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Facilities - Environmental Health and Safety

Chemical Safety

Section Contents

The chemical safety and hazardous waste program partners with researchers to ensure that chemicals are used and disposed of in ways that reduce risk and exposure as well as in compliance with the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA/TOSHA), the Department of Transportation (DOT/TDOT), the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) and the Environmental Protection Agency. ​

The chemical safety and hazardous waste team:

  • Assists with initial laboratory design, set-ups, moves and closings​
  • Assists with chemical inventory management​
  • Provides chemical and physical lab safety and hazardous waste training online and in-person​
  • Provides safety guidance or policies such as the Chemical Hygiene Plan​
  • Assists with development of lab standard operating procedures​
  • Conducts safety and compliance inspections/audits​
  • Conducts injury, exposure, industrial hygiene, and indoor air quality evaluations in research areas​
  • Collects and disposes of chemical and pharmaceutical waste from research areas​
  • Responds to emergencies or spills involving chemicals in research areas​
  • Coordinates and supports the activities of the Chemical Safety Committee (CSC)
  • Uses EHS Assist (EHSA) tool to assist researchers in managing hazardous material and equipment user, training, inventory, inspection, and waste disposal data

Our program fosters a progressive safety culture by continuously improving through collaboration with the research community, incorporating feedback, and staying abreast of current standards, practices, and lessons learned. 

Contact Us: chemicalsafety@vanderbilt.edu

Chemical Safety Documents and Resources

Injured or Exposed to Hazardous Materials in a Lab

If you are a Vanderbilt faculty, staff, student, or visitor and have been injured or exposed to hazardous materials in a laboratory, please do the following:

  1. 1. If exposed to hazardous materials, proceed to the closest eyewash, safety shower, and/or sink and immediately flush with water for 15 minutes to remove hazardous contaminants per lab safety response procedures.
  2. 2. Report to the Occupational Health Clinic (OHC) if open. If after hours, call the OHC hotline at 615-875-STIK which is open 24/7 and they will determine next steps. If serious, then please visit the VUMC Emergency Department. If you are a VU visiting researcher but not enrolled or employed by VU, consult this link regarding your options for medical care.
  3. 3. Notify Vanderbilt about the incident here, click on “Report a University Occurrence”, complete the requested information, and choose “Yes” for the question “Did incident occur in a research/teaching lab”. You will be able to upload pictures or videos as well as details of what happened.

Remember to A.C.T.

ALERT: Immediately notify others in the area of the incident

CONTAIN, CLEAN UP OR CLEAR: 

  • - If safe to do so, secure the experiment/equipment, place the chemical in a fume hood, or use your lab's spill kit to contain or clean up.
  • - If it is unsafe to do so, evacuate the lab. Do not attempt to manage an incident beyond your training or equipment.

TELL:

  • - Call VUPS at 615-322-2745 for all non-life-threatening incidents.
  • - Call 911 for injuries, fire, or life-threatening emergency conditions.
  • - Tell your PI or lab manager.

Quick Links

EHS Resources

Lab Safety Training

Lab Onboarding and Closing

EHS Safety Committees