All MIT Departments, Laboratories, and Centers that engage in the laboratory use of hazardous chemicals are required to prepare a Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) that meets the requirements of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) “Laboratory Standard” and MIT policies and required procedures. Chemical Hygiene Plans are written documents that establish the administrative measures and standard operating procedures for safely and responsibly using chemical materials in laboratories. Your CHP contains information on how to safely handle corrosives, carcinogens, flammables, toxics, particularly hazardous substances, and other hazardous materials including those with physical hazards.
To assist those Departments, Laboratories, and Centers that must prepare a Chemical Hygiene Plan, the MIT Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) Office has prepared a Chemical Hygiene Plan Template. This Template provides a customizable Chemical Hygiene Plan that meets the Institute’s requirements for the use of common laboratory chemicals and procedures. The Template also provides assistance in the development of specialized standard operating procedures to accommodate the unique materials and procedures in specific laboratories.
Laboratory Users of Hazardous Chemicals
Every user of hazardous chemicals at MIT must be trained to handle them safely. To ensure this, all students and employees in the department who use hazardous chemicals in a laboratory must read their department’s Chemical Hygiene Plan, be familiar with its contents, and complete all required chemical hygiene training which includes:
Read your DLC-specific Chemical Hygiene Plan. Contact your department EHS Coordinator, Chemical Hygiene Officer, or Laboratory Rep to receive a physical or online copy of your CHP. Once you have read the CHP, contact your EHS Coordinator or Chemical Hygiene Officer to receive credit.
DLC’s CHP may include the information about exemption process for certain areas and processes. For example, DLC EHS Committees may establish an exemption process for low-risk areas where less stringent clothing requirements may be acceptable. Refer to the Clothing Exemptions – Guiding Principles for details.
For additional guidance, you can contact your EHS/IHP team member.
Every year the EHS Office updates the CHP Template according to OSHA and MIT requirements. You must incorporate these changes and update your plan annually. This year, the due date for your DLC’s revised plan is October 13, 2023. We will review your revised plan annually for compliance with OSHA and MIT requirements.
Note: Once a plan is submitted the reviewer has 30 days to approve it. The date is assigned by the system upon your submission.
All MIT Departments, Laboratories, and Centers (DLC) that engage in the laboratory use of chemicals are required by law and Institute policy to prepare a Chemical Hygiene Plan. All Departments, Laboratories, and Centers that are required to have a CHP are welcome to use the Template as the foundation for their Plan.
No. Departments, Laboratories, and Centers are free to utilize a CHP design and framework that best suits their needs. However, all CHPs must meet the minimum standards, objectives, and requirements contained in the CHP Template. This is to ensure that all Departments, Laboratories, and Centers are fulfilling their Institute and legal obligations while ensuring a high level of protection for personnel from chemicals in the laboratory.
Yes. The Template has been specifically designed to be customized for the unique conditions posed by the individual Department, Laboratory, or Center laboratories. The Template outlines the administrative measures and standard operating procedures for using common classes of chemicals. If your laboratory uses especially hazardous chemical materials or processes that require specialized operating procedures to ensure safety, the Template provides a worksheet and additional template to provide custom standard operating procedures.
Submit your CHP electronically to the EHS Office for review via the automated submission form
Upon receipt, the EHS Office will assign a reviewer who will review the Plan to ensure it meets the requirements of the Institute and OSHA Laboratory Standard. The EHS Office will notify you via e-mail when your Plan has been approved or whether adjustments might be required.
Yes. The EHS Office has prepared a Preparer and Reviewer’s Checklist that outlines the minimum content required to be addressed in a complete Chemical Hygiene Plan. The checklist addresses both OSHA and MIT requirements, as well as selected best management practices.
To facilitate the tracking and incorporation of periodic updates to the Chemical Hygiene Plan Template, the EHS Office has created an Updates Document on the web to highlight and describe all changes to the Template and news regarding the Chemical Hygiene Plan Program.
Yes. The tasks, roles, and responsibilities associated with the development and implementation of the Plan can be reassigned to best suit your needs. However, all of the tasks, roles, and responsibilities outlined in the Template must be included in your Plan to assure full and proper accountability for meeting the requirements of a compliant Plan.
Effective January 2009, as specified in the Chemical Hygiene Plan Template, inventories must be maintained for all hazardous chemicals. Hazardous chemicals include chemicals for which there is statistically significant evidence of health effects following exposure as well as flammable and explosive substances. The use of the online chemical inventory system has been paid for by the EHS Office and is free to you. Its use is recommended but not required. For more information on the chemical inventory system, contact the EHS Office at 617-452-3477 or email environment@mit.edu.
Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP)
All MIT Departments, Laboratories, and Centers that engage in the laboratory use of hazardous chemicals are required to prepare a Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) that meets the requirements of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) “Laboratory Standard” and MIT policies and required procedures. Chemical Hygiene Plans are written documents that establish the administrative measures and standard operating procedures for safely and responsibly using chemical materials in laboratories. Your CHP contains information on how to safely handle corrosives, carcinogens, flammables, toxics, particularly hazardous substances, and other hazardous materials including those with physical hazards.
To assist those Departments, Laboratories, and Centers that must prepare a Chemical Hygiene Plan, the MIT Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) Office has prepared a Chemical Hygiene Plan Template. This Template provides a customizable Chemical Hygiene Plan that meets the Institute’s requirements for the use of common laboratory chemicals and procedures. The Template also provides assistance in the development of specialized standard operating procedures to accommodate the unique materials and procedures in specific laboratories.
Laboratory Users of Hazardous Chemicals
Every user of hazardous chemicals at MIT must be trained to handle them safely. To ensure this, all students and employees in the department who use hazardous chemicals in a laboratory must read their department’s Chemical Hygiene Plan, be familiar with its contents, and complete all required chemical hygiene training which includes:
Read your DLC-specific Chemical Hygiene Plan. Contact your department EHS Coordinator, Chemical Hygiene Officer, or Laboratory Rep to receive a physical or online copy of your CHP. Once you have read the CHP, contact your EHS Coordinator or Chemical Hygiene Officer to receive credit.
DLC’s CHP may include the information about exemption process for certain areas and processes. For example, DLC EHS Committees may establish an exemption process for low-risk areas where less stringent clothing requirements may be acceptable. Refer to the Clothing Exemptions – Guiding Principles for details.
For additional guidance, you can contact your EHS/IHP team member.
Every year the EHS Office updates the CHP Template according to OSHA and MIT requirements. You must incorporate these changes and update your plan annually. This year, the due date for your DLC’s revised plan is October 13, 2023. We will review your revised plan annually for compliance with OSHA and MIT requirements.
Note: Once a plan is submitted the reviewer has 30 days to approve it. The date is assigned by the system upon your submission.
All MIT Departments, Laboratories, and Centers (DLC) that engage in the laboratory use of chemicals are required by law and Institute policy to prepare a Chemical Hygiene Plan. All Departments, Laboratories, and Centers that are required to have a CHP are welcome to use the Template as the foundation for their Plan.
No. Departments, Laboratories, and Centers are free to utilize a CHP design and framework that best suits their needs. However, all CHPs must meet the minimum standards, objectives, and requirements contained in the CHP Template. This is to ensure that all Departments, Laboratories, and Centers are fulfilling their Institute and legal obligations while ensuring a high level of protection for personnel from chemicals in the laboratory.
Yes. The Template has been specifically designed to be customized for the unique conditions posed by the individual Department, Laboratory, or Center laboratories. The Template outlines the administrative measures and standard operating procedures for using common classes of chemicals. If your laboratory uses especially hazardous chemical materials or processes that require specialized operating procedures to ensure safety, the Template provides a worksheet and additional template to provide custom standard operating procedures.
Submit your CHP electronically to the EHS Office for review via the automated submission form
Upon receipt, the EHS Office will assign a reviewer who will review the Plan to ensure it meets the requirements of the Institute and OSHA Laboratory Standard. The EHS Office will notify you via e-mail when your Plan has been approved or whether adjustments might be required.
Yes. The EHS Office has prepared a Preparer and Reviewer’s Checklist that outlines the minimum content required to be addressed in a complete Chemical Hygiene Plan. The checklist addresses both OSHA and MIT requirements, as well as selected best management practices.
To facilitate the tracking and incorporation of periodic updates to the Chemical Hygiene Plan Template, the EHS Office has created an Updates Document on the web to highlight and describe all changes to the Template and news regarding the Chemical Hygiene Plan Program.
Yes. The tasks, roles, and responsibilities associated with the development and implementation of the Plan can be reassigned to best suit your needs. However, all of the tasks, roles, and responsibilities outlined in the Template must be included in your Plan to assure full and proper accountability for meeting the requirements of a compliant Plan.
Effective January 2009, as specified in the Chemical Hygiene Plan Template, inventories must be maintained for all hazardous chemicals. Hazardous chemicals include chemicals for which there is statistically significant evidence of health effects following exposure as well as flammable and explosive substances. The use of the online chemical inventory system has been paid for by the EHS Office and is free to you. Its use is recommended but not required. For more information on the chemical inventory system, contact the EHS Office at 617-452-3477 or email environment@mit.edu.
