Introduction

After incidents of laboratory chemical contamination at several schools, DCPS, The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and DC Fire and Emergency Management Services developed an aggressive program for chemical control to eliminate student and staff exposure to potential hazardous chemicals. Based upon this program, all principals are required to conduct a complete yearly inventory of all chemicals located at each school building to identify for the removal and disposal of any prohibited/banned chemicals.

• Prohibited chemicals are those that pose an inherent, immediate, and potentially life-threatening risk, injury, or impairment due to toxicity or other chemical properties to students, staff, or other occupants of the school. These chemicals are prohibited from use and/or storage at the school, and the school is prohibited from purchasing or accepting donations of such chemicals.
• Restricted chemicals are chemicals that are restricted by use and/or quantities. If restricted chemicals are present at the school, each storage location must be addressed in the school's written emergency plan. Also, plan maps must clearly denote the storage locations of these chemicals.
• Restricted chemicals—demonstration use only are a subclass in the Restricted chemicals list that are limited to instructor demonstration. Students may not participate in handling or preparation of restricted chemicals as part of a demonstration. If Restricted chemicals—demonstration use only are present at the school, each storage location must be addressed in the school's written emergency plan.

Following is a table of chemicals that are Prohibited—banned, Restricted—academic curriculum use, and Restricted—demonstration use only.

See table in full by downloading the Prohibited and Restricted Chemical List (PDF or Word).