Hazard Communication Standard

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Hazard Communication Standard

• IENG 331 Safety Engineering
• Carter J. Kerk, PhD, PE, CSP, CPE
• Industrial Engineering Department
• South Dakota School of Mines

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Objective

• Gain knowledge about the OSHA Hazard
  Communications Standard

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Hazard Communications Standard

• HCS
• The Right-to-Know Standard
• Also know as HazCom
• Implemented by OSHA in 1993
• 29 CFR Part 1910.1200
• General Industry

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Why?

• OSHA estimates that more than 32 million workers
  are exposed to 650,000 hazardous chemical
  products in more than 3 million American
  workplaces
• The goal of the HCS is to be sure employers and
  employees know about work hazards and how to
  protect themselves
• This should help to reduce the incidence of
  chemical source illness injury
• Approximately 11 of OSHA General Industry
  citations relate to Information Systems

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Hazards Posed

• Health Hazards
• e.g., irritation, sensitization, toxicity,
  carcinogenicity
• Physical Hazards
• e.g., flammability, corrosion, reactivity

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Requirements

• Employers must inform workers (including contract
  workers)
• hazardous chemicals they might encounter at their
  job
• hazards the chemicals can cause
• actions the employees should take to protect
  themselves
• This is done through a training program

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Requirements Cont.

• All hazardous chemical containers must be
  properly labeled
• A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) must be
  available for each hazardous chemical at the
  facility

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Requirements Cont.

• There must be a written hazard communication
  program that specifies procedures for
• training
• labeling
• obtaining MSDSs

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Procedures

• Assign one person the responsibility for
  implementing the program
• Obtain the HC Standard
• Read and become familiar with the standard

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Identification

• Identify and record all hazardous chemicals or
  raw materials used at the facility
• Include
• those used occasionally
• those on order at the time of inventory (check
  the purchase requisitions)

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Exemptions

• Determine which chemicals are exempted from the
  standard pesticides, food and additives, drugs,
  cosmetics, medical / vet products, alcoholic
  beverages, consumer products
• These items are labeled according to other
  agencies such as the FDA

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Obtaining MSDSs

• MSDSs are provided by the manufacturer, supplier,
  or distributor to the buyer
• Manufacturer is responsible for determining
  health and physical hazards and other info on
  MSDS
• Request or demand your MSDSs
• Many internet sites and company sites
• Try a Google search on MSDS
• MSDS issues for mixtures see next slide

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Decision diagram for reporting the content of
mixtures in an MSDS
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MSDS Accessibility

• MSDSs must be readily accessible to employees
  working with the chemicals
• Post them in work areas or storage areas
• You can customize the MSDSs for each work area or
  blanket each area

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Labeling

• Containers must be labeled in English
• identity of hazardous chemical
• hazard warning (flammable, corrosive, etc.)
• name and address of manufacturer, supplier or
  other responsible party
• Portable containers are exempt if intended use is
  immediate and total

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Labeling Cont.

• Pipes are exempt from labeling, but employees
  must be trained on contents and hazards
• Fixed process containers (degreasing baths, dip
  tanks, etc.) may have alternate labeling

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Written Program

• Must contain the following
• list of hazardous chemicals in each work area and
  the location of MSDSs
• procedures describing labeling
• procedures for obtaining MSDSs
• description of employee training program and
  procedures for informing contractors

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Training

• A person familiar with the standard and the
  hazards of the facility chemicals must conduct
  the training
• After hiring, new employees must be trained
  immediately

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NFPA Symbol System for Identification of Hazards
of Materials (see NFPA 704)

ReactivitySignal(Yellow)
Flammability Signal(Red)


Health Signal (Blue)
SpecialSymbols(Radiation, Use ofWater is
Hazardous)
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NFPA Symbol Health Signal

DegreeofHazard HEALTH HAZARDType of Possible Injury
4 Materials which on very short exposure could cause death or major residual injury even though prompt medical treatment were given
3 Materials which on short exposure could cause serious temporary or residual injury even though prompt medical treatment were given
2 Materials which on intense or continued exposure could cause temporary incapacitation or possible residual injury unless prompt medical treatment is given
1 Materials which on exposure would cause irritation but only minor residual injury even if not treatment were given
0 Materials which on exposure under fire conditions would offer no hazard beyond that of ordinary combustible material


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NFPA Symbol Flammability Signal

DegreeofHazard FLAMMABILITYSusceptibility of Materials to Burning
4 Materials which will rapidly or completely vaporize at atmospheric pressure and normal ambient temperature, or which are readily dispersed in air and which will burn readily
3 Liquids and solids that can be ignited under almost all ambient temperature conditions
2 Materials that must be moderately heated or exposed to relatively high ambient temperatures before ignition can occur
1 Materials that must be preheated before ignition can occur
0 Material that will not burn


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NFPA Symbol Reactivity Signal
DegreeofHazard REACTIVITYSusceptibility of Release of Energy
4 Materials which in themselves are readily capable of detonation or of explosive decomposition or reaction at normal temperatures and pressures
3 Materials which in themselves are capable of detonation or explosive reaction but require a strong initiating source or which must be heated under confinement before initiation or which react explosively with water
2 Materials which in themselves are normally unstable and readily undergo violent chemical change but do not detonate. Also materials which may react violently with water or which may form potentially explosive mixtures with water.
1 Materials which in themselves are normally stable, but which can become unstable at elevated temperatures and pressures or which may react with water with some release of energy but not violently
0 Materials which in themselves are normally stable, even under fire exposure conditions, and which are not reactive with water



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NFPA Symbol Special Symbols

ApprovedSymbols SPECIAL HAZARDS
OX This denotes an oxidizer. A chemical which can greatly increase the rate of combustion / fire.
W Unusual reactivity with water. This indicates a potential hazard using water to fight a fire involving this material.


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Globally Harmonized System (GHS)

• The Globally Harmonized System of Classification
  and Labeling of Chemicals or GHS
• Internationally agreed upon system to replace
  standards and classifications in different
  countries
• United Nations and ILO (International Labor
  Organization) influence
• Already adopted by the European Union
• OSHA published a proposed rule on September 30,
  2009 to align HCS with GHS

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HWHC Hazard Communications

• Part 1 Pick a chemical that you use or have
  used at work, home, hobby, etc. Obtain an MSDS
  and study it. Write a 1 page (double-spaced)
  paper about what you learned about the chemical
  that you didnt already know.
• Part 2 Go to the October 2009 issue of
  QuickTakes and study the proposed rule to adopt
  GHS. Write a 0.5 page (double-spaced) memo to
  your boss about what this proposed rule means.
• Due Date?