CSHEMA - Campus Safety, Health, and Environmental Management Association

CSHEMA Unveils Methylene Chloride Rule Toolkit for Higher Education EHS Professionals

March 6, 2025 – As higher education institutions navigate the regulatory shift brought on by the EPA’s Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) methylene chloride (dichloromethane, DCM) rule, the Campus Safety, Health, and Environmental Management Association (CSHEMA) has been proactively leading efforts to support Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) professionals in achieving compliance. CSHEMA designated a special working group of academic safety and industrial hygiene leaders from across the country to develop a comprehensive resource toolkit for colleges and universities to utilize.

This toolkit, crafted specifically for CSHEMA members, is a powerful, one-stop resource that includes:

• Comprehensive guidelines for establishing a Workplace Chemical Protection Program.
• Tools and templates to assist with risk assessments, employee training, and record-keeping.
• Additional resources are in development to address emerging needs and challenges.

The toolkit will assist EHS professionals in addressing the potential risks and regulations associated with this hazardous chemical. “This resource toolkit reflects our commitment to empowering EHS professionals with practical, actionable tools to ensure compliance and safety,” said Jim Crandall, CSHEMA President. “As institutions adjust to these regulatory changes, our goal is to streamline the process and provide the necessary support to meet the new requirements.”

Available to all CSHEMA members for easy download, customization, and distribution, the toolkit is the all-in-one resource for meeting compliance needs and ensuring lab integrity and safety at colleges, universities, and member institutions.

“When the new methylene chloride regulation first came out, it was daunting to contemplate all the changes that were necessary to comply,” said Miriam Sharp, DCM-working group Co-Lead, CSHEMA Member. “I was excited to hear that CSHEMA was looking to pull together a team to dig into the regulation and develop compliance resources and it's been a great experience to work with safety professionals from around the country to solve this shared challenge.  By working together and leveraging our significant individual strengths we've been able to generate an exceptional resource for the entire CSHEMA community. Collaboration works!” Sharp held a key role in putting the resources from different groups together.

To access the toolkit and stay up to date on further developments, please visit Resources at https://www.cshema.org/. To become a member of CSHEMA see “JOIN” at CSHEMA.org