Bi-Weekly Safety Meeting

October 1, 2015

Your Right To Know

OSHA Standard

• The Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) is an OSHA regulation

intended to prevent adverse health effects of hazardous materials in the

workplace.

• It requires chemical manufacturers, suppliers, and importers to assess the

hazards of the chemicals they produce or import, and to inform employers,

customers, and workers of these hazards.

• In 2003, the United Nations (UN) adopted the

Globally Harmonized System of Classification and

Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). The GHS includes

criteria for the classification of health, physical and

environmental hazards, as well as specifying what

information should be included on labels of

hazardous chemicals as well as safety data sheets.

• In 2012 OSHA announced that the HCS had been

revised to align with the GHS.

OSHA Standard HCS specifies that information on chemical hazards be provided through the

following:

access to safety data sheets (SDS)

properly labeled chemical containers

appropriate training on chemical hazards and safe work procedures

• Safety Data Sheets (SDS) are the

backbone of the Hazardous

Communication System.

• They provide comprehensive and

specific information used not only by

workplaces that manufacture, use,

transport or store hazardous chemicals,

but also by emergency responders,

poison control centers, and transporters

of dangerous goods.

Safety Data Sheets

Safety Data Sheets

The information contained in the SDS is presented in a consistent user-friendly,

16-section format:

• Sections 1 through 8

• contain general information about the chemical, identification,

hazards, composition, safe handling practices, and emergency

control measures (e.g., fire fighting).

• Sections 9 through 11, and 16

• contain other technical and scientific information, such as physical

and chemical properties, stability and reactivity information,

toxicological information, and exposure control information

• Sections 12 through 15

• to be consistent with the UN GHS system, but OSHA will not

enforce the content of these sections because they concern matters

handled by other agencies.

Pictograms Nine hazard pictograms that correspond with the health and physical hazards,

and are intended to help workers determine chemical hazards at a glance.

Sample SDS

Chemicals are classified according to two types of hazards:

1. HEALTH

• toxic effects on the body causing damage to skin, eyes, or

lungs through corrosion

• encouraging the development of cancer or other serious health

conditions

2. PHYSICAL

• fire, explosion, or other violent reaction

Hazard Classification

Health Hazards

• Acute Toxicity

• Skin Corrosion/Irritation

• Serious Eye Damage/Eye Irritation

• Respiratory or Skin Sensitization

• Germ Cell Mutagenicity

• Carcinogenicity

• Reproductive Toxicity

• Target Organ Systemic Toxicity – Single and Repeated Dose

• Aspiration Toxicity

Health Hazards

Health Effects can be Local or Systemic

Local The site on the body at which a toxic material makes contact

with a harmful effect.

Systemic Occurs when a toxic material is absorbed into the body and

carried into the blood stream to produce a harmful effect on

organs and body systems.

Health Effects can be Acute or Chronic

Acute Effects that are severe and sudden in onset. They appear

immediately after an exposure of short duration.

Chronic Effects that develop slowly and do not appear for months or

years after long-term exposure.

Health Hazards

Health Hazards

• Routes of Entry

– Lungs (inhalation)

– Skin (absorption)

– Mouth (ingestion)

– Eyes

Physical Hazards

• Explosives

• Flammability – gases, aerosols, liquids, solids

• Oxidizers – liquid, solid, gases

• Self-Reactive

• Pyrophoric – liquids, solids

• Self-Heating

• Organic Peroxides

• Corrosive to Metal

• Gases Under Pressure

• Water-Activated Flammable Gases

Labels

• Labels are attached to containers to provide workers with “at a glance”

information about chemical hazards.

• They are limited in the amount of information they present and are designed

to provide a brief summary of the more detailed information available on the

SDS.

Labels Should Contain:

1. Product Identifier – Should match the product identifier on the Safety

Data Sheet

2. Signal Word – Either use “Danger” (severe) or “Warning” (less severe)

3. Hazard Statement – A phrase assigned to a hazard class that describes

the nature of the product’s hazards

4. Precautionary Statements – Describes recommended measures to

minimize or prevent adverse effects resulting from exposure

5. Supplier Identification – Name, address, and telephone number of the

manufacturer or supplier.

6. Pictograms – Graphical symbols intended to convey specific hazard

information visually

concerned with the study of the adverse effects of chemicals on living organisms

Information & Definitions on

Determining Exposure

Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)

The PEL is the maximum concentration of an airborne contaminant to which an

unprotected worker may be exposed during the course of workplace activities.

PEL Ceiling Value

The concentration of a substance that should not be exceeded at any time.

Concentration – Parts Per Million (PPM)

The concentration of a substance is a measure of the "strength" of that

substance and can be measured different ways:

% = Parts per hundred

PPM = Parts per million

PPB = Parts per billion

Information & Definitions on

Determining Exposure Time Weighted Average (TWA)

• PELs are based on a time weighted average (TWA)

exposure.

• A TWA is the average exposure over a specified period of

time, usually a nominal eight hours.

• This means that, for limited periods, a worker may be

exposed to concentrations higher than the PEL, so long as

the average concentration over eight hours remains lower.

Test Your Knowledge

• Caustic Soda – Other reference:

– Signal word:

– Hazards Pictograms:

Sodium hydroxide Sodium chloride or

Warning Danger or

and/or and/or

Test Your Knowledge

• Caustic Soda – Other reference:

– Signal word:

– Hazards Pictograms:

Sodium hydroxide

Danger

and/or

Test Your Knowledge

• Ethanol – Other reference:

– Signal word:

– Hazards Pictograms:

Ethanol Alcohol Butoxyethanol or

Warning Danger or

and/or and/or

Test Your Knowledge

• Ethanol – Other reference:

– Signal word:

– Hazards Pictograms:

Ethanol Alcohol

Danger

Test Your Knowledge

• Hydrochloride – Other reference:

– Signal word:

– Hazards Pictograms:

L-NAME Butoxyethanol or

Warning Danger or

and/or and/or

Test Your Knowledge

• Hydrochloride – Other reference:

– Signal word:

– Hazards Pictograms:

L-NAME

Danger

Your Right To Know…

• Our clients provide SDSs for the contractors and employees who work on

their sites.

• It is every employee’s responsibility to know the location of the SDSs for the

sites they work at.

• Site orientation, the project JSA, and personal SMART cards are tools to help

us to remember to remain up to date on the location of this vital information.

Resources

HazCom Policies are located on the Google Safety Resource

Center site.

• MSP-209, Hazard Communication

– A , H2S

– B, Asbestos

– C, Benzene

– D, Lead