Chemical Safety in Research and Teaching

The use of hazardous chemicals is a common and critical component in a wide array of teaching and research areas.  A critical aspect of laboratory safety is the safe use of hazardous chemicals.  A key safety regulation applicable to many NMSU laboratories is the OSHA Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories (29 CFR Part 1910.1450) or more commonly know as the Lab Standard.  This regulation was created to ensure that lab worker exposures to hazardous chemicals in laboratory settings are minimized by establishing safety requirements for both employers and trained laboratory personnel engaged in the use of hazardous chemicals.

The "laboratory use of hazardous chemicals" means the handling or use of chemicals meets the following conditions are met:

  1. Chemical manipulations are carried out on a laboratory scale;

  2. Multiple chemicals or chemical procedures are used;

  3. Procedures are not part of a production process or don’t simulate a production process;

  4. Protective laboratory practices and equipment, designed to minimize the potential for worker exposure to hazardous chemicals, is available and in common use.

The Lab Standard is just one of many regulations governing the safe use, storage and disposal of hazardous chemicals and other hazardous materials at NMSU.

Contact NMSU Environmental Health Safety & Risk Management by phone at 646-3327 or email at ehs@nmsu.edu if you have questions or need more information about the use of hazardous chemicals in university laboratatories.  Additional information on and links to specific related topics are listed below.