100-21 Chemical and Environmental Safety

Effective Date: 1/1/92 (revised 12/7/04)
Office of Origin: Office of Research

I. Purpose

The Chemical and Environmental Safety Committee (CESC) has been established to ensure and promote a safe work environment and environmental stewardship at UCSF.

II. Definitions

Integrated Safety and Environmental System (ISEMS): a consolidated approach integrating all aspects of employee health and safety and environmental stewardship into a single system.

III. Policy

The CESC, in collaboration with the Office of Environmental Health and Safety (OEH&S):

  1. Provides expert advice to the Chancellor on issues related to chemical and environmental, safety, and implementation of the UCSF ISEMS;

  2. Reviews technical, environmental and safety-related aspects of laboratory research and the use of hazardous and toxic substances;

  3. Continuously reviews and updates UCSF's ISEMS and the laboratory safety manual;

  4. Certifies that facilities, procedures, and practices have been reviewed and approved;  

  5. Promulgates a chemical and environmental safety program that encourages best laboratory practices and satisfies federal, state, and local laws and regulations;  

  6. As authorized by the Chancellor, arbitrates campus disagreements regarding laboratory practices and limits or revokes, an investigators’ authority to use hazardous or toxic materials if such use presents a hazard to individuals or violates health and safety codes.

IV. Responsibility

A. Executive Vice Chancellor

The Executive Vice Chancellor appoints the CESC and also may invoke special procedures to resolve disagreements regarding laboratory safety matters as required.

The Executive Vice Chancellor has delegated the daily operations for chemical and environmental safety to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Research.

B. Chemical and Environmental Safety Committee

It is the responsibility of the CESC to:

  1. Review technical and safety-related aspects of laboratory research and the use of hazardous and toxic substances;

  2. Develop a laboratory safety manual;

  3. Certify that facilities, procedures, and practices have been reviewed and approved;

  4. Promulgate a chemical safety program, in conjunction with OEH&S, that satisfies federal, state, and local laws and regulations;

  5. As authorized by the Chancellor, limit or revoke,  investigators’ authority to use hazardous or toxic materials if such use presents a hazard to individuals or violates health and safety codes;

  6. Perform other duties as may be required by the Executive Vice Chancellor to fulfill its charge.

V. Related Policies

VI. References