REGULATIONS REGARDING HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES

A hazardous substance has the potential to harm. It may cause harm to human beings, other living creatures, plants, microorganisms, property or environment. It has been stressed repeatedly that adequate care has to be exercised in handling the hazards. Any lapse could cause harm even to those who are away from the location where the hazards are handled. The Central Government has been periodically bringing legislation relating to handling of hazardous substances. Some of these Acts are mentioned in Table. It is worth mentioning that at the global level, concern for environment became more prominent as a result of UN Conference on Human Environment held at Stockholm, Sweden on June 14, 1972. In Indian context, Bhopal gas tragedy speeded up environment related regulations.

Table: Some Central Government Regulations Relating to Handling of Hazardous

The regulations mentioned in Table have direct application to industry. Yet these are significant to educational institutions also. Institutions using gas cylinders, hazardous chemicals, radioactive materials and microorganisms must observe proper safety norms to avoid incidents such as mentioned. Even at the time of purchasing materials of the above nature from the firms, detailed instructions regarding safety norms and accident handling procedures should also be obtained. The condition of the gas cylinders should be checked from time to time. The teachers and the lab staff should be made aware of the methods of handling situations arising out of gas leakage accidents. The teaching staff who conducts research in fields related to hazardous materials must be familiar with the safety regulations or codes prepared by Bureau of Indian Standards and by the concerned ministry. The institution may prepare a simplified safety code using the concerned regulations. The safety code so prepared may be displayed in the laboratory in a prominent way for the benefit of lab staff.