HAZARD COMMUNICATION
Your Right to Know
What is Hazard Communication OSHA Hazard Communication Standard
29 CFR 1910.1200 – “Right to Know” went into effect in November 1985
The purpose of Haz-Com is to communicate hazards associated with the workplace to employees.
Employees have a Right to Know about the hazards in their work area and the potential effects of these hazards upon health and safety
Hazardous Communications
Material Safety Data Sheets
MSDS Sections:
1. Identification of chemical2. Hazardous Ingredients3. Physical Data4. Fire and Explosion Data5. Health Hazard Data6. Reactivity Data7. Personal Protection Equipment8. Spill & Leak Procedures9. Handling & Storage
Information included in MSDS sections
Permissible Exposure Limits (PEL), Threshold Limit Value (TLV), other exposure limits
Whether a chemical in a carcinogen Precautions to take for safe handling/use Recommended engineering controls. Emergency first aid procedures Date of preparation Name, address, phone number of
manufacturer, importer, responsible party
MSDS Requirements
1. Mohave Community College must have a MSDS for every hazardous substance an employee uses as part of the job.
2. MSDSs must be available to an employee the entire time they are in the workplace.
MSDS Requirements
3. If an employee requests a copy of an MSDS for a product he/she uses, and MCC cannot provide it after one working day, the employee may refuse to use that product or work in an area where the product is being used.
4. If an employee requests a personal copy of an MSDS, MCC has 15 days to provide it.
Hazardous Communications
Labeling & Marking Systems
Labeling & Marking Systems
The OSHA Hazard Communication Standard requires that ALL hazardous materials be labeled. Labels must appear either on the container itself, the batch ticket, placard or the process sheets.
Hazardous chemicals in portable containers which are for the immediate use of the employee who performs the transfer is the exception to this rule.
Labeling and Marking Systems
Types of Labels NFPA Diamonds HMIS Labels Uniform
Laboratory Hazard Signage System
Labels warn of potential dangers
Labels are not intended to be the sole source of information
Labels serve as an immediate warning
NFPA Diamonds
Color coded, numerical system
Will be located near main entrances, fire alarm panels, or on outside entrance doors
Provides at-a-glance hazard information
NFPA Diamonds
Blue = Health Red =
Flammability Yellow =
Instability White = Special
hazard information
NFPA Diamonds
4 = Deadly Hazard
3 = Severe Hazard
2 = Moderate Hazard
1 = Slight Hazard 0 = No Hazard
HMIS Label
Designed to go on individual containers of products that don’t have the manufacturer’s labels
Same color code/ numerical rating system as the NFPA diamonds
HMIS Label
Blue = Health Red = Flammability Yellow = Instability White = Personal
protective equipment or special protection information
Numerical Rating of 0-4
Uniform Laboratory Signage
Located on laboratory and chemical storage area doors
Pictographs depict worst hazards present in lab or area
Remember!
You should never have any unattended, unlabeled containers in your workplace!
Always check with the appropriate personnel (lab manager, etc) before performing any work on maintenance in a laboratory!
Hazard Communications
Health Hazards
Health Hazards include…
Any chemical that may be harmful to your health is called a health hazard. Health hazards include:Corrosives – cause tissue damage and burns on contact with skin and eyesPrimary Irritants – cause intense redness or swelling of the skin or eyes on contact, but with no permanent damageSensitizers – cause an allergic skin or lung reaction
Health Hazards include…
Acutely Toxic Materials – cause an adverse effect even at a very low dose
Carcinogens – may cause cancer
Teratogens – may cause birth defects
Organ Specific Hazards – may cause damage to specific organ systems, such as the blood, liver, lungs, or reproductive system
Routes of Exposure
Absorption – skin & eyes Ingestion – direct & indirect Inhalation Injection
Hazard Communications
Physical Hazards
Physical Hazards
Physical hazards are those hazards which threaten your physical safety
Physical hazards include any chemical that is:
Combustible liquid Compressed gas Explosive Flammable Organic peroxide Oxidizer Unstable (reactive)
Physical hazards also include… Heat stress Cold stress Lasers Hand-arm vibrations Ionizing Radiation Noise Radio Waves Ultraviolet radiation
Hazard Communications
Protective Measures
Protective Measures
Engineering Controls – well designed work areas minimize exposure to materials which are hazardous (ie exhaust systems and wetting systems to control dust)
Work Practices – Safe work practices will insure that chemicals are used correctly and safely
Product Substitution – Because many chemicals do similar jobs, it is important to select chemicals that do a good job, while being less toxic
Personal Protective Equipment – Respirators, eye protection, gloves, aprons, and other protective equipment and clothing are designed to protect employees while working – USE THEM!
Hazard Communications
What now?
What now?
Know the location and availability of hazard communication program, chemical and physical hazard inventory and MSDS files.
Know what protective measures (PPE) you will need when dealing with hazards
Speak with your supervisor about chemical specific and site specific Haz-Com training
What now?
Knowing how to work safely with chemicals and other physical hazards is an important activity. This is the reason for the online training, site specific training, materials inventory and MSDS
You have a right to know, but you also have a responsibility to use the knowledge and skills to work safely!
Thank You!
