1 Risk Management Department Hazard Communication April, 2008

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Risk Management Department

Hazard Communication

April, 2008

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“Right To Know” There was a time when employees had no right to

information about the hazardous substances they used at work. They demanded a "Right-to-Know," or the right to have access to such information.

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Hazard Communication Standard

As a result, OSHA implemented the Hazard Communication Standard, otherwise known as the Right to Know Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200), which requires employers to evaluate the hazards of chemicals in the workplace and communicate information concerning hazards and appropriate protective measures to employees.

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Goals of Right to Know:

1. To help you reduce the risks involved in working with hazardous materials 2. To transmit vital information to employees about real and potential hazards of substances in the work place 3. To reduce the incidence and cost of illness and injury resulting from hazardous substances 4. To encourage a reduction in the quantity and

toxicity of hazardous substances

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Written Plan Inventories Material Safety Data

Sheets Labeling Storage Placarding

Protection from Chemical HazardsHazardous WasteHazardous Chemical Spills & EmergenciesMedical Consultation and EvaluationEmployee Training

APS’ Hazard Communication Program

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1. Written Plan

To protect employees and students and to comply applicable State and Federal laws and standards dealing with chemical use and disposal APS has developed the written Chemical Management Program. This program serves as the district’s written processes and procedures for the use, storage and disposal of chemicals in the school workplace.

It is available on-line from the Risk Management website.


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2. Chemical Inventories

All sites are required to keep and maintain a written inventory of hazardous chemicals present and used on-site

Inventories may be compiled for the entire site or for individual work areas

The site administrator shall be responsible for maintaining the inventory and shall designate a location or locations where inventory information is available to employees in the event of an emergency


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3. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

The Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is a detailed information bulletin prepared by the manufacturer or importer of a chemical that describes the physical and chemical properties, physical and health hazards, routes of exposure, precautions for safe handling and use, emergency and first-aid procedures, and control measures.

Information on an MSDS aids in the selection of safe products and helps prepare employers and employees to respond effectively to daily exposure situations as well as to emergency situations.


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Material Safety Data Sheets must be in English and must include the following information:

Chemical IdentityHazardous IngredientsPhysical & Chemical CharacteristicsFire and Explosion Hazard DataReactivity (Instability) DataHealth Hazards

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Section I. Chemical Identity The chemical and common name(s) must be provided

for single chemical substances. An identity on the MSDS must be cross-referenced to

the identity found on the label.

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Section II. Hazardous Ingredients

The chemical and common names of the ingredients that are associated with the hazards, and the common name of the mixture must be listed.

If the chemical is a mixture that has not been tested as a whole the chemical and common names of all ingredients determined to be health hazards and comprising 1 percent or greater of the composition must be listed.

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Section II. Hazardous Ingredients (cont’d)

Chemical and common names of carcinogens must be listed if they are present in the mixture at levels of 0.1 percent or greater.

All components of a mixture that have been determined to present a physical hazard must be listed.

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Section III. Physical and Chemical Characteristics

The physical and chemical characteristics of the hazardous substance must be listed.

These include items such as boiling and freezing points, density, vapor pressure, specific gravity, solubility, volatility, and the product's general appearance and odor.

These characteristics provide important information for designing safe and healthful work

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Section IV. Fire and Explosion Hazard Data

The compound's potential for fire an explosion must be described.

Also, the fire hazards of the chemical and the conditions under which it could ignite or explode must be identified.

Recommended extinguishing agents and fire-fighting methods must be described.

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Section V. Reactivity (Instability) Data

This section presents information about other chemicals and substances with which it reacts.

Information on any hazardous decomposition products, such as carbon monoxide, must be included.

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Section VI. Health Hazards

The acute and chronic health hazards of the chemical, together with signs and symptoms of exposure, must be listed.

In addition, any medical conditions that are aggravated by exposure to the compound, must be included.

The specific types of chemical health hazards defined in the standard include carcinogens, corrosives, toxins, irritants, sensitizers, mutagens, teratogens, and effects on target organs (i.e., liver, kidney, nervous system, blood, lungs, mucous membranes, reproductive system, skin, eyes, etc.).

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Section VI. Health Hazards (cont’d)

The route of entry section describes the primary pathway by which the chemical enters the body. There are three principal routes of entry: inhalation, skin, and ingestion.

If the compound is listed as a carcinogen (cancer-causing agent) this information must be indicated on the MSDS .

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Section VII. Precautions for Safe Handling and Use

The standard requires the preparer to describe the precautions for safe handling and use.

These include recommended industrial hygiene practices, precautions to be taken during repair and maintenance of equipment, and procedures for cleaning up spills and leaks.

