Some laboratories may synthesize or develop new chemical substances on occasion. If the composition of the substance is known and will be used exclusively in the laboratory, the laboratory worker must label the substance and determine, to the best of his/her abilities, the hazardous properties (e.g. corrosive, flammable, reactive, toxic, etc.) of the substance. This can often be done by comparing the structure of the new substance with the structure of similar materials with known hazardous properties. If the chemical produced is of unknown composition, it must be assumed to be hazardous and appropriate precautions taken.
If a chemical substance is produced for another user outside this facility, the laboratory producing the substance is required to provide as much information as possible regarding the identify and known hazardous properties of the substance to the receiver of the material. (See TSCA Program Facilitator in your departmental office and documents online http://www.wesleyan.edu/ehs/health-safety-procedures.html.)