A hazardous material, as defined by the California Health and Safety Code, is any material that, because of its quantity, concentration, or physical or chemical characteristics, poses a significant present or potential hazard to human health and safety or the environment if released into the workplace or environment. Laboratories and other departments within UC Merced store and handle hazardous materials as part of routine work and operations. The storage of hazardous materials on campus is regulated and permitted by the Merced County Division of Environmental Health (MCDEH).
There is no "List" that identifies all hazardous materials, as they are extensive and constantly changing. Essentially, any material for which the manufacturer prepares a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is considered to be a hazardous material and must be stored in accordance with State and County requirements. Hazardous materials must be stored so that they are separated from incompatible materials and must be provided with proper secondary containment.
Hazardous Materials Reporting
EH&S is required to submit a current inventory of hazardous materials and campus storage locations to the State on an annual basis via the California Environmental Reporting System (CERS). Units or departments that undergo a significant change in the quantity of stored hazardous materials or a change in storage location must immediately notify the EH&S Office, as the update must be submitted to the State.
For more information regarding the requirements for storage of laboratory chemicals, please visit the Chemical Inventory Compliance EH&S webpage, located under the Researchers and Labs tab.
Rules, Regulations, and Policies
- Hazardous Materials Storage and Inventory Program Regulations:
