015

POLICY: This policy details the delivery, loading, and storage of all non-petroleum hazardous materials. The policy incorporates federal, state, and local regulations and University requirements.

APPLICABILITY: This policy applies to all F&CP staff, warehouse personnel, faculty, laboratory/research assistants, and students who use and handle hazardous materials. This policy applies to any non-petroleum hazardous materials, which include, but are not limited to, strong acids, strong bases, toxic materials (i.e. mercury), solvents, paints, other volatile organic material, and materials that can react with other chemicals, water or air, or can be shock sensitive.

PURPOSE: To provide for the proper handling, unloading, and storage of hazardous materials in accordance with federal requirements under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (40 CFR 260-202) and state regulations on solid and hazardous waste (N.J.A.C. 7:26G). Failure to comply may result in civil, criminal, or administrative penalties for Kean.

PROCEDURE: Any professor, laboratory/research assistant, warehouse staff, or F&CP staff must complete the Hazardous Material Approval Form, (KU015-01 attached) indicating the name of the material, amount physical phase (solid, liquid, gas), storage temperature, hazards of the material and purpose of use. The form must indicate where the material is stored, and what other materials can be stored with it. The designated Chemical Hygiene Officer (CHO) shall approve the form before submitting it to F&CP. F&CP shall develop a database of all hazardous materials purchased, including date of purchase, storage locations, storage containers, associated hazards of each materials, and inventory procedures.

F&CP shall be responsible for inquiring about each hazardous material, and inspecting potential and current storage locations. F&CP shall also request Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS’) from departments procuring any hazardous material(s) in order to become familiar with the material(s) in question. If no MSDS’ are available, and the chemical is unfamiliar to the above-referenced applicable parties, work shall not commence, and/or materials/substances shall not be used until MSDS’ become available. Every MSDS sheet shall dictate the storage of each material, potential exposure hazards, compatibility with other materials, and the effects of long-term storage.

Provisions shall be made for delivery and temporary storage of hazardous materials after normal business hours, weekends, and holiday/vacation periods. MSDS’ must be available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, in compliance with RCRA and OSHA standards. The purpose is to provide information to medical services personnel, emergency responders, transportation officials, etc. See Kean’s Hazard Communication Program or Chemical Hygiene Plan for more information. Storerooms for chemicals are not to be used as dispensing areas, preparation or repackaging locations. All storerooms should have local exhaust as appropriate. 

Highly acute toxic/carcinogenic substances shall be handled with extreme care and only under the direct supervision of the department supervisor or the Chemical Hygiene Officer. MSDS review should be performed every time an individual has the potential to come into contact with these substances. Each department should reference the hazardous material inventory to determine the potential for storage of these materials in their respective areas.

Hazardous material containers shall be properly labeled with the following information: a USDOT diamond indicating the hazard associated with the substance (poison, corrosive, etc.), an NFPA "Fire Diamond" indicating flammability, corrosivity, and reactivity potential, and appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), the physical phase/state of the material, the name of material, ingredients, total quantity, hazards associated with the material, handling procedures, and date of purchase. If the vendor does not provide a label identifying these properties, then the MSDS sheet must be consulted for labeling purposes.

Storage of hazardous chemicals in fume hood work areas is not permitted; fume hoods are to be used for specific purposes only. PPE should be worn whenever handling hazardous chemicals. Consult the MSDS for the proper PPE and don the appropriate gear as stated. The department supervisors shall provide PPE.

At the end of each semester, including the summer session, F&CP shall do an inventory of hazardous materials currently stored to determine the amount of hazardous materials that has been used, and what type or amount remains. This inventory should be submitted to the appropriate member of the EMS Management Committee, or functional department head.

Signature:

________________________________________________________

Eduardo N. del Valle, R.A., P.P., A.I.C.P., Associate Vice President

EMS Manager

Original Date: ____-____-____

Revision Date: ____-____-____