Some manufacturers also use this section to include useful information not specifically required by the standard, such as EPA waste disposal methods and state and local requirements.

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Section VIII. Control Measures

The standard requires the preparer of the MSDS to list any generally applicable control measures.

These include engineering controls, safe handling procedures, and personal protective equipment. Information is often included on the use of goggles, gloves, body suits, respirators, and face shields.

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4. Labeling

Containers of hazardous materials or chemicals must be marked with the following information:

Identity of the hazardous chemical(s) contained therein

Appropriate hazard warnings Identity information and hazard warnings must be

legible, in English and prominently displayed on the container. Other languages may be added as long as the information is presented in English

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4. Labeling

Sites shall not remove or deface existing labels on incoming containers of hazardous chemicals

Labels are not required on portable containers into which hazardous chemicals are transferred from labeled containers and which are intended only for immediate use

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5.Storage

Procedural Directive Hazardous Materials prohibits sites from maintaining hazardous chemicals in quantity or toxicity which would pose a threat to students.

Hazardous materials and chemicals must be kept in locked storage cabinets when not in use

Flammable chemicals must be stored in locked fire cabinets

Users must be aware of incompatible storage combinations and locations

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6. Placarding

APS buildings will have NFPA diamonds located on exterior entrance doors. Each color of the diamond represents a different hazard.

Blue = Health HazardRed = FlammabilityYellow = InstabilityWhite = Special Hazard Information

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6. Placarding

A numerical rating will also be provided in the blue, red, and yellow diamonds. This number indicates the severity of the hazard, with a 0 indicating no hazard and 4 indicating the most severe hazard.

These placards represent the "worst" of what is in the building, but they will not provide specific chemical names, quantities, or locations. They are designed to give emergency personnel a general idea of the worst hazards present in a building or area.

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7. Protection from Chemical Hazards

Procedural Directive Hazardous Materials states: “Schools should not have chemicals in sufficient quantity or toxicity which would endanger students.”

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7. Protection from Chemical Hazards

Employees using chemicals shall take reasonable steps to protect themselves, students and other employees from forseeable hazards. This includes:

a. The use of appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as recommended by Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)

b. Knowledge of emergency and first-aid practices required for chemicals as recommended by Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) and chemical container label

a. Knowledge of appropriate emergency programs

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8. Hazardous WasteSites shall seek to minimize the generation of hazardous waste by:

Purchasing and maintaining smaller quantities of chemicals

Seeking to transfer unneeded or excess chemical stock to other site or facility which may have a legitimate use

Hazardous wastes can be accumulated onsite for as long as six-months provided on-site accumulation poses no immediate safety hazard

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8.Hazardous Waste

Store hazardous waste in closed containers clearly labelled with contents and marked “WASTE”

Do not mix hazardous wastes Document date accumulation of hazardous

waste was started on container When ready for disposal, contact Risk

Management Department to arrange for transport

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9.Hazardous Chemical Spills & Emergencies

In the event of a chemical spill or emergency, the safety of students and staff members shall be of paramount importance!

In the event of a hazardous chemical spill or emergency, employees shall:A. Isolate spill area to prevent widening area of contaminationB. Follow spill recommendations listed in

Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)C. Evacuate building if spill poses safety

hazard to facility

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9.Hazardous Chemical Spills & Emergencies In the event of a chemical spill or emergency, the safety of students and staff members shall be of paramount importance!

In the event of a hazardous chemical spill or emergency, employees shall:D. Alert emergency services providers

– police, fire, EMS – if necessaryE. Provide first-aid to injured as

recommended by Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)

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10. Medical Evaluation & Consultation Medical evaluation shall be performed for employees when:

a. An employee develops signs or symptoms associated with hazardous chemical to which the employee may have

been exposed in the workplace b. An event takes place in the work area such as a spill, leak, explosion or other occurrence resulting in the likelihood of a hazardous exposure.

Employees shall report exposure incidents or symptoms to their supervisor using the Notice of Accident form and the Nurse triage reporting line - see Procedural Directive Reporting On-The-Job Injures

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11. Employee Information & Training

Employees shall be provided with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new physical or health hazard the employees have not previously been trained about is introduced into their work area.

Information: a. Any operations in their work area where

hazardous chemicals are presentb. The location and availability of the written

Chemical Management Program including the required lists of hazardous chemicals and Material Safety Data Sheets

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11. Employee Training & Information

Traininga. Methods and observations that may be used to

detect the presence or release of a hazardous chemical in the work area

b. The physical and health hazards of the chemicals in the work area

c. The measures employees can take to protect themselves including emergency procedures, personal protective equipment and workplace controls

Documents

1 Risk Management Department Hazard Communication April, 2008