Hazardous Chemicals – Exposure Control |
Purpose: To inform new employees about the potential hazards associated with exposure to chemicals and to ensure they are made aware of the College’s commitment to prevent employee exposure to hazardous chemicals.
Introduction: We all use chemicals routinely at home, for our hobbies, and at work. Cleaning agents, solvents, lubricants, paints, fuels, adhesives, etc. are part of our daily living and they require care during handling and storage to avoid injury, illness or death. To prevent chemical exposures in the workplace, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration developed the Hazard Communication Standard (HAZCOM), which requires employers to inform employees about the chemical hazards they may be exposed to on the job.
The HAZCOM Standard applies to anyone who uses hazardous chemicals in the workplace. The Hazard Communication Standard provides a uniform standard for providing information regarding the hazards of chemicals used in the workplace. HAZCOM requires chemical manufacturers to provide warning labels on all chemicals to identify hazards, provide precautions for the user regarding the handling and storage of chemicals, and instructions about how to handle chemical spills and leaks. Labels must also provide information regarding first aid and medical treatment that is to be followed in the event of an accident involving a chemical. Manufacturers are also required to develop a detailed material safety data sheet (MSDS) for each chemical to provide additional chemical safety information.
Under the HAZCOM Standard, the College is required to provide information and training about the hazards of chemicals used by employees, how to recognize, understand and use labels and MSDSs, safe procedures to follow when working with hazardous chemicals, and how to handle chemical spills and leaks. SPC is committed to providing a safe workplace for employees and ensuring that employees are informed about and protected from exposure to hazardous chemicals. This commitment is a shared responsibility that includes every employee.
Your responsibility as an SPC employee is to read and follow label and MSDS instructions, and to adhere to College policies, procedures, instructions and warnings designed to protect you, your coworkers, students, and visitors from chemical hazards.
What Types of Hazardous Chemicals May Be Encountered At SPC? |
Combustible and flammable liquids, cleaning solvents, adhesives, acids, paints, ceramic manufacturing materials, photography chemicals, radiography chemicals, pesticides, bleach, and in science laboratories a large assortment of chemicals.
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How Do I know If A Chemical Is Hazardous? |
Read the label on the container - always read labels and check precautions.
Read the MSDS for additional information.
If you are unsure, ask your supervisor for assistance or contact Safety/Environmental Services at Ext. 3314, 3385, or 3192.
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What Information Can I
Find On Chemical Labels? |
Common name of the chemical
Name, address and emergency phone number of the company that makes or distributes the chemical
Signal Word - Danger, Warning or Caution
Principal hazards
Physical hazards – is it flammable, corrosive, is it explosive, or will it react violently with other materials
Health Hazards - is it toxic, does it irritate, does it cause cancer
Precautionary measures - what special protective clothing, equipment or procedures are required to handle it safely
First aid instructions
Proper handling and storage instructions
Special precautions concerning children
If you need more information, refer to the MSDS.
If
there is no label, contact your supervisor immediately.
Never smell, taste, or touch
a chemical to attempt to identify it!
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Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) |
The MSDS is your guide to safe use of chemicals. It provides detailed information about the chemical and physical hazards, safe handling and storage practices, emergency response to spills or leaks, and first aid and medical treatment.
II. Hazardous Ingredients - components, chemical ID and common name(s), exposure limits and conditions
Components will not be identified if it is a trade secret, but the MSDS will still provide all the necessary information for safe handling and use of the chemical.
III. Physical and Chemical Characteristics - boiling point, water solubility, vapor pressure, vapor density, melting point, evaporation rate, appearance and odor under normal conditions
IV. Physical Hazards - fire and explosion hazards, procedures and equipment required for handling hazards
V. Reactivity - tells whether the chemical is stable and what substances or situations should be kept away from the chemical to avoid a hazardous reaction.
VI. Health Hazards - How the chemical can enter the body and how it may affect it.
Inhalation - through nose or mouth
Ingestion – swallowing
Absorption - through the skin
Is the chemical a carcinogen - may cause cancer
Symptoms of exposure to a chemical, e.g., eye irritation, nausea, dizziness, skin rashes, and headache
Existing medical conditions that may be aggravated by exposure to the chemical
First aid and medical treatment for accidental exposure
VII. Precautions for Safe Handling and Use
How to handle the chemical properly
How to safely store the chemical
What to do for spills and leaks
How to safely dispose of the chemical
Equipment needed and procedures to follow for cleaning up spills and stopping leaks
Any additional precautions and recommendations
VIII. Control Measures - How to reduce harmful exposure to the chemical by using special protective measures and equipment e.g., respirators, gloves, eye protection, protective clothing, ventilation, and hygiene practices to follow
It provides information to protect you and your coworkers.
Every MSDS is not the same, but all information you need will be provided.
Be prepared - Always read the MSDS before you begin work with a new chemical.
When in doubt, contact your supervisor for assistance or contact Safety/Environmental Services at Ext. 3314, 3385, or 3192.
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Will I Receive Hazard
Communication Training? |
SPC employees who are expected to handle hazardous chemicals must complete Hazard Communication training before they begin handling hazardous chemicals and whenever new chemicals are provided to perform their work. If you work in Construction, Custodial, Landscape, Maintenance Services, District Impressions, or Security, you will receive training from Safety/Environmental Services. Faculty and staff who work with chemicals in science laboratories receive training based on the requirements specified in their department’s Chemical Hygiene Plan. Faculty and staff in other departments, who are expected to handle chemicals, will receive HAZCOM training through their department head.
If you are not expected to handle hazardous chemicals as a part of your job, this document (and any department specific information your supervisor may provide you) constitutes the necessary information you will receive regarding hazardous chemicals.
What is My Responsibility as an SPC Employee? |
Identify hazards before starting a job. You would not begin a long journey without first figuring out where you are going. Likewise, you should not handle a chemical without first reading the label and MSDS.
Before you begin working with a chemical, read the label and MSDS and discuss questions or concerns with your supervisor.
Practice safe work habits, respect all precautions, and do not take unnecessary chances.
Ensure
you have the proper protective equipment and the training required for using the
chemical safely. If it’s not safe, don’t
do it!
Follow College procedures for responding to and reporting of emergencies.
Know how and where to get help in the event of a spill or leak of the chemical.
Understand the basic first aid steps to take for accidental exposure to the chemical(s).
When in doubt, ask your supervisor.
My signature below acknowledges that I have read and understand the above information about hazardous chemical exposure and that I have received a copy of this document from Human Resources for my personal reference.
Please Print Name
Date
Safety/Environmental Services
8/06