The industrial hygienist must deal with an array of considerations, including the toxicity of the pure material, its concentration, carrier gases, and potential rate of release. Secondary hazards such as flammability, explosivity, and corrosivity must be considered. Hazard assessment processes are numerous in the chemical process industry. The use of gases in the semiconductor industry is quite standardized. Universities are far less familiar with standard industry practice, and have far more variable processes and procedures.
Programs are few and difficult to enforce.
Evaluation of hazards needs to be systematic and defensible. The Material Hazard Index approach considers the primary relevant properties of the toxic gases in use. The nature of the use in the laboratory is considered. Code requirements are assessed in a context of practical laboratory applications. Hazards are reviewed from receipt and storage through delivery to the lab, transportation through buildings, the training of users, gas delivery systems, gas cabinets, selection of manifold systems, and other aspects.