At the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) the use of radioactive materials and biological agents in laboratory research requires approval by the institutional radiation safety committee and biosafety committee, respectively.  Investigators who want to use hazardous chemicals, however, do not have to obtain approval.  This disparity in institutional oversight of different classes of hazardous materials is a result of more stringent regulatory and research funding requirements rather than the hazards posed by the materials themselves.   Recognizing the potential for severe incidents involving highly reactive chemicals and other extremely hazardous chemicals, a policy for review of these chemicals was developed.  Development of this policy involved establishing the scope and inclusion criteria, consideration of the effect on laboratory research productivity, diplomacy, and compromise.  The resulting policy and its development process will be presented as one example of improved oversight of extremely hazardous chemicals at an academic research institution.

Development of a policy to improve oversight of extremely hazardous chemicals

246th National Meeting (2013)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.