Office of Environmental Health & Safety / Chemical Hygiene

The Office of Environmental Health and Safety has developed and implemented a Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) to minimize employee and student exposure to hazardous chemicals in schools with laboratories. A qualified Chemical Safety Coordinator (CSC) is appointed at each location with a chemical laboratory to implement the CHP. Duties of the CSC include training employees on chemical safety, ensuring that safe laboratory procedures are adhered to, maintaining reference materials including Material Safety Data Sheets, inspecting, and maintaining safe chemical storage rooms, completing chemical inventories, and providing oversight for packaging and removal of hazardous waste.

To assist science teachers, administrators, and other school staff members understand and avoid situations in which accidents might occur, the State of California has prepared the Science Safety Handbook for California Public Schools (*.pdf) CSCs are encouraged to download and review the handbook.

Only chemicals approved by the State of California and OEHS may be used in LAUSD school laboratories. These chemicals are designated as LAUSD Approved Laboratory Chemicals. Visitors may view all LAUSD Approved Laboratory Chemicals by clicking View Approved Laboratory Chemicals.