| Checklist |
What to do |
 |
Contact EH&S for health and safety guidance. |
- Contact the chemical safety officer, (858) 822-1579, in Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S) for guidance on safe usage when a project involves a known human carcinogen.
- Medical surveillance and additional actions may be needed, including:
- Documentation of the quantities of the carcinogen used
- Worksite air sampling or other testing conducted by EH&S
- Medical testing as prescribed by a physician
|
|
Prepare to handle known human carcinogens. |
|
|
Designate secure storage and work areas.
Sticker designating carcinogen–use area
|
- Control access to designated carcinogen storage and work areas.
- Store carcinogens in a secure area.
- Use carcinogen stickers to label storage and work areas where known carcinogens are used.
- Request carcinogen stickers from the EH&S chemical safety officer, (858) 534-3660.
|
|
Perform work in a "controlled area."
|
A controlled area is a lab, portion of a lab, chemical fume hood, or glove box designated for use of known carcinogens.
- Make everyone in the lab aware of the hazards and the precautions to take during carcinogen use.
- Use appropriate filters to protect lab vacuum pumps used with a carcinogen.
- Control the spread of powdered chemical carcinogens by using a glove box, not a fume hood.
- If you use a glove box, follow these guidelines:
- Ventilate the glove box with at least 2 volume changes per hour.
- Adjust the pressure inside the glove box at least 0.5 inches of water gauge lower than outside (negative pressure).
- If vapors are released, they must be exhausted into a chemical fume hood or trapped using a method approved by the chemical safety officer.
- When your work with the carcinogen is completed, follow these steps:
- Remove all protective clothing and immediately wash your hands, forearms, face, and neck.
- Dispose of any contaminated disposable protective apparel or equipment as hazardous waste, clearly labeled as carcinogenic.
- Thoroughly wash non-disposable apparel and equipment before removing it from the controlled area.
- Thoroughly clean all surfaces in the controlled area before you remove the carcinogen warning sign and resume other work.
|
|
Dispose of hazardous waste properly. |
- Read about how to:
- Contact the Environmental Management Facility, (858) 534-2753, if you have questions about hazardous waste.
|
