The Texas Hazard Communication Act General Hazard Communication

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The Texas Hazard Communication ActGeneral
Hazard Communication
The University of Texas at Austin Environmental
Health and Safety 471-3511
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The Hazard Communication Act

• "The Texas Hazard Communication Act (revised
  1993) requires public employers to provide
  employees with specific information on the
  hazards of chemicals to which they may be exposed
  in the workplace."

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The Hazard Communication ActEmployee Education
Program

• These classes must be provided to employees who
  may be exposed to hazardous chemicals.

• General Hazard Communication (OH 101)
• provided by EHS or an authorized individual
• Site-Specific Hazard Communication (OH 102)
• provided by work area supervisor

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General Hazard Communication

• Class topics include

• workplace chemical list
• information on labels and Material Safety Data
  Sheets (MSDSs) and their relationship
• acute and chronic effects and safe handling of
  chemicals
• personal protective equipment and first aid
• general safe handling, clean up, and disposal
  procedures

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Workplace Chemical List

• Must be compiled and maintained for each
  hazardous chemical present in the workplace in
  excess of 55 gallons or 500 pounds. Information
  includes
• identity used on MSDS and container label
• work area where hazardous chemical is normally
  present

Note Information about your workplace chemical
list will be provided by your supervisor
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Workplace Chemical List
Amount
Work area
Chemical identity
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Laboratory Inventory

• Under conditions outlined in The Universitys
  written Hazard Communication program,
  laboratories may be exempt from Workplace
  Chemical List requirements, but The University
  requires a Hazardous Chemical Inventory summary
  of all laboratories
• posted outside of laboratory
• lists amounts of hazardous chemicals by category
• used by emergency response personnel

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Hazardous Chemical Inventory
Chemical category
Amount
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Container Labels

• The original label from the supplier or
  manufacturer must remain attached to the
  container. The label provides
• name of the chemical as it appears on MSDS
• manufacturers name and address
• physical and health hazard warnings
• Be sure to
• Read labels before beginning work
• Do not deface or remove the label
• Replace labels if necessary

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Container Label
Chemical name
Hazard warnings
Manufacturer
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Secondary Container Labels

• Non-Laboratories
• name (as on MSDS)
• hazard warnings

• Laboratories
• name (as on MSDS)

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Material Safety Data Sheets

• Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) describe the
  properties and hazards of a specific chemical.
  They are available from

• your workplace
• Environmental Health and Safety (EHS)
• homepage at http//www.utexas.edu/safety/ehs
• main office at SER 202
• chemical manufacturer

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MSDS Information

• Product Information
• Composition, Ingredients
• Hazards Identification
• First Aid Measures
• Fire Fighting Measures
• Accidental Release Measures
• Handling and Storage
• Exposures Controls, Personal Protection

• Physical and Chemical Properties
• Stability and Reactivity
• Toxicological Information
• Ecological Information
• Disposal Considerations
• Transportation Information
• Regulatory Information
• Other Information

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MSDS Glossary

• EHS has published a Material Safety Data Sheet
  Glossary of Terms, which provides explanations of
  common terms frequently used by chemical
  manufacturers. Terms include

• Flashpoint
• Toxicity
• Vermiculite
• STEL

• Clean Air Act
• Respiratory Protection
• Sensitizer
• and many more....

• Impervious
• Antidote
• Combustible
• Metabolism

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MSDS Chemical Information
CHEMICAL INFO YOU NEED TO BE SAFE AT YOUR WORK
PLACE
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Container Labels MSDS

• Name on label Name on MSDS

Material Safety Data Sheet
ETHANOL DU000538 PRODUCT INFORMATION -------
---------------------- Material
Identification NEN MSDS Number 238 CAS
Number 64-17-5 Molecular Weight 46.07 CAS
Name Ethanol Tradenames
and Synonyms ETHANOL ETHYL ALCOHOL
ETHANOL
------------------ ------------------
------------------
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Categories of Hazardous Chemicals

• Physical Hazards
• Flammables and Combustibles
• Oxidizers
• Reactives
• Compressed Gases
• Health Hazards
• Corrosives
• Toxins (poisons)

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Flammables and Combustibles

• Flammables and combustibles are substances that
  can catch fire and burn.
• Liquids (flammable) acetone, gasoline
• Liquids (combustible) motor oil, mineral oil
• Gas (flammable) hydrogen, propane
• Solid (flammable) metal powders, matches
• Aerosol (flammable) spray paint

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Flammables and Combustibles

• Physical Hazards
• Fire
• Explosion

Note Flammables have a flash point at or below
100o F. Combustibles have a flash point between
100o and 200o F.
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Flammables and Combustibles

• Health Hazards
• Acute Effects - headache, dizziness, nausea, dry
  and irritated skin, watery and stinging eyes,
  inflammation of eyelids.
• Chronic Effects - general damage to lungs, liver,
  kidneys, possible cancer risk.

