hazcom chemical hazard communication in the mining industry

HazComHazCom

Chemical Hazard Communication

in theMining Industry

What is a What is a hazardoushazardous chemical? chemical?

Any chemical that presents Any chemical that presents a physical or health hazarda physical or health hazard

For example:Liquids (diesel fuel)Solids (coal or silica dust,

welding fumes)Gases (NO2 from blasting)

What do I have to do?What do I have to do?

Inventory Inventory the chemicals at your mine & determinedetermine which are hazardous

Have a Written Program Written Program Have Labels & MSDSsLabels & MSDSs TrainTrain your miners Allow accessaccess to HazCom info


InventoryInventory the chemicals at your mine and determinedetermine which are hazardous.

How can you How can you determinedetermine which which chemicals are hazardous?chemicals are hazardous?

If it says HAZARDOUSHAZARDOUS on the label or MSDS, or

If stated in an MSHA standard, or

If listed in - ACGIH “Threshold Limit Values” (2001 edition), - National Toxicology Program (NTP), or - International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), or

Use laboratory test results or other evidence

A chemical may be:A chemical may be:

a physical hazard- a chemical is a physical

hazard if it has the potential for fire, explosion or reactivity

A chemical may be:A chemical may be: a physical hazarda physical hazard a health hazard

acute chronic

A chemical may be:A chemical may be: a physical hazarda physical hazard a health hazarda health hazard both a physical hazard and a health hazard

A chemical may be:A chemical may be: a physical hazarda physical hazard a health hazarda health hazard both a physical hazard and both a physical hazard and a health hazarda health hazard neither a physical or health hazard

A chemical may be:A chemical may be: a physical hazarda physical hazard a health hazarda health hazard both a physical hazard and both a physical hazard and a health hazarda health hazard neither a physical or healthneither a physical or health hazardhazard exempt from HazCom

Chemicals exempt from Chemicals exempt from HazComHazCom

1. Consumer Products– consumer packaging, used as intended, no exposure beyond ordinary consumer use


1. Consumer Products1. Consumer Products

2. Articles (manufactured goods)- plastic pipes- conveyor belts- repair steel



2. Articles2. Articles

3. Cosmetics, food, tobacco, medications




3. Cosmetics, food, tobacco, medications3. Cosmetics, food, tobacco, medications

4. Wood or Wood Products– under normal use & if not treated





4. Wood or Wood Products4. Wood or Wood Products

5. Biological





4. Wood or Wood Products4. Wood or Wood Products

5. Biological5. Biological

6. Radiation

What about chemical mixtures What about chemical mixtures produced at the mine?produced at the mine?

If tested as a whole... use the results of the testIf NOT tested as a whole...

physical hazardphysical hazard: use valid scientific evidencehealth hazardhealth hazard: assume same health hazard as any 1% component andcancer hazardcancer hazard: assume same as any 0.1%. cancer component per NTP, IARC.


Establish a writtenwritten HazCom program.

XYZMining Co.

HazComProgram Manual

Your Your written programwritten program must must include:include:

How you determine which chemicals at your mine are hazardous

A LISTLIST of the hazardous chemicals at your mine

Your hazardous Your hazardous chemicals chemicals LISTLIST must: must:

Use a chemical identity that permits cross-referencing between the listlist, a chemical’s labellabel, and its MSDSMSDS; and

Be compiled for the whole mine or individual work areas.


Where you keep an MSDS for each hazardous chemical;

How you will tell miners about unlabeled chemicals (in pipes, for example) and the hazards of jobs that are not routine;


How you will inform other on-site operators about your chemical hazards and the protective measures their employees need.

What training you will give miners & when;


What labeling system you use; that is, how you will label containers.


Have Labels & MSDSsLabels & MSDSs for hazardous chemicals brought tobrought to & produced produced atat your mine

Labels must:Labels must:

Be in English, readable, and obvious. Have a chemical’s name as it

appears on the MSDS & your list. Contain appropriate hazard

warnings (“words, pictures or symbols that convey the specific physical and health hazards”)

Be on all containers of hazardous chemicals

- unless exempt

Label Alternatives Label Alternatives (stationary process containers)(stationary process containers)

May use sign, placard, process sheet, etc. if it:

– identifies the container it applies to;

– has the same information as the label; and

– is immediately accessible to miners.

LabelingLabeling You must:

– Immediately replace a label if missing or marred.

– Not remove or deface any label.– Prepare a label for each hazardous

chemical PRODUCEDPRODUCED at the mine -- & update it with new significant info within 3 months of learning of it.

– Replace obsolete labels when received for each hazardous chemical BROUGHTBROUGHT to mine .

Label-ExemptLabel-Exempt Containers Containers include:include: PORTABLE TEMPORARYPORTABLE TEMPORARY containers,

when used during one shift by person who transferred the chemical

RAW MATERIALRAW MATERIAL containers such as - a feed hopper at your primary crusher, or wash tanks for your sand plant.

