health hazards & hazard communication

Health Hazards & Hazard Communication

New England

Roofing Industry

Partnership

Training Objectives After completing this unit, you will be able to:

– Explain the purpose and content of the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard.

– Identify basic types of health hazards from chemicals used on the work site.

– Identify routes of entry and potential health effects.– Explain the purpose & identify the components of a

Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS).– Find hazard control information on an MSDS.– Identify manufacturer’s and standardized labeling

systems.

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References

29 CFR 1926.59, Subpart D, Hazard Communication

29 CFR 1910.1200, Subpart Z, Hazard Communication

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)


The Dangers of Chemicals Are chemicals really worth worrying

about?– A recent study shows that exposure to

harmful substances causes 18% of all on the job deaths in construction!

– This does not include those workers who get long term diseases from exposures.

– Asbestos, fiberglass, adhesives, and paint products cause thousands of cases of lung disease among construction workers.


How Chemicals Get Inside Us


Routes of Entry Inhalation

– Usually our biggest concern due to very large surface area of the lungs.

Ingestion– A concern where hand-to-mouth actions

occur, for example eating or smoking. Skin Absorption

– Can lead to a double exposure with inhalation of some solvents.

Injection– Into the skin, such as compressed air or

high pressure paint spray.


Inhalation Hazards

Each year respiratory hazards cause illness and death for thousands of construction workers.

The hazards in the air can be either:– Gases, Vapors, such as ADHESIVE

VAPORS– Particulates

• Dust, fibers, fumes, such as SILICA DUST

– Oxygen-Deficient Atmospheres

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D Health Hazards & Hazard Communication

Gases and Vapors Gases-

– formless at room temperature; things like carbon monoxide, methane and propane.

Vapors-– formed when liquids evaporate; things

like paint vapors, adhesive vapors, and gasoline vapors.

Either can get into your bloodstream by breathing them into your lungs. Once in your blood they can damage your organs.

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Oxygen-Deficient Atmospheres

Most often found in confined spaces. Considered immediately dangerous to

life and health (IDLH). IDLH situations will cause death or

serious injury within 30 minutes. 19.5% oxygen is the lowest legal limit. Lack of oxygen can damage your brain.

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ParticulatesDusts

– produced by grinding, sanding, cutting, and mixing.

Mists– given off when a liquid is sprayed.

Fumes– tiny particles given off when metals or other solid materials are vaporized, then cooled.

– for example – welding fumes.

Health effect will depend on origin and particle size. Finer material can penetrate deep into your lungs.

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How Chemicals Affect Us


Once A Chemical Gets In Depending on its toxicity and how

much, you were exposed to, it may:– Irritate or injure your nose, mouth, throat,

or lungs.– Get into your blood stream through your

lungs or skin.– Have an additive, or synergistic, effect

with some other compound.

– Stay in your body for a long time.– Damage certain organs, or systems.


Working Safely With Chemicals

We can prevent chemical exposure and related illness by:

– Knowing everything we can about the chemicals we work with.

– Applying the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard which was designed to make sure workers know about the chemicals they work with.


Hazard Communication Standard The Hazard Communication Standard

requires employers to:– Get and provide Material Safety Data

Sheets (MSDSs) on each chemical.– Use only chemicals that are labeled.– Inform and train workers about the

chemicals.– Have a written program which includes a

list of all chemicals being used.


Container Labeling All chemicals must be labeled. Employers may use the manufacturer’s label

which came on the container. Employers may also use standardized

systems such as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) label.– Note: As a worker you are permitted to have an

unlabeled container if you have complete control over the container at all times and you only have as much as you will use-up for the task. Walking away from it, even for a moment, is losing control.


Check It Out! One of the most

effective ways to learn about the chemicals you use is to read the label.

What you learn may surprise you.

More importantly it will give you the knowledge to help protect yourself.


Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)


MSDS - Product Information

Chemical name. Who makes it. The manufacturer’s address. The manufacturer’s phone number. The date the MSDS was prepared.