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Flammables and Combustibles
Safe Handling and Storage

• Keep container closed when not in use
• Do not use near open flame or ignition source
• Flammable liquids
• Store in flammable storage cabinets
• Ground and bond containers over 5 gallons
• Refrigerate in a lab safe refrigerator if
  necessary

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Flammable Storage Cabinet
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Grounded Drums
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Oxidizers

• Oxidizers are substances that increase the
  burning of fuels by increasing the oxygen.
• Organic peroxides benzoyl peroxide
• Other oxidizers concentrated nitric acid,
  sodium hypocholorite (bleach)

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Oxidizers

• Physical Hazards
• fire
• explosion

Note Oxidizers are generally very reactive.
In many cases, contact with combustible materials
will result in fire.
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Oxidizers

• Health Hazards
• Acute Effects - inflammation/destruction of
  tissue, severe irritation of the upper
  respiratory tract, irritation of nose and eyes
• Chronic Effects - damage to the nervous system,
  fertility disorders, carcinogenic (chromium
  compounds)

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Oxidizers
Safe Handling and Storage

• Do not mix with fuels
• Store separately from flammables and combustibles
• Refrigerate if necessary
• Keep oxygen cylinders free of oil and grease

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Reactives

• A reactive is a compound that is capable of
  catching fire or exploding if subjected to
  certain conditions.

Pyrophorics diethyl zinc, silane Water
reactives butyl magnesium chloride, sodium
metal Shock sensitive dry picric acid Peroxide
formers diethyl ether, isopropyl
ether Explosive nitroglycerin, trinitrotoluene
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Reactives

• Physical Hazards
• Fire
• Pyrophorics ignite when exposed to air
• Water reactives react with water to form
  ignitable gases
• Explosion
• Shock sensitive compounds can explode if shaken
  or dropped
• Peroxide formers form explosive compounds when
  exposed to air
• Explosives can explode if subjected to sudden
  shock, pressure, or high temperature

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Reactives
Safe Handling and Storage

• Store in isolation from other chemicals
• Make efforts to substitute with less hazardous
  materials
• Dispose of peroxide forming compounds within one
  year if not opened if opened, dispose within 6
  months unless regularly tested for absence of
  peroxides
• Make sure pyrophorics and water reactives are
  sufficiently covered by their solvent
• Keep picric acid moist

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Compressed Gases

• A compressed gas is a gas or mixture of gases in
  a container that is under pressure.
• Compressed gases nitrogen compressed
  air chlorine

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Compressed Gases

• Physical Hazards
• Sudden release of gas may propel cylinder at high
  speeds with extreme force
• Health Hazards
• Varies based on gas in cylinder
• Check MSDS for specific health hazards

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Compressed Gases
Safe Handling and Storage

• Ventilate area where gases are used
• Identify cylinders by name, not color
• Firmly close valve when not in use
• Keep safety cap on cylinder when not in use
• Firmly secure cylinders during storage and use

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• Secured
• Cylinders

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Corrosives

• A corrosive is either acidic or caustic (acid or
  base) and is capable of destroying human tissue.
  Acids can also destroy metal.
• Acids sulfuric acid (battery acid),
  hydrochloric acid
• Bases sodium hydroxide (Draino), ammonium
  hydroxide

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Corrosives

• Health Hazards
• Acute Effects - Destruction of tissue, irritation
  of mucous membrane, respiratory irritation,
  difficulty breathing, headache, intense pain in
  eyes (possible loss of vision), nausea
• Chronic Effects - Destruction of respiratory
  tract, destruction of digestive system
• Special Note Acute or chronic exposure to
  hydrofluoric acid can cause deterioration of
  bones and even lead to death. Always seek
  medical attention.

