The Chemical Safety Program is responsible for providing support to Rush University Medical Center students, faculty, and staff concerning the recognition, evaluation, and control of chemical and physical hazards associated with chemicals utilized in the workplace. The goal is to provide the safest work environment for all RUMC employees and the surrounding community, as well as minimizing risk to the environment and property.
Please feel free to contact the Chemical Safety Program at any time if you need assistance or to report any safety concerns which you may have. The Chemical Safety Program is located on the ground floor of the Pavilion Building in room 120. You may contact by phone: 2-7233 or 2-SAFE or by email at OccSafety@rush.edu.
Maintaining an accurate chemical inventory and associated Safety Data Sheets is both a regulatory requirement for using, handling, and storing hazardous materials as well as a cornerstone for effectively communicating and managing chemical hazards present in the laboratory.
RUSH utilizes an online program called 3E Protect so all departments can maintain their chemical inventories and associated SDS in one location that is accessible to all.
The RUMC Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) is required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Laboratory Standard, Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories 29 Code of Federal Regulations 1910.1450. The CHP is intended to provide guidance to employees for safe work practices to be utilized while working with hazardous chemical in laboratories. The CHP can be found on the Occupational Safety Department web page on the Rush intranet.
Occupational Safety is responsible for reviewing and approving chemical purchases made at Rush. Orders are reviewed for safety, and various regulatory reporting requirements. The purpose of this review is to identify any chemicals that are banned from use, have special handling requirements, safer alternatives, prior committee approvals or regulatory reporting thresholds. Any necessary follow-up is initiated by Occupational Safety prior to approval of orders.
Occupational Safety is responsible for the collection of hazardous chemical waste for the entire campus. Hazardous chemical waste is defined as any liquid, gaseous, or solid chemical that is ignitable, corrosive, reactive, toxic, or persistent, and is no longer useful or wanted.
There is no charge for hazardous chemical waste collection, except for unknowns, unstable high hazard chemicals or mismanaged chemicals.
Upon request, an audit of your lab wastes can be conducted to help you determine the best management practices. The Chemical Waste Management Manual is also available as a resource.
Small chemical spills can be safely cleaned up by lab staff. Occupational Safety staff are trained to handle large spills or spills deemed too hazardous for lab staff to manage.
Chemical Safety Training is available through the CITI training platform. Refer to the Education Policy for Investigators and Relevant Research Personnel on the Rush intranet.
The handling and use of hazardous chemicals, such as highly toxic chemicals, carcinogens, and reproductive toxins, may require that personnel be monitored for potential chemical exposures. Faculty and staff at Rush University Medical Center (RUMC) working with chemicals that require occupational exposure monitoring will be monitored and documented as required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).