Washington State University
SAFETY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES MANUAL

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Chemical Carcinogens

The state identifies the following chemical carcinogens: (WAC 296-62-073)

4-Nitrobiphenyl	Benzidine
Alpha-Napthylamine	4-Aminodiphenyl
4,4'-Methylene bis	Ethyleneimine
Methyl Chloromethyl Ether	beta-Propiolactone
3,3'-Dichlorbenzidine	2-Acetylaminofluorene
bis-Chlormethyl ether	4-Dimethylaminoazobenzene
beta-Naphthylamine	N-Nitrosodimethylamine
Vinyl Chloride	Acrylonitrile
1,2-Dibromo-3 chloropropane	Inorganic arsenic
Ethylene Oxide

The laboratory supervisor trains laboratory workers in safe laboratory practices, in procedures to correct work errors, and in identification of conditions which may result in personal injury, including exposure to chemical carcinogens. The supervisor also generates and promotes a positive attitude toward safety in laboratory operations.

Regulated areas are laboratories or other facilities which manufacture, process, use, package, repackage, handle, or store chemical carcinogens. Department chairs establish regulated areas.

Drinking fountains are not allowed in regulated areas.

Employees working with chemical carcinogens in an isolated system wash their hands and arms before engaging in any other activity.

Employees working with chemical carcinogens in a closed system wash hands, forearms, face, and neck prior to each exit from the regulated areas and before engaging in any other activity. Facilities for washing are inside and closest to the exit.

Employers store chemical carcinogens in locked containers in regulated areas.

WSU prohibits open-vessel system use in applications involving chemical carcinogens.

The following regulations apply when a chemical carcinogen in an otherwise closed system is transferred, charged, or discharged into another closed system. WSU requires that no chemical carcinogens be transferred from regulated areas to nonregulated areas.

WSU allows authorized workers only in the area.

Authorized workers use continuous local exhaust ventilation so that the air movement is always away from workers and common work areas. The ventilation system introduces clean makeup air in sufficient volume to maintain the local exhaust system.

WSU provides workers with clean, full body protective clothing (smocks, coveralls, or long-sleeved shirts and pants), shoe covers, and gloves prior to entering the regulated area.

Prior to each exit from a regulated area, WSU requires the workers to remove and leave protective clothing and equipment at the exit and at the last exit of the day, to place used clothing and equipment in impervious containers at the point of exit. The workers decontaminate or destroy this protective clothing. Containers used to collect contaminated clothing are identified. (S80.74)

WSU provides workers whose duties include working with chemical carcinogens with respirator protection. WSU requires the workers to use a respirator when transferring chemical carcinogens. (WAC 296-62)

WSU trains workers in respirator use, using a written respirator protection program. See S80.80.

WSU requires workers to wash hands, forearms, face, and neck prior to each exit from regulated areas and before engaging in any other activity.

Decontamination is necessary in the event of leaks or spills, maintenance or repair operations on contaminated systems or equipment and all other operations involving work in an area where direct contact with carcinogens could result.

Only those workers directly involved in the decontamination procedures are present during decontamination procedures.

Each authorized worker entering the area shall:

Receive training to completely decontaminate each chemical carcinogen prior to actual work.

Be provided with and required to wear, clean, impervious garments, including gloves, boots, and a continuous-air supplied hood.

Take all other necessary actions to prevent escape of chemical carcinogens to any nonregulated areas.

Apply the following definitions to policies related to chemical carcinogens; S80.70, S80.71, S80.73, S80.74, S80.75, and S80.76.

An absolute filter is capable of retaining a minimum of 99.97 percent of a mono-disperse aerosol of 0.3 micrometer size particles. This is also known as a HEPA filter.

An authorized worker is a worker assigned duties in a regulated area by the department chair.

A carcinogen is any substance that produces cancer.

A chemical carcinogen causes tumors in mammalian species. Evidence of the carcinogenic quality of the chemical is demonstrated by an increase in the incidence of a tumor type over usual experience or by the appearance of a tumor type earlier than is normally expected.

Workers use a clean change room to put on clean clothing or protective equipment in an environment free of carcinogens. A clean change room is contiguous to areas in which chemical carcinogens are used. The clean change room has an entry from a shower room if a shower is required.

A closed system prevents the release of chemical carcinogens into regulated areas or the external environment.

Decontamination is the inactivation of a chemical carcinogen and the safe disposal of a chemical carcinogen.

Disposal is the safe removal of a chemical carcinogen from the work environment and placement in suitable disposal site.

An emergency is any event which may result in worker exposure to or contact with a chemical carcinogen.

A glove box is a fully enclosed, ventilated containment device with flexible gloves installed in portholes. The worker wears gloves while performing manual operations with a chemical carcinogen. See biological safety cabinets, S80.10.

An isolated system is a fully enclosed structure in addition to the containment vessel which is impervious to the passage of the chemical carcinogen and which prevents the escape of carcinogens if there is a leak or a spill from the containment vessel.

A laboratory-type hood is a device enclosed on three sides and on the top and bottom which draws air inward at an average linear face velocity of 150 feet per minute with a minimum of 125 feet per minute. Only the worker's gloved hands contact the chemical carcinogen in manual operations with chemical carcinogens.

A nonregulated area is an area under WSU control where entry and exit are neither regulated or controlled.

An open-vessel system is any operation involving a chemical carcinogen in an open vessel which is not in an isolated system, a laboratory-type hood, or any other system affording equivalent protection against the escape of carcinogens.

Protective clothing is clothing designed to protect a worker against contact with or exposure to chemical carcinogens.