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CausticBurn
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Corrosives
Safe Handling and Storage

• Store acids and bases separately
• Do not use metal containers to store or dispose
  of acids
• Store acids in wooden cabinets with secondary
  containment or acid cabinets
• Shelve low to the ground
• Work near an eyewash, shower, or hose

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Acid StorageCabinet
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Wooden Cabinet with Secondary Containment
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Toxins (poisons)

• Toxins are chemicals that are extremely
  poisonous. All chemicals are poisonous to some
  degree, but a small dose of a toxin can cause
  serious health effects.
• Hepatotoxins carbon tetracholoride, ethanol
• Nephrotoxins halogenated hydrocarbons
  (chloroform)
• Neurotoxins mercury, disulfide
• Reproductive toxins formamide, lead
• Toxic or strychnine, aniline
• highly toxic agents

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Toxins (poisons)

• Agents which damage lungs
  silica, asbestos
• skin acetone
• eyes organic solvents, corrosives
• mucous membranes corrosive gases, stench
  compounds
• Agents that act on blood carbon monoxide,
  cyanides
• or hematopoietic system
• Carcinogens benzene, carbon
  tetrachloride
• Sensitizers latex, epoxy resins
• Irritants sodium bromide, calcium
  chloride

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Toxins (poisons)

• Health Hazards
• Acute and chronic effects of toxins vary widely
• Read the MSDS for hazards
• Specific hazards will be provided in your
  Site-Specific Hazard Communication class
• Call Poison Control at 1-800-POISON1

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Toxins (poisons)
Safe Handling and Storage

• Store separately from other chemicals
• Consider using secondary containment
• Restrict access to areas where toxins are in use
• Do not eat or store food or drinks in the area

Special Note Lab employees who work with
embryotoxins or chemicals with moderate to
chronic toxicity or high acute toxicity should
refer to the Lab Safety Manual.
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Use of Protective Equipment

• For all chemical categories, protective equipment
  and safe work practices protect you from
• Inhalation (breathing)
• Work in a well ventilated area (for labs, under a
  fume hood).
• Wear a respirator, if necessary
• Ingestion (eating)
• Do not eat or drink in work area
• Wash hands frequently

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Use of Protective Equipment

• Absorption (absorbed into skin)
• Wear the appropriate gloves. Consult a glove
  compatibility chart
• Wear the appropriate eye protection (e.g.,
  goggles or safety glasses)
• In labs, wear closed toe shoes and lab coats over
  shorts
• Injection (forced into skin)
• Do not use compressed air on your skin
• Do not recap/bend needles use sharps containers

Special Note Dont wear protective clothing out
of the work area.
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First Aid Treatment

• For all chemical categories
• Read MSDS for specific instructions
• Make sure area is safe before entering
• Remove victim from area
• Use eyewash and shower
• Dont induce vomiting or drink anything unless
  directed to by medical personnel
• Call 911 or take victim to the hospital
• Provide MSDS to the doctor
• Properly dispose of contaminated clothing

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Chemical Burn
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First Aid Treatment

• Eyewashes and Showers
• Act quickly!!
• Remove clothing, jewelry, shoes
• Flush for AT LEAST 15 minutes
• For eyes
• hold eyelids open
• move eyeball

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Eyewash
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Specific Chemical Information

• Information is available through MSDSs on the
  hazards, handling procedures, protective
  equipment, and first aid treatment for any
  specific chemical

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General Safe Handling Procedures

• Date chemicals upon receipt
• Store chemicals according to hazard class - NOT
  alphabetically
• No breakable containers on floor
• No hazardous chemicals above 56
• Minimize chemicals stored in the area
• Keep chemical labels in good condition

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Clean Up Procedures

• If a spill is an immediate threat to life or
  health
• leave area and notify persons nearby
• call 911 for assistance and notify EHS at 1-3511
• provide specific and detailed information to
  responders
• If a spill is minor
• if trained, use a spill kit to clean up
• if not trained, call EHS and prevent others from
  entering areas

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EHS personnel cleaning up a chemical spill
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Clean Up Procedures

• A chemical spill kit may be purchased from EHS
  or make your own kit with the following
• Absorbent material
• Plastic scoop
• Several plastic bags
• Sodium bicarbonate and citric acid
• Chemically resistant gloves and goggles
• 5-gallon plastic bucket labeled Spill Supplies

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Disposal Procedures

• Label container
• Keep waste container closed
• Attach Waste Tag to container
• Fill out Chemical Request for Disposal Form and
  send to EHS for pick up
• Attend OH 202 Chemical Waste Management

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Prepare bottles for pickup
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Fill out Chemical Request for Disposal form
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Tag Number
Location for pickup
Contents of bottle
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On-line Information
Go to http//www.utexas.edu/safety/ehs for

• Hazard Communication Program
• MSDSs on-Line
• Training schedule
• Safety Supply Catalog
• Chemical Request for Disposal form
• Site-specific Training record and checklist
• and much, much more......

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Environmental Health and Safety

• Chemical and Laboratory Safety Division
• Biological waste disposal
• Chemical waste disposal
• Chemical spill clean up
• Lab inspections
• Training
• Autoclave testing
• Fumehood testing

Call us at 471-3511 or come by SER 202