Containers subject to OTHER OTHER LABELING LAWS LABELING LAWS (e.g., USDA, EPA, Consumer Product Safety Act)

Material Safety Data SheetsMaterial Safety Data Sheets(MSDS)(MSDS)

You must:

– Have an MSDS for each hazardous chemical you use.

– Prepare an MSDS for each hazardous chemical PRODUCEDPRODUCED at the mine.

– Replace outdated MSDS for each hazardous chemical BROUGHTBROUGHT to the mine.

MSDS 1. Chemical Identity 2. Chemical Properties 3. Physical Hazards 4. Health Hazards 5. Exposure Limits 6. Carcinogenicity 7. Safe Use 8. Control Measures 9. Emergency Info10. Date Prepared

MSDSs must be:MSDSs must be:

Current, legible, accurate and in English Readily accessible to miners where they

can be exposed (centralized or at each work station)

Cross-referenced to your LIST & LABEL by chemical identitychemical identity used

RetainedRetained for as long as the chemical is at the mine, & for 3 months after notifying miners of its pending disposal

Material Safety Data Sheet Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)(MSDS)

If you cannot obtain an MSDS for HAZARDOUS WASTEHAZARDOUS WASTE, you must give each potentially exposed miner access to any MSDS information that is available, such as

– Hazardous components,– Physical or health hazards and– Protective measures.

MSDSs must contain:MSDSs must contain: 1. Identity 2. Physical / Chemical properties 3. Physical Hazards 4. Health Hazards 5. Carcinogenicity 6. Exposure Limits 7. Safe Use 8. Control Measures 9. Emergency Information10. Date Prepared

MSDSs must contain:MSDSs must contain:

1. Identity:

–The chemical and common name if it is a single substance and those of the hazardous ingredients if it is a mixture.


2. Properties:

–The physical and chemical properties, such as boiling point, melting point, vapor pressure, evaporation rate, solubility in water, pH, appearance and odor, flash point and flammability limits.


3. Physical Hazards:

– The potential for fire, explosion, and reactivity.


4. Health Hazards:

–The potential to cause an illness or injury, such as its acute and chronic health effects, the signs and symptoms of exposure, any medical conditions that are aggravated by exposure and the primary routes of entry.


5. Carcinogenicity:

–The carcinogenic classification, if any, such as whether the chemical is a potential, probable, or known human carcinogen.


6. Exposure Limits:

–Such as MSHA's, OSHA's, ACGIH's TLV, or NIOSH's REL.


7. Safe Use:

–Any precautions for safe use, such as appropriate hygienic practices, protective measures during repair and maintenance of contaminated equipment, and procedures for clean-up of spills and leaks.


8. Control Measures:

–Such as ventilation, process controls, restricted access, protective clothing, respirators, and goggles.

MSDSs must contain:MSDSs must contain:9. Emergency Information:

–Emergency procedures, such as special instructions for firefighters and first aid procedures; and the name, address, and telephone number of a contact person who can provide additional information about the hazardous chemical and the emergency procedures.


10. Date Prepared:

–The preparation or revision date of the MSDS.


Train your miners about the HazCom program and the hazardous chemicals they can be exposed to.

HazCom Training includes:HazCom Training includes:

The physical and health hazards of the chemicals in the individual’s work area;

The requirements of HazCom;


The mine’s HazCom program, including an explanation of the labeling system, the MSDSs, and how they can get the information and use it;


Where HazCom materials (labeling information, the list of chemicals, and the MSDSs) are kept and that they’re available;

The operations or areas of the mine where hazardous chemicals are present;


How to tell if a chemical is present or if there’s been an inadvertent release (smell, color, etc);

What protective measures to take; and


The work practices, engineering controls, emergency procedures, and use of personal protective equipment the mine uses to protect miners from hazardous chemical exposures.


Allow your miners to look at the HazCom information you have and give them a copy of it if they ask.

Access To HazCom Access To HazCom InformationInformation

Must be provided to:

–Miners

–Their designated representatives

–MSHA

–NIOSH

Trade SecretsTrade Secrets

Companies may request that MSHA provide protection of certain chemical information as a trade secret.

MSHA will determine if information qualifies as a trade secret.

Trade SecretsTrade Secrets

The identity of a trade secret must be disclosed immediately to health professionals in a medical emergency.

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?For more information contactFor more information contact

your local MSHA office oryour local MSHA office orMSHA’s national office atMSHA’s national office at

(202) 693-9514 (Coal)(202) 693-9514 (Coal)(202) 693-9634 (M/NM).(202) 693-9634 (M/NM).

Visit our website at http://www.msha.govVisit our website at http://www.msha.gov

hazcom chemical hazard communication in the mining industry

Documents