MSDS - Chemical/Physical Properties

Physical and chemical characteristics help predict a chemical’s behavior.– Boiling point, vapor pressure, vapor

density, solubility in water, specific gravity, melting point, evaporation rate, and appearance/odor.

– For example, • A chemical with a vapor density greater than 1

will have a vapor heavier than air, like gasoline.

• A liquid with a specific gravity less than 1 will float on water, like oil.


MSDS - Fire & Explosion Data

We can use the MSDS to find out about the fire and explosion hazard of a product, things like:– The Chemical’s Flash Point.– What type of extinguisher to use.– Any special fire fighting precautions.– What not to mix it with.


Flash Point The temperature the chemical must

reach to give off enough vapor for fire or explosion if an ignition source or spark was there.


MSDS - Health Hazard Information


Exposure Limits

Limits are based on laboratory research and are set based on what 85% of the population can stand without getting sick.

The number is based on the average concentration over an 8-hour day, 40 hours per week, for your whole working life.


Exposure Limits2

Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) are from current research.

Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) are OSHA law but the levels may be higher than TLVS as they depend on older research results.

On your MSDS take note, some chemicals may have a TLV lower than the PEL.


PELs and TLVs


MSDS - Protective Measures

We can use the MSDS to find out if ventilation is required, and things like:– Specific type of respirator needed.– What type of gloves to use.– What type of eye and face protection is

needed.– Any other protective equipment and

protective measures needed.


MSDS - Handling Spills & Leaks

We can use the MSDS to find out what to do with leaks and spills, things like:– Procedures for clean-up.– Disposal after clean-up.– Any other special precautions such as

insuring good ventilation during clean-up.


MSDS - Special Precautions

We can use the MSDS to find out if there are any special precautions for handling and storage, things like:– Avoiding ignition sources.– Avoiding storage above 1000 Fahrenheit.– What it should not be stored near such as

oxygen tanks.


Most Importantly! Check the health hazards section for

routes of entry and symptoms of overexposure.

Check the protective measures section for safe handling and PPE selection.

Check the fire and explosion data section for unusual fire & explosion potential.

Read the MSDS before using a chemical! Read the label before using a chemical!


NFPA Label National Fire Protection Association The higher the number in the blue

box (max. is 4), the greater the health hazard. Check the MSDS.


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D 30

HMIS Label

What About Training?

Training must include:– The hazards of the job including chemical

hazards.– The OSHA Hazard Communication Standard

itself.– The specific chemicals you work with, the

potential hazards, and ways to control those hazards.


Access to Information

Material safety data sheets must be available whenever you want them.

– Computerized MSDS is OK, if

immediately available on the job.

You must also be able to see the company’s written hazard communication program including the list of chemicals.


Case Study: What went wrong?

A laborer was given the job of thinning a large stock pile of oil-based paints while inside a small storage building. At the end of the second day, he was found unconscious. He was taken to the hospital with an irregular heart beat & almost died.


Occupational Health(1926.50 - 66)

Common OSHA Citations:– .62(d)(1)(i): Lead - Exposure assessment – .55(a): Gases, vapors, fumes, dusts & mists -

exposure – .55(b): Gases, vapors, fumes, dusts & mists –

controls– .50(c): First aid Training– .59[1910.1200]:Hazard Communication - Written

Program

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How can the hazards addressed by these Standards best be corrected, controlled, or eliminated?

Review Questions True or False?

1. There are only two ways chemicals enter the body.

2. Chronic exposure means a one time exposure.

3. OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) was designed to make sure workers know about the chemicals they work with.

4. The only thing OSHA’s HCS requires employers to do is get an MSDS sheet for every chemical.



5. OSHA requires all chemicals to be labeled.

6. It’s not always necessary to read the MSDS sheet and container label before using a chemical.

7. As a worker, the health hazards, protective measures, and fire and explosion sections of the MSDS sheet are the most important.



8. Your employer is required to provide training about general hazard communication but not about the specific chemicals you use.

9. The MSDS sheet will tell you how a chemical can get in your body but will not tell you what kind of PPE to use.

10. As a worker, you must always have access to any MSDS sheet any time you want.


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