The Office of Environment, Health and Safety’s
(EH&S) Hazardous Materials Management Team (http://www.ehs.berkeley.edu/whoweare/hazmat.html) is
responsible for establishing and maintaining cost-effective hazardous material
management programs in compliance with applicable standards. EH&S is
responsible for developing hazardous material management procedures, providing
orientation and training to campus personnel, picking up and processing unwanted
hazardous material and waste, and coordinating the proper disposal of waste and
redistribution of reusable material. Specific programs provide for management of
chemical, radioactive, controlled substance, and "medical" wastes generated by
the campus. EH&S is also responsible for pollution prevention programs,
campuswide hazardous waste minimization efforts, hazardous material release
response planning, the Chemical Inventory Program, and hazardous material
shipping.
Deans, directors, department chairs, and principal
investigators are responsible for the following activities under their
respective jurisdictions:
- Developing and enforcing procedures for the safe handling of
hazardous materials;
- Notifying EH&S when unwanted materials need to be picked up;
- Funding the disposal of chemical waste;
- Maintaining an accurate chemical inventory; and
- Ensuring that all employees working with hazardous materials obtain the
training necessary to be in compliance with the various regulatory agencies’
requirements. This training is offered by EH&S (http://ehs.berkeley.edu/whatwedo/opp/dsc/prgtrngmatrix2002.html).
Violations of laws, regulations, policies and/or procedures
for handling hazardous materials can result in fines and other penalties being
assessed to the campus, the department, and potentially even to the principal
investigator. Noncompliance may also result in the loss of grant funding.