Chemical Safety

Select one of the links below for more information:

About Chemical Safety

Additional Resources

Chemical Fume Hood Testing

Chemical Hygiene Plan (Full Document)

What's New - Chemical Hygiene Plan

Chemical Safety Guide 

Safety Data Sheets

Spill in Laboratory

About Chemical Safety

As an NIH employee, you should be familiar with theNIH Chemical Safety Guide and theNIH Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP). The CHP provides basic information regarding how employees must work with, store, and dispose of chemicals at the NIH. You should also be able to read Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and have access to the SDS for any chemical that you work with. OSHA also provides guidance on many chemicals at the following website:OSHA Occupational Chemical Database.  

The following list are general classes of chemicals and some helpful information: 

Cryogenics

• West Virginia University Cryogenic Safety 

Compressed Gases

• West Virginia University Compressed Gas Safety

Peroxide Forming Compounds

• Sigma-Aldrich: Peroxide Forming Solvents 
• University of Pittsburgh Safe Handling of Peroxide Forming Chemicals 

Pyrophorics

• UCLA: Procedures for Safe Use of Pyrophoric Solids
• Yale Policy on Pyrophoric Chemicals 

Nanomaterials

• NIOSH Guidance and Publications on Nanotechnology 
• American Industrial Hygiene Association Nanotechnology 
• NIH Nanotechnology Safety and Health Program 

Flammables

• OSHA Guide on Flammable and Combustible Materials 

Highly Toxic Compounds

• Duke University: Working Safely with Toxic Powders 

back to the top

Additional Resources

• Video: Chemical Fume Hood: How It Works To Protect You 

• National Institute of Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH) 

• American Industrial Hygiene Association(AIHA) 
• Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory: Chemical Storage Guidelines 
• Cornell University Incompatible Chemicals Guide
• UCLA: Particularly Hazardous Substances and Other Reactive Chemicals 

back to the top