In compliance with all state and federal regulations, the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry is committed to providing a safe working environment, and acknowledges that employees have a right to know about associated health hazards and can make knowledgeable decisions about any personal risks in the work place.

The OSHA laboratory standard requires that all laboratories have a chemical hygiene plan and that all individuals working in laboratories attend appropriate laboratory safety training and hazardous waste training.

Laboratory directors are reminded that new individuals working in their laboratories must sign on the appropriate page of the chemical hygiene plan acknowledging that they have read and understood the plan.  Additionally, it is the responsibility of the laboratory director to prepare standard operating practices for operations common to their specific laboratories, and include these documents in their copy of the chemical hygiene plan.

Training in chemical laboratory safety for new employees and incoming graduate students is provided at the start of the fall semester, and USC Environmental Health & Safety conducts classes throughout the year at periodic intervals.