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Responding to the scientific literature indicating that there may be adverse health effects associated with exposure to waste anesthetic gases, UNC-Chapel Hill Clinical Facilities and UNC Health Care have established a program for the safe use of anesthetic gases that meets or exceeds the recommendations of occupational health advisory agencies (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the American Society of Anesthesiologists) and complies with JCAHO accreditation criteria.

To ensure that new potable end use devices and newly installed piping do not leach contaminates into water and ensure that new plumbing lines have been properly flushed and seasoned to prevent contamination.

OSHA regulations require medical examinations for certain types of work involving exposure to hazardous or toxic substances.

The purpose of this article is to ensure that new potable end use devices and newly installed piping do not leach contaminates into water and ensure that new plumbing lines have been properly flushed and seasoned to prevent contamination.

It is the policy of UNC-Chapel Hill Clinical Facilities and UNC Health Care that all employees be protected from overexposure to glutaraldehyde in the course of performing their jobs. If glutaraldehyde exposure is documented by EHS above 0.2 ppm, engineering or administrative controls will be implemented to reduce exposure below the limit. Typical trade names for glutaraldehyde solutions used in UNC-CH Clinical and UNC Health Care facilities are Cidex, Rapicide, and Wavicide.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (University) is committed to providing students, faculty and staff with engineering controls that minimize their exposure to hazardous materials. This policy addresses the installation, removal, change, and monitoring of ducted and non-ducted equipment used to control exposure to chemicals, toxins, radionuclides, and biohazard agents at the University.

The health and safety of workers and building occupants is the most important factor to consider in laboratory work. In addition to these health and safety concerns, compliance with OSHA, Radiation Protection, and EPA regulations is also important because of the severe financial consequences, especially related to EPA hazardous waste regulations.

Planning and implementation of control practices for the prevention of laboratory-acquired infections and for the protection of the general environment are to be included in all research programs involving biohazardous agents.

OSHA 1910.1450, “Occupational Exposures to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories” (henceforth referred to as the Laboratory Standard) dictates that employers limit employees’ exposure to hazardous chemicals to below the permissible exposure limit (PEL) (or action level, if applicable) for a specific chemical.

As a generator of hazardous waste, the University is required to comply with federal standards promulgated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT). These regulations require documentation of the transfer of hazardous waste from the point of generation to it’s final disposal.

Planning and implementation of control practices for the prevention of occupationally acquired cancer and for the protection of the general environment is to be included in all research programs involving known or suspected chemical carcinogens.

The use and storage of hazardous chemicals potentially pose threats to the environment, health and safety of employees and citizens at large as evidenced by events such as the methyl isocyanate gas release in Bhopal, India. The threat is especially great for fire and emergency response workers and potentially severe for employees and citizens in the vicinity of bulk storage facilities.

The University is committed to protecting its employees from environmental hazards that arise out of or during the course of employment. The industrial hygiene program deals with the recognition, evaluation, and control of environmental health hazards. Environmental health hazards may include conditions which cause legally compensable illnesses, or any conditions in the work environment that impair the health of employees to the extent that they lose work and/or efficiency.

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Standard Z53.1, Safety Color Code for Marking Physical Hazards, and the identification of certain equipment specifies standard colors and signs to be used in a safety and health program. The State’s Work Place Requirements Program for Safety and Health adopts ANSI Z53.1 in order to provide uniformity throughout the University.

It is the policy of the University to use the recommendations contained in the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Codes as minimum guidelines to acceptable practices on Campus. A number of the NFPA Codes have been incorporated into the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) Standards, the North Carolina State Building Code, or are mandated as a condition of insurance coverage by the North Carolina Department of Insurance.