Date: Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:25:10 -0500
Reply-To: "Long, Don" <don.long**At_Symbol_Here**WGINT.COM>
Sender: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
From: "Long, Don" <don.long**At_Symbol_Here**WGINT.COM>
Subject: Re: CHO training
Comments: To: "Giede, Laura"
In-Reply-To: A<413BF80F8BF1254094223A8811DBCE3527D2D083**At_Symbol_Here**FMS.uwstout.edu>

Laura -
 
As you probably know, 29 CFR 1910.1450 (or the Laboratory Standard) doesn't state what training IS required, only that the position of CHO is filed by a person "who is qualified by training or experience........"  With that being said, you are going to get as many different answers as there will be people who respond. I personally have seen the CHO position filled by the Lab Manager, the Lab Supervisor, a regular "Joe" and even as an "additional duty" of the Safety Department's IH. Each person has had different training and experience.
 
There is no "standard" position, "standard" required training or required refresher training intervals stated in the OSHA Lab Standard, BUT there are two excellent classes out there I would recommend to get started. One is Lab Safety Institute's "How to Be a More Effective CHO" (combine that with their Lab safety class and you're rolling) and the ACS's Lab Safety and Health short course given a few times a year. Both will allow a CHO to get a good start on their duties and responsibilities. We also mandate refresher training every 2 years.
 
As far as what my organization does for compensation, we'll pay for your initial and refresher training (since we mandate it by internal procedures), but other than that, our CHO is already drawing a paycheck - this is just another part of his (my) duties. Our company pays 100% for work related college so I'm able to "expand" my knowledge this way also, but it is not required that I have any additional training than what I already stated.
 
We don't require the CHO to be NRCC certified. Some places might, and this would fall under the "qualified by training or experience" part of the standard. That part is left open to very broad interpretation and a company/organization/college can basically require whatever they deem to satisfy their needs and interpretation of that part. The NRCC cert definitely won't hurt anything, but if the company doesn't require it, they probably won't pay for it and it ain't cheap.
 
This probably didn't help much, but, if you are in a position to determine what training, compensation, etc, is going to be considered, just be realistic:  unless you have a huge Lab, the CHO is going to be another daily duty for someone, make it a position that works with the folks, not a front office type who doesn't spend much time in the back (a CHO is basically a Lab Safety Officer and needs to know what is really going on and have the trust and confidence of the co-workers) and when considering compensation, realize that this is an important job (see the Safety part above) and this person could warrant and extra penny or two if they are successful and compentent. For training, consider the 2 courses I mentioned earlier and have a requirement for a refresher every now and then. Things do change once in a while, plus it'll help bring the CHO back into the "real world" and also help the networking thing somewhat.
 
Good luck -
 
 

Don A. Long
CAIH / STS
Southwest Research Institute Laboratory
Pine Bluff Chemical Agent Disposal Facility
PO Box 20130
White Hall, AR  71612
870-541-4930

-----Original Message-----
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU]On Behalf Of Giede, Laura
Sent: Friday, July 10, 2009 11:08 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] CHO training

Hi All,

We are looking into what training programs are required for your Chemical Hygiene Officer, how it is determined that the training is sufficient to do the job, and how is this person compensated?  I looked at the NRCC testing criteria.  Do you require your CHO to be certified before they are given this responsibility?

Thank you,

Laura

Laura Giede, MS Risk Control

UW-Stout Department of Chemistry

Laboratory Technician Sr.

410 Tenth Avenune

184 Micheels Hall #18

Menomonie, WI  54751

715-232-2151

giedel**At_Symbol_Here**uwstout.edu

 

 

 

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