The UAH Chemical and Lab Safety program is designed to provide guidance and information to faculty, staff, and students on topics such as laboratory safety, required documentation, chemical safety, emergency response, chemical inventory information, art safety, and safety training. For more information on chemical and lab safety at UAH, please visit the OEHS Contact Us page for a list of subject matter contacts for different categories of information.

Chemical Hygiene Plan

The UAH Chemical Hygiene Plan was developed to ensure the safety of laboratory employees and maintain compliance with the OSHA Laboratory Standard. In addition to OSHA regulations, this document also presents key information on the practices and procedures that must be implemented to maintain compliance with other state, federal, and local regulations required for the use and storage of hazardous chemicals. Individual labs across UAH’s campus must also complete and annually review a Laboratory Specific Chemical Hygiene plan in order to comply with state and federal guidelines. For more information, please contact the Chemical Hygiene Officer.

Emergency Response

In the case of an emergency contact UAH police at 256.824.6911.

Emergencies happen; they’re a part of life. Being prepared can reduce the seriousness of injuries and the time to recover from unplanned events. To be better prepared, UAH provides the following services:

UAlert: The UAlert system provides you quick information regarding campus emergencies.

Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs): These are located in cabinets in most campus buildings on odd level floors near the common or most used elevator. The Police Department also maintains an AED in each squad car. An emergency medical kit is also located in each AED cabinet. Learn more about the UAH AED Program.

Chemical Inventory and Data Sheets

SDSs or Safety Data Sheets are documents that include information on the properties of chemicals, the physical, health, and environmental health hazards associated with the chemical, and other safety and storage information.

The Occupational Safety and Health Act requires employers to train their employees on how to interpret safety data sheet information; in addition, employers are required to provide safety data sheets to employees who work with hazardous materials.

UAH uses CampusOptics to maintain both its chemical inventory and SDSs. For more information and training on the system, please review the resources on the OEHS CampusOptics page.

To log in to CampusOptics and view chemical inventories and SDSs, please use UAH Single Sign On. For questions about administrative privileges for PIs and Lab Supervisors , questions about chemical inventories, or questions about SDSs and required signage, please contact the Chemical Hygiene Officer.

US Safety Data Sheets Resources

The Occupational Safety and Health Act requires employers to train their employees on how to interpret safety data sheet information; in addition, employers are required to provide safety data sheets to employees who work with hazardous materials. 

Please log in to CampusOptics using your Single Sign On. If editing access for specific chemical inventories is needed, please contact the Chemical Hygiene Officer for assistance.

Chemical Inventory

Chemical inventories are required to be reviewed and updated at least annually, but ideally as often as new chemicals are brought into the lab and when chemicals are completely used up and/or disposed of as hazardous waste. All hazardous chemicals should be included in the inventory - this includes most laboratory chemicals, all compressed and liquified gases, aerosol products, and lubricants. 

Non-hazardous chemicals or chemical products are exempt from inventory requirements. These items may also be covered by the hazardous waste rules, and therefore, may need to be disposed of through OEHS Chemical and Hazardous Waste program. An exemption from the inventory requirements does not necessarily mean an exemption from the chemical disposal rules. Always verify with OEHS. Contact OEHS at oehs@uah.edu for assistance and questions.

Exempt Inventory Examples

  • Non-hazardous buffers
  • Biological culture media, agar, albumin
  • Peptides
  • Enzymes
  • Non-hazardous proteins
  • Molecular biology kits (PCR, cDNA, gene synthesis, etc.) as long as the components remain in the original box. 
  • Dry milk, gelatin, vegetable oil, and otherwise edible products
  • Retail products used and stored in amounts and frequencies typical to ordinary househould use (e.g. dish soap, bleach, office supplies, glassware)

 Chemical Inventory Resources 

Art Safety

Work in the arts and entertainment — including the visual and performing arts — can involve health risks such as exposures to toxic materials and hazardous physical conditions. Injuries and repetitive motion disorders can also result. Musicians may be exposed to hazards that impair hearing.

The creation of art can lead to the development of regulated waste material that must be handled as hazardous or as a non-traditional waste stream. UAH's Office of Environmental Health & Safety is committed to ensuring guidance is provided for the management of environmental health and safety hazards in the arts. Links to useful information are provided below.

Applicable training must be taken by employees as designated by their supervisors and can be used by faculty and staff as a training tool:

Important Documents

Hazardous and Regulated Wastes

If your studio produces paint, acetone, mineral oil, toner, photography waste, et al., your waste may be regulated. Contact the OEHS at 256.824.6053 for more information.

The US Environmental Protection Agency commissioned the Pratt Institute to develop technical assistance for environmental health and safety in the arts. These documents are useful for the proper management of waste and residues generated in art studios.