Chemical Safety

Obtain and implement hazard control plans (HCPs) for work with hazardous chemicals.

Note: At UC San Diego, a hazard control plan is a standard operating procedure (SOP).

• Go to the My Research Safety web portal.
• Learn how to use HCPs.

• UC San Diego's online Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP)

• General Chemical Safety Guidelines
• Specific Chemical Guidelines, standard operating procedures for particularly high hazard chemicals
• Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS)
• California Green Chemistry Initiative, California Department of Toxic Substances Control
• Chemical Safety Information, UC San Diego Library

Be ready for the inspector! Read the Cal/OSHA Inspections Fact Sheet (PDF) to learn how to be ready for an inspection at any time.

The Chemical Safety & Surveillance Committee (CSSC) is responsible for:

• Advising the Chancellor on all matters relating to the safe use of hazardous chemicals
• Reducing risks associated with hazardous chemicals
• Establishing and implementing policies and procedures for chemical safety
• Imposing disciplinary measures for willful or negligent violations of established chemical safety practices and procedures

• Chemical Storage and Inventory Guidelines
• Chemical Inventory brochure (PDF) - Quick overview
• Chemical Abbreviations and Annotations (PDF) (Word) 
• Chemical Compatibility Guidelines
• Compressed Gas
• Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS)
• Flammable and Combustible Liquids

• Controlled Substances Program
• Controlled Substances Use Authorization (CSUA)
• Frequently Asked Questions

• Consult emergency preparedness resources
• Emergency Guide
• Eye Wash and Emergency Shower Guidelines
• Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Team
• How to:
  • Assemble small-scale chemical spill kits
  • Clean up chemical spills
• What to Do if a Work-Related Injury or Illness Occurs

• Chemical Fume Hoods
• Engineering Controls for Laboratory Safety
• Environmental Rooms

Learn how the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) for chemical classification, labeling, and hazard communication affects chemical use at UC San Diego.

• Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals

• Online Waste Tag Program (OTP)
• How to:
  • Identify Hazardous Chemical Waste
  • Store and Dispose of Hazardous Chemical Waste
  • Use Hazardous Waste Tags
  • Request a Hazardous Waste Collection
  • Request Controlled Substance Pickup

• UC San Diego's online Laboratory Safety Manual

• Forms
  • EH&S Forms
• Principal investigators
  • Research Safety Authorizations for Principal Investigators
  • Research Safety Resources for New Principal Investigators
  • My Research Safety web portal
• Non-lab facilities
  • Hazard Communication Program
  • What Area Safety Coordinators Need to Know
• Reproductive hazards
  • Preventing Reproductive Hazards
• Supplies
  • ChemCycle, chemical reuse program
  • Chemistry & Biochemistry Stockroom

Read about My Research Safety, a Web portal for centralized access to your Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S) audits, inventory, and authorizations.

• Link to My Research Safety at myresearchsafety.ucsd.edu.

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – See requirements for research facilities
• PPE Support for Researchers – Learn about free minimum PPE for researchers
• Laboratory Hazard Assessment Tool (LHAT) 

Attention principal investigators: PIs supervising work with high hazard materials are required to use the online Chemical Hazard Use Application, or HCP, to assign PPE to their employees.

• See the list of high hazard materials on the HCP page.

• Research Safety Authorizations for Principal Investigators
• Research Safety: Requirements for New PIs

Report all work-related injuries, illness, or hazardous material exposures immediately:

• See What to Do if a Work-Related Injury or Illness Occurs for procedures.

Important! Chemistry-Biochemistry personnel, follow special incident reporting instructions:

• See Chemistry and Biochemistry Incident Reporting Requirements

Get a Safety Data Sheet now:

• Safety Data Sheet (SDS) Sources

• RightAnswer.com

Learn more about Safety Data Sheets:

• Safety Data Sheets Overview
• Safety Data Sheets Explained
• Biological Safety Data Sheets

• Safety Training for Researchers
• Laboratory Safety Videos
• UC Systemwide Lab Safety Training

• EH&S Chemical Hygiene Officer, (858) 583-3257
• Chemical Safety & Surveillance Committee (CSSC)
• Controlled Substances Program Manager, (858) 534-1362
• Research Assistance Program (RAP) Contacts
• Hazardous Materials Spill
  • During business hours, call Environment, Health & Safety: (858) 534-3660
  • After business hours, call Campus Police:
    • From land lines: 911
    • From cell phones: (858) 534-HELP (4357)
• Poison Control System, (800) 222-1222

• California Code of Regulations, Title 8, Section 5191 – Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories
• Code of Federal Regulations, Title 29, Section 1910.1450 – Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories
• PPM 516-5 – Chemical Safety
• PPM 516-19 – Laboratory Safety