In the event of an emergency please dial 911 or contact the MSU Texas Police Department at 940-397-4239.

Chemical Safety Policies

It is the policy of Midwestern State University to protect the health and safety of students, staff and faculty while engaged in the educational and research activities of the University.  The goal of chemical safety is to maintain laboratory exposures to hazardous chemicals as low as reasonably achievable. 

All faculty, staff, and students who enter any laboratory utilizing hazardous chemicals as defined in this policy shall comply with MSU's Chemical Safety Policy and Chemical Hygiene Plan. 

Other applicable policies include:

Contact Information

MSU's Chemical Safety Manager is Ms. Raelene Keesling (email), located in Bolin Science Hall room 316, 940-397-4596. 

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Laboratory Standard requires employers to convey chemical health and safety information to their laboratory employees and ensure that proper work practices/procedures are in place to protect the worker. 

Annual training is required for all faculty, staff, and students working with hazardous chemicals or with equipment in laboratories. 

To complete the training, you must--

  • Step 1:  Review the Powerpoint training module.

The training module is available as a PDF.

  • Step 2:  View the Chemical Hygiene Plan

The chemical hygiene plan is available in PDF version.

  • Step 3:  Take the CHP Exam

Training is currently conducted at the CHP Exam Link.  You must receive an 80% or greater to pass. If you experience any issues in completing it, contact Raelene Keesling via email or phone at 940-397-4596

Depending on the type of work being conducted, additional training may be required. This training is currently conducted on a one-on-one basis as needed, but online modules are forthcoming for:

  • Chemical Fume Hood safety
  • Electrical safety
  • Gas cylinder handling safety
  • Industrial Radiation safety

Contact Raelene Keesling via email or phone at 940-397-4596 to schedule one-on-one training.

Proper management of chemical waste is the responsibility of the occupants of the generating lab until removed from the labs, and the Chemical Safety Manager after removal. Through a cooperative team effort, MSU can achieve and maintain the highest level of environmental compliance.

The University is required, by Texas Administrative Code, Industrial Solid Waste and Municipal Hazardous Waste Title 30, Part I, Chapter 335 and by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA – Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (40 CFR) Parts 260-272) to ensure the proper disposition of hazardous wastes. Proper handling of reaction byproducts, surplus and waste chemicals, and contaminated materials is an important part of safety procedures. Each employee is responsible for ensuring that wastes are handled in a manner that minimizes personal exposure and the potential for environmental contamination.

Depending on the type of work being conducted employees and students may require additional information that may include:

  • Hazardous waste pick-up request
  • Chemical relinquish agreement
  • Chemical container disposal
  • Mercury spill cleanup and mitigation
  • Hazardous material spills cleanup and mitigation

The Hazardous Waste Management webpage includes more detailed information on identifying, storing, using, spill cleanup and disposal of hazardous chemicals and waste.

This page provides supporting documents and information support for you in all areas of chemical safety information and compliance as well as any needed forms that may be needed:

  • Labels
  • Incident report form
  • Universal waste
  • Acids/bases lab neutralization
  • Cleaning glassware
  • Cleaning balances
  • Periodic table--Elements of Safety
  • Chemical inventory