Procedures to follow when handling newly synthesized or imported chemical substances for which limited environmental,
health, or safety data exist.
When certain new or imported chemical substances,
including carbon nanotubules, are handled in the laboratory for research purposes and very limited environmental,
health or safety data exist, the EPA requires the laboratory or institution to establish special procedures and precautions for
handling these substances. The procedures required by the EPA and established at Yale University include the following:
- Training and Communication - all known risks associated with handling the chemical substance must be communicated to the
individuals coming in contact with it. This information should be provided in writing. This information must also be communicated
to individuals in other laboratories to whom the material is sent. Risk information may be disseminated using the "
Preliminary Health and Safety Information Sheet" (links to Adobe pdf and Microsoft Word formatted documents can be found
in left margin) as well as with signage and container labeling. All individuals handling chemical substances for which limited or
no health and safety data exist must be trained in laboratory chemical safety training. There is a link to an on-line version of
this training in the left hand margin.
- Standard Operating Procedures - in addition to the standard procedures followed for handling all chemicals in laboratories
(such as proper container labeling and storage, use of personal protective equipment, proper housekeeping, and personal
hygiene) the additional laboratory safety procedures outlined in Yale University's Chemical Hygiene Plan, Section 3.5 - Chemicals
of High Acute and Chronic Toxicity must be followed. These procedures are designed to minimize the exposure to these chemicals
and are based on the assumption that they are highly acutely or chronically toxic.
- Waste Disposal - treat all wastes containing the chemical substance as hazardous and dispose of them through Yale University's
chemical hazardous waste program. Laboratory chemical waste management training is available on the web and is linked in the margin.
Please note that the EPA only allows these reduced set of
procedures to be followed if the substance is used in small quantities solely
for research and the research is performed under the direction of a technically
qualified individual such as a Principal Investigator.
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