Just appointing a skilled chemical hygiene officer (CHO) can make managing your chemical hygiene plan and laboratory safety easier. These professionals take care of your organization’s chemical safety protocols. Besides, they ensure your organization remains compliant and risk-free. 

Before you hire a CHO for your company, it’s important to understand what they ultimately do. Moreover, you can simplify their critical tasks by providing them with the right support.  

With the right training and support, a chemical hygiene officer can certainly help your organization into a safe workplace. significantly reduce safety risks and help your organization avoid costly noncompliance issues. But what exactly does a CHO do—and why are they so vital to your operations? 

Read on to find out everything you need to know about the role, responsibilities, and impact of a chemical hygiene officer. 

Let’s get started! 

 

Who is a Chemical Hygiene Officer? 

These professionals are hired with the aim of ensuring the safe handling of all chemical products. In easy terms, they observe if your organization follows safe practices when using, storing, or disposing of chemicals. They are responsible for creating and maintaining your chemical hygiene plan (CHP). Moreover, they also need to ensure that your company’s CHP meets all safety rules, especially those set by OSHA. 

In short, they’re the go-to experts who make sure chemical safety isn’t just a policy but something your team follows every day. 

 

Why your Organization Needs a Chemical Hygiene Officer? 

  • Reduce the Risk of Workplace Accidents 

When your organization handles hazardous products, the chances of risks are everywhere. But a CHO can help you identify all of them so that they can be prevented. They support your team with every step, from ensuring proper labeling to training employees in handling hazardous substances. Thus, the chances of mishaps can be reduced.  

  • Improve Compliance with OSHA, EPA, and Local Regulations 

Regulatory bodies like OSHA and the EPA have strict guidelines for chemical safety. Moreover, such regulations also keep changing. A CHO always stays on top of these rules. Naturally, they help your organization stay updated with all regulatory requirements and changes.  

  •  Build a Culture of Safety Across Teams 

A CHO does more than enforce rules. Ultimately, they lead by example. These professionals provide your employees with regular training, inspections, and open communication. This way, they help create a work environment where safety becomes second nature to everyone, from new hires to senior staff. 

 

Key Duties of a Chemical Hygiene Officer 

i) Develop and Maintain the Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) 

The CHO of any organization creates a written plan. This type of plan mainly outlines how your organization should handle chemicals. So, it includes safe handling, storage, and disposal procedures. They also update it regularly to match changes in processes, staff, or regulations. 

ii) Ensure Regulatory Compliance 

Each CHO is well aware of the regulatory requirements that organizations handling chemical products must meet. So, they guide your teams and make strategies accordingly to ensure your team follows the correct procedures. 

iii) Conduct Chemical Risk Assessments 

Before using a new chemical, the CHO reviews its hazards. During the process they assess health risks, potential exposures, and how to control them. This helps prevent accidents and keeps everyone safe. 

iv) Manage SDS Access and Accuracy 

Apart from making plans, your CHO must also ensure the proper accessibility of SDSs. Therefore, they must also ensure that all SDSs are updated, complete, and easy to access.

v) Oversee Employee Training 

The CHO trains your staff in how to handle chemicals safely. This includes using personal protective equipment (PPE), responding to spills, and reading SDSs. Training happens during onboarding and regularly after that. 

vi) Inspect Facilities and Enforce Safety Protocols 

The CHOs also must conduct regular audits of work areas. During such inspections, they should check for unsafe practices, expired materials, or unmarked containers. If they find issues, they can take action to correct them immediately. 

vii) Ensure Proper Labeling and Storage 

The CHO makes sure all chemicals are correctly labeled. Besides, they also check that chemicals are stored safely and in the right locations. This way organizations can always keep away incompatible chemicals.  

viii) Manage Hazardous Waste Disposal 

Even chemical waste can be harmful. That’s why the CHOs also introduce organizations with the right disposal practices. They oversee the safe collection, labeling, and disposal of chemical waste. This way it becomes easy to ensure that your disposal process meets environmental safety standards. 

ix) Lead Incident Response and Investigation 

If there’s an accident or spill, the CHO leads the response. They investigate what happened, find the cause, and suggest ways to prevent it from happening again. This helps improve safety over time. 

 

How to Support your Chemical Hygiene Officers? 

Here’s how your organization can support these professionals: 

1. Give them Clear Authority 

Your CHO needs proper authority to make plans and also to take necessary actions. So, give them proper freedom. Make it clear to all departments and employees that the CHO has the power to enforce safety rules. Besides, they can stop unsafe activities and require corrective action. When their role is respected, safety practices are taken more seriously across the board. 

2. Provide Regular Training Opportunities 

Even experienced CHOs need regular training. This helps them stay updated with evolving safety standards, chemical handling guidelines, and regulatory updates. So, your organization can offer them access to safety conferences, certification programs, or online training programs. Such training helps them remain knowledgeable and confident in their role. It also shows that your organization is committed to continuous improvement. 

3. Ensure Open Communication 

Your officers should be open to communicating frequently with other employees. This type of communication mainly encourages a culture where safety concerns can be openly discussed. Moreover, all your employees should feel comfortable reporting potential hazards or asking questions without fear of blame. This will help your CHO thrive too in an environment where communication is honest and proactive.  

4. Give Access to an SDS Management Software 

Your CHOs also need to manage all of your in-house SDSs to ensure safety. So, give them access to an advanced SDS management system. By giving them access to centralized SDS management software, you make it easier for them to organize, update, and retrieve safety information in seconds.  

5. Involve Them in Decision-Making 

Your chemical hygiene officer should also be a part of your decision –making team. So, if you’re planning to purchase new chemicals, update workflows, or redesign lab spaces, include the CHO in the conversation from the beginning. Their insights help prevent safety oversights and ensure all changes are aligned with regulatory requirements and best practices. 

 

Conclusion 

These days, hiring a chemical hygiene officer is not optional. Rather, it’s strategic. These professionals will not just protect your team from getting regulatory headaches. They can ultimately help your organization build a safer workplace.