Title: Hazard Communication
1Hazard Communication
2Purpose of OSHAs Hazard Communication Standard
- ensure that employers and employees know about
work hazards and how to protect themselves so
that the incidence of illnesses and injuries due
to hazardous chemicals is reduced.
Hazard Communication Program
Container Labeling
Material Safety Data Sheet
Label
3Why should chemical hazards be communicated?
- Exposure Risk About 32 million workers
potentially exposed to chemical hazards - Profusion of Chemicals About 650,000 chemical
products exist hundreds of new ones introduced
annually - Health Effects May include heart ailments,
central nervous system damage, kidney and lung
damage, sterility, cancer, burns, and rashes - Safety Hazards Potential to cause fires,
explosions, or other serious accidents
4Concept of regulation
- Employees have both a need and a right to know
the hazards and identities of the chemicals they
are exposed to when working. - They also need to know what protective measures
are available to prevent adverse effects from
occurring.
5Who is covered?
- General industry, shipyard, marine terminals,
longshoring, and construction employers - Chemical manufacturers, importers, employers, and
employees exposed to chemical hazards
6Employer Responsibilities
- A significant portion of the standard pertains
only to chemical manufactures, importers, and
distributors - Employers who do not produce chemicals only have
to focus on - establishing a workplace program and
- communicating information to their workers.
- Appendix E provides guidelines
7Employer Responsibilities
- Inventory Identify and list hazardous chemicals
in workplaces - MSDS Labeling Obtain Material Safety Data
Sheets and labels for each hazardous chemical, if
not provided by the manufacturer, importer, or
distributor - Written Program Implement a written HazCom
program, including labels, MSDS, and employee
training - Communication Training Communicate hazard
information to employees through labels, MSDSs,
and formal training programs
8Labeling Exemptions
- Other federal agencies control labeling
requirements for the following substances - Pesticides
- Chemicals covered under the Toxic Substance
Control Act - Foods or food additives
- Distilled spirits, tobacco
- Consumer products, lumber, cosmetics
- Hazardous wastes
9How can workplace hazards be minimized?
- Hazard Assessment The first step in minimizing
workplace hazards is to perform a thorough hazard
assessment - Manufacturer Evaluations Employers can rely on
the manufacturers or importers evaluations of
the hazards of the chemicals they use (from MSDS)
10Why is a written program required?
- Employer Program ensures that all employers
receive the information they need to inform and
train their employees - Employee Program provides necessary hazard
information to employees
11Employer Requirements-Written Program
- Must cover at least
- Labels and other forms of warnings
- Material Safety Data Sheets
- Employee Information and Training
- List of chemicals present and MSDS for each
- Methods used to inform employees of hazards of
non-routine tasks - Hazards of chemicals in unlabeled pipes
12Multi-Employer Workplaces
- When other employers have employees onsite that
may be exposed, program must include - Methods to provide contractor employees with
on-site access to MSDS - Methods used to inform other employers of
precautionary measures for normal and emergency
situations - The employers chemical labeling system
13Consumer Products Exemption
- Any consumer product as defined in the Consumer
Product Safety Act where - Used in the workplace for the purpose intended
- Exposure within the range that could reasonably
be experienced by consumers when used for
intended purpose
14Written Program Availability
- Written program available on request
- To employees and their representatives
- Program may be kept at main location
15How must chemicals be labeled?
- Containers of hazardous chemicals entering
workplace must be labeled with - Identity of chemical
- Appropriate hazard warnings
- Message, picture or symbol
- Hazards of chemical
- Target organs affected
- Legible in English, may have other languages
- Name and address of responsible party
16Container Labeling Exemptions
- No new labels necessary if existing labels convey
required information - Labeling not required for portable containers if
- Transferred from labeled containers and
- Intended for immediate use by employee performing
transfer
17Material Safety Data Sheets
- Prepared by chemical manufacturer or importer,
describing - Physical hazards, such as fire and explosion
- Health hazards, such as signs of exposure
- Routes of exposure
- Precautions for safe handling and use
- Emergency and first-aid procedures
- Control measures
18Material Safety Data Sheets
- Must be in English and include specific chemical
identity and common names - Must provide information about
- Physical and chemical characteristics
- Health effects
- Exposure limits
- Carcinogenicity (cancer-causing)
- Identification (name, address, and telephone
number) of the organization responsible for
preparing the sheet - Must be readily accessible to employees in their
work area
19Material Safety Data Sheets
- No prescribed format
- If no MSDS received for a chemical
- Contact supplier, manufacturer or importer
- Maintain record of the contact
- May be kept in any form including operating
procedures - Addressing hazards of process may make more sense
than individual chemicals
20Employee Information and Training
- Employees must be provided information and
training on hazardous chemicals in their work
area - At the time of their initial assignment
- Whenever a new physical or health hazard is
introduced into their work area - May cover categories of hazards or individual
chemicals
21Employee Information
- Employers must inform employees of
- Training requirements of this section
- Operations in their work area where hazardous
chemicals are present - Location and availability of the written hazard
communication program
22What must employee training contain?
- Program Explanation of the HazCom program,
including information on labels, MSDSs, and how
to obtain and use available hazard information - Physical and health hazards of chemicals
- Protection Protective measures such as
engineering controls, work practices, and the use
of PPE - Detection How to detect the presence or release
of a hazardous chemical (using monitoring
devices, observation, or smell)
23Health Hazard Definitions
- Acute rapid effects, as a result of short-term
exposures, of short duration - Chronic effects as a result of long-term
exposure, of long duration - Corrosive Visible destruction or irreversible
damage to body tissue, including acids and
caustics (bases) - Definitions in 1910.1200 Appendix A
24Target Organ Effects
- Hepatotoxins liver damage
- Nephrotoxins kidney damage
- Neurotoxins nervous system effects
- Agents which act on the blood or hematopoietic
system deprive body tissues of oxygen - Agents which damage the lungs
25Target Organ Effects
- Reproductive toxins, including teratogens (damage
fetuses) and mutagens (damage DNA) - Cutaneous hazards skin damage
- Eye hazards
26Setting up a program
- The Hazard Communication Standard covers both
- Physical hazards (such as flammability), and
- Health hazards (such as irritation, lung damage,
and cancer) - Most chemicals used in the workplace have some
hazard potential, and thus will be covered by the
rule
27Setting up a program
- This rule is more performance-oriented than many
other OSHA regulations. - You have flexibility to adapt the rule to the
needs of your workplace, rather than having to
follow specific, rigid requirements
28Setting up a program
- Make a list of all chemicals in the workplace
that are potentially hazardous - Survey the workplace to make a comprehensive list
- Identify chemicals in containers, including pipes
- Establish purchasing procedures so that MSDSs are
received before a material is used in the
workplace
29Identify hazardous chemicals in the workplace
- Compile a complete list of the potentially
hazardous chemicals in the workplace - Determine if you have received material safety
data sheets for all of them - If any are missing, contact your supplier and
request one - Do not allow employees to use any chemicals for
which you have not received an MSDS
30Preparing and implementing a hazard communication
program
- All workplaces where employees are exposed to
hazardous chemicals must have a written plan - The plan does not have to be lengthy or
complicated
31Employee Training
- You may want to discuss each chemical
individually if there are only a few chemicals in
the workplace - You may want to train generally
- Based on the hazard categories (e.g., flammable
liquids, corrosive materials, carcinogens) - Where there are large numbers of chemicals or
- Where the chemicals change frequently
32Training Documentation
- The rule does not require employers to maintain
records of employee training, but many employers
choose to do so - This may help you monitor your own program to
ensure that all employees are appropriately
trained