Chemical Safety

Ensuring the safe and compliant use of chemicals on campus.

Guidelines for Explosive and Potentially Explosive Chemicals: Safe Storage and Handling

Office of Environment, Health & Safety

Potentially Explosive Chemicals (PECs) include peroxidizable organic chemicals which oxidize, dry out, or otherwise destabilize over time. Examples include isopropyl ether, sodium amide, and picric acid. Old or mismanaged chemicals and can pose a serious threat to the health and safety of laboratory personnel, emergency responders, building occupants, and chemical waste handlers.

For additional information, contact the Hazardous Materials Team at hwp@berkeley.edu or the Chemical Hygiene Officier at...

Controlled Substances

Controlled Substances

UC Berkeley’s Controlled Substances (CS) program outlines required procedures pertaining to the procurement, use, storage, inventory, and disposal of controlled substances to comply with Federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) regulations. These procedures apply to all research and teaching activities using controlled substances.

Contact the EH&S Controlled Substances Program...

Joseph Marini

Lab Safety Specialist
Lab Safety
EH&S Inspections

Chemical Inventory

The Chemicals app tracks the storage and use of hazardous materials on all UC campuses. UC Berkeley is required to report that information, and these reports are compiled by EH&S. In addition, Chemicals assists emergency responders and provides all lab members with a tool with which to track hazardous items in their rooms. See the Chemicals User Guide below.

Anyone responsible for an area where...

Dispose of Waste

Master list of waste types is displayed below. Note: If you cannot find the item that you are trying to get rid of in this list, please contact EH&S at ehs@berkeley.edu or (510) 642-3073. collapse all expand all Aerosol Cans

Please log into the...

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - Labs

EH&S provides campus researchers with lab coats, safety glasses, and goggles. We also provide shared protective equipment to labs, such as face shields and protective aprons.

Please contact the PPE coordinator at ppe@berkeley.edu or by calling (510) 642-3073 if you have any questions or comments about personal protective equipment for your lab.

Unknowns Questionnaire

2024

For disposal of unknowns, fill out template as completely as possible to communicate known hazards and relevant information to EH&S, or describe in comments as appropriate. Print and attach to each bottle for pickup.

Please log into the Hazardous Waste Program (HWP) to create a waste label and request a pickup.

Training

Drain Disposal Restrictions

Sanitary Sewer Disposal What Can Go Down the Drain?

Whatever goes down the drain ends up in the San Francisco Bay, so the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) strictly regulates sanitary sewer wastewater. Discharge of inappropriate materials into the sanitary sewer can damage sewer lines, interfere with the operation of the wastewater treatment plant, risk the safety of campus and EBMUD utility workers who maintain sewer lines, and cause harmful environmental impacts. It is illegal to dispose of hazardous waste down the drain.

Review the information below to...

Maximum Allowable Quantities (MAQ) Project

The California Fire Code establishes requirements for Maximum Allowable Quantities (MAQ) of hazardous materials, which ensures amounts used and stored within buildings do not pose fire and life risks. Following the management of hazardous chemicals guidelines issued by the University of California Office of President in 2023, EH&S is implementing the directives outlined in...