Laboratory Standard coverage for electric-utility testing labs

January 9, 1991

Mr. Richard J. Landy
Vice-President
Human Resources & Administration
Entergy Operations, Inc.
[Recipient address omitted]
Dear Mr. Landy:

This is in response to your letter of October 22, regarding the applicability of Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Laboratory Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1450, to laboratories within the electric utility industry.

The Laboratory Standard applies to all laboratories that use hazardous chemicals in accordance with the definition of "laboratory use" and "laboratory scale." Paragraph (b) of the standard defines the "laboratory use of hazardous chemicals" to include the handling or use of hazardous chemicals where all of the following conditions are met. The conditions that must be met include that multiple chemical procedures or chemicals are used; the procedures involved are not part of a production process, nor in any way simulate a production process, and the chemical manipulations are carried out on a "laboratory scale." The definition of "laboratory scale" specifically excludes those workplaces whose function it is to produce commercial quantities of materials.

The preamble to the standard indicates that most quality control laboratories are not expected to qualify for coverage under the Laboratory Standard, since they are usually adjuncts of production operations which typically perform repetitive procedures for the purpose for assuring reliability of a product or a process.

In your particular case, you stated that you are performing analyses to determine the quality of process water and quality of effluent streams which are discharged to the environment under EPA permits. The Agency has interpreted that laboratory activities pertaining to the production of electricity, such as determination of the quality of the process water, would be considered quality control of a production process; therefore, these activities would not fall within the coverage of the Laboratory Standard. Effluent testing would also be considered quality control of production if the results of the test is used as a source of information for process control adjustment. However, if the effluent testing is performed solely for the purpose of meeting EPA discharge criteria, this type of analyses would be within the scope of the Laboratory Standard.

It should be noted that the repetitive nature or standardized procedures are not part of the definition of "laboratory use" or "laboratory scale." These factors are merely discussed in the preamble to the regulation as characteristics frequently found in laboratories.

The failure of a facility to fit within the scope and application section of the laboratory standard merely shifts the employer's obligation to protect employees working within the facility from compliance with the Laboratory Standard to compliance with the appropriate general industry standards. Moreover it should be noted that the general duty clause, section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act, continues to be applicable to all employers and requires each employer to provide employees a place of employment which is free from recognized hazards that may cause death or serious physical harm to employees.

We hope we have adequately addressed your concerns. If we can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us again.

Sincerely,

Patricia K. Clark, Director
Directorate of Compliance Programs

[Requester letter reproduced on OSHA page; omitted here.]