Chemicals and Hazardous Materials

Everyone at Harvard who performs lab work should review lab chemical safety information, including the Harvard Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) and chemical safety reference materials that include SDSs.

Use this information to:

• Understand administrative requirements and responsibilities.
• Comply with applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
• Identify chemical hazards.
• Follow guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOP).
• Safely handle and use chemicals.
• Properly store and dispose of chemicals.

Building and operations management must follow hazard communication requirements to manage hazardous chemicals.

• Provide safety information to help staff identify and evaluate hazardous chemicals used in their workplace.
• Ensure all staff complete training on how to read SDSs and to understand chemical hazards.
• Label containers of hazardous chemicals that could pose a physical or health hazard to exposed staff in the workplace.

Hazardous chemical label requirements

Each label must include (as applicable):

• Manufacturer name and address.
• Brief description of the chemical.
• Main ingredients.
• Major hazards, including:
  • National Fire Protection Association 704 label for fire hazards.
  • Globally Harmonized System pictograms and hazard warnings for potential exposure risks.
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) for handling the chemical.
• Instructions to safely use the chemical.
• First aid information.
• Storage instructions.
• Container disposal instructions.