Chemical safety

The chemical safety webpage provides documents and information supporting lab safety and chemical safety practices.

ASU Environmental Health and Safety assists and guides students, employees and other ASU community members in developing and implementing appropriate lab safety practices and procedures.

EHS defines a laboratory as a facility or room where potentially hazardous chemicals, biological agents, or energy sources such as lasers, high voltage, and radiation are used and scientific experimentation, research, or education occurs. Review EHS 104: Laboratory Use of Hazardous Chemicals for more information. 

Each laboratory at ASU is required to complete a safety registration annually.

• Anesthetic gas.
• Chemical hygiene plan.
• Compressed gas program.
• Hearing conservation.
• Respiratory protection.
• Welding and cutting.

• Chemical abbreviations.
• Chemical container labels.
• Chemical purchase or transfer.
• DEA controlled substances.
• Flammable storage containers.
• Fume hood usage guide.
• Hazmat storage guide.
• Laboratory coat selection.
• MTW chemical and gas approval.
• PPE hazard assessment.
• Shared lab space guidance.
• Working alone procedures.
  • Working alone checklist.

The ASU Chemical Hygiene Plan and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Lab Safety Standard mandate that labs develop standard operating procedures when using hazardous chemicals, especially for particularly hazardous substances. PHSs are defined as select carcinogens and reproductive and acute toxins.

If unsure if a chemical falls into one of these categories, check the chemical’s safety data sheet and container label. Email EHS if you have questions about the chemicals you intend to use.

Templates

EHS compiled SOPs for frequently purchased, particularly hazardous substances. We also offer other SOP templates for PHSs and a blank template. Refer to the following EHS templates for the particularly hazardous substances below:

• ASU Thiols, Mercaptans and Other Stench Chemicals SOPs if your lab contains thiols, mercaptans and other stench chemicals.   

Please adapt these SOPs to your specific lab and use them in your lab-specific training. 

Federal and state regulations require laboratories to post signs in particular areas and on various pieces of equipment to warn or caution personnel of hazards present. EHS has provided a list of common signs for use in your lab that meet the ANSI Z535 safety standard.

Print the signs you need from the list below and post them in your research or teaching lab:  

• Acid storage.
• Base storage.
• Biosafety cabinet out of service.
• Carcinogen use area.
• Coldroom.
• Compressed gas cylinders.
• Corrosive storage.
• Do not use door.
• Emergency eyewash.
• Emergency shower.
• Emergency shower and eyewash.
• Flammable storage.
• Food use only.
• HF area.
• High voltage.
• Lab fridge freezer.
• Lab microwave.
• No chemicals under sink.
• No food or drink in this area.
• No ice.
• No pesticides.
• Not for human consumption.
• Noise hazard.
• Oxygen monitors.
• Peroxides.
• Piranha warning.
• Required PPE.
• SDS located here.
• Spill kit.
• Strong magnet.