Action level. An airborne concentration of a hazardous substance that is calculated as an 8-hour time-weighted average, and initiates certain requirements to be followed such as exposure monitoring or medical surveillance.

Carcinogens. See "Select carcinogen."

Chemical hygiene officer. An employee designated by the employer who is qualified by training or experience to provide technical guidance in the development and implementation of the chemical hygiene plan. This definition is not intended to place limitations on the designated employee's position description or job classification within the employer's organization.

Chemical hygiene plan. A written program developed and implemented by the employer that establishes procedures, equipment, personal protective equipment, and work practices to protect employees from the health hazards of the chemicals used in the laboratory.

Container. Any container, except for pipes or piping systems that contains a hazardous substance. For example, it can be any of the following:

(a) Barrel.

(b) Bottle.

(c) Can.

(d) Cylinder.

(e) Drum.

(f) Reaction vessel.

(g) Storage tank.

Day. Any part of a calendar day.

Designated representative. Any one of the following:

(a) Any individual or organization to which an employee gives written authorization.

(b) A recognized or certified collective bargaining agent without regard to written employee authorization.

(c) The legal representative of a deceased or legally incapacitated employee.

Emergency. Any event that could or does result in the unexpected, significant release of a hazardous substance. Examples of emergencies include equipment failure, container rupture, or control equipment failure.

Exposure. The contact an employee has with a hazardous substance, whether or not protection is provided by respirators or other personal protective equipment (PPE). Exposure can occur through various routes of entry such as inhalation, ingestion, skin contact, or skin absorption.

Hazardous chemical. Any chemical which is classified as health hazard or simple asphyxiate in accordance with the Hazard Communication Standard, WAC 296-901-140.

Health hazard. A chemical which is classified as posing one of the following hazardous effects: Acute toxicity (any route of exposure); skin corrosion or irritation; serious eye damage or eye irritation; respiratory or skin sensitization; germ cell mutagenicity; carcinogenicity; reproductive toxicity; specific target organ toxicity (single or repeated exposure); or aspiration hazard. The criteria for determining whether a chemical is classified as a health hazard are detailed in WAC 296-901-14022, Appendix A—Health hazard criteria.

Laboratory. A facility where the "laboratory use of hazardous substances" takes place. A workplace where relatively small amounts of hazardous substances are used on a nonproduction basis.

Laboratory-type hood. A device located in a laboratory, enclosure on five sides with a moveable sash or fixed partially enclosed on the remaining side; constructed and maintained to draw air from the laboratory and to prevent or minimize the escape of air contaminants into the laboratory; and allows chemical manipulations to be conducted in the enclosure without insertion of any portion of the employee's body other than hands and arms.

Laboratory scale. Work with substances in which the containers used for reactions, transfers, and other handling of the substances are designed to be easily and safely manipulated by one person. "Laboratory scale" does not include workplaces producing commercial quantities of materials.

Laboratory use. The handling or use of hazardous substances that includes all the following:

(a) Chemical manipulations conducted on a "laboratory scale";

(b) Multiple chemical procedures or chemicals are used;

(c) The procedures are not part of a production process, nor in any way simulate a production process; and

(d) "Protective laboratory practices and equipment" are available and are commonly used to minimize the potential for employee exposures to hazardous substances.

Licensed health care professional (LHCP). An individual whose legally permitted scope of practice allows him or her to provide some or all of the health care services required for medical evaluations.

Mutagen. Chemicals that cause permanent changes in the amount or structure of the genetic material in a cell. Chemicals classified as mutagens in accordance with the Hazard Communication Standard, WAC 296-901-140 must be considered mutagens for purposes of this section.

Permissible exposure limits (PELs). PELs are employee exposures to toxic substances or harmful physical agents that must not be exceeded. PELs are also specified in WISHA rules found in other chapters.

Physical hazard. A chemical that is classified as posing one of the following hazardous effects: Explosive; flammable (gases, aerosols, liquids, or solids); oxidizer (liquid, solid, or gas); self-reactive; pyrophoric (gas, liquid, or solid); self-heating; organic peroxide; corrosive to metal; gas under pressure; in contact with water emits flammable gas; or combustible dust. The criteria for determining whether a chemical is classified as a physical hazard are in Appendix B of the Hazard Communication Standard, WAC 296-901-14024 and 296-901-14006 (definitions of "combustible dust" and "pyrophoric gas").

Protective laboratory practices and equipment. Laboratory procedures, practices, and equipment accepted by laboratory health and safety experts as effective, that can be shown to be effective, in minimizing the potential for employee exposure to hazardous substances.

Reproductive toxin. Chemicals that affect the reproductive capabilities including adverse effects on sexual function and fertility in adult males and females, as well as adverse effects on the development of the offspring. Chemicals classified as reproductive toxins in accordance with the Hazard Communication Standard, WAC 296-901-140 shall be considered reproductive toxins for purposes of this section.

Safety data sheet (SDS). Written, printed, or electronic information (on paper, microfiche, or on-screen) that informs manufacturers, distributors, employers or employees about a hazardous substance, its hazards, and protective measures as required by safety data sheet and label preparation, WAC 296-901-14012 and 296-901-14014.

Select carcinogen. Any substance meeting one of the following criteria:

(a) Regulated by WISHA as a carcinogen.

(b) Listed in the "known to be carcinogens" category in the latest edition of the Annual Report on Carcinogens by the National Toxicity Program (NTP).

(c) Listed in Group I (carcinogenic to humans) in the latest editions of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monographs.

(d) Listed in either group 2A or 2B by IARC or in the category "reasonably anticipated to be carcinogens" by the NTP, and causes statistically significant tumor incidence in experimental animals in accordance with any of the following criteria:

(i) After an inhalation exposure of six to seven hours a day; five days a week; for a significant portion of a lifetime to dosages of less than 10 mg/m3; or

(ii) After repeated skin application of less than 300 mg/kg of body weight per week; or

(iii) After oral dosages of less than 50 mg/kg of body weight per day.

Time-weighted average (TWA8). An exposure limit averaged over an 8-hour period that must not be exceeded during an employee's workday.