HAZARD COMMUNICATION

(HAZCOM)
Class Objectives
 To learn:
– the purpose of the HAZCOM Standard
– the 4 major program components
– the 12 required pieces of information on an
MSDS
HAZCOM Standard’s Purpose
Reduce occupational illness and injury
resulting from chemical exposure(s) by:
– informing employees of the identities and the
hazards of the chemicals they work with
– training employees on the measures for
preventing chemical exposure(s)
References
 29 CFR 1910.1200, Hazard Communication
 JCAHO CAMH/CAMAC Standards, EC
1.5, 2.1 and 2.6, Hazardous Materials and
Wastes
 DOD Hazard Communication Program,
Change 1 dated May 6, 1996
History and Scope
 Original final rule (1983)
– Manufacturing industry only
 Revised final rule (1987)
– Expanded to include all industries, including
healthcare
 Revised final rule (1994)
– Clarifications and modifications to enhance
compliance.
Application
“any chemical which is known to be present
in the workplace in such a manner that
employees may be exposed under normal
conditions of use or in a foreseeable
emergency”

. . . . gases, liquids, and solids

Retail, warehousing, marine

M a n u f a c t u r e r s /Im p o r t e r s :
E v a lu a te c h e m ic a ls
D e v e lo p M S D S s /w a r n in g la b e ls
T r a n s m it in fo r m a tio n

E m p lo y e r s :
D e v e lo p a w r itte n p r o g r a m
P r o v id e w o r k e r tr a in in g
M a k e in fo r m a tio n a v a ila b le to w o r k e r s
Major Program Components
 Written Program
 Warning labels
 Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs)
 Information and training
Written Program
Written Program
Compliance Tips
 Include a list of the hazardous chemicals
present in the workplace
 Describe procedures for
– warning labels, MSDSs, training & education
– informing employees of non-routine tasks and of
chemicals in unlabeled pipes
– sharing information with other employers
 Make the program available to employees
Chemical Inventories
Compliance Tips
 Include all hazardous chemicals
 Compile for the workplace or for individual
work areas
 List by the chemical names (identities) used
on the MSDSs and warning labels
Warning Labels
Warning Labels
 Chemicals regulated by the following acts do
not require OSHA HAZCOM warning labels
– Toxic Substances Control Act
– Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
– Virus-Serum-Toxin Act
– Federal Alcohol Administration Act
– Consumer Product Safety Act
– Federal Seed Act
Warning Labels
 Original container
– identity
– hazard warnings
– name and address of the manufacturer
 Portable transfer containers (multiple
users/work shifts)
– identity
– hazard warnings
Warning Labels
Compliance Tips
 Ensure each container is properly labeled
 Verify that the label is legible and in
English
 Permissible to supplement with other
languages and labeling systems
Material Safety Data Sheets
Material Safety Data Sheets
 Manufacturer’s responsibilities:
– Review scientific evidence
– Develop MSDSs
– Send with initial shipments, after each update,
and upon request
– Update when new information becomes
available
Material Safety Data Sheets
 Employers responsibilities:
– Maintain an MSDS for each hazardous
chemical in the workplace
– Train workers to read MSDS information
– Ensure MSDSs are readily accessible to
workers
General
 No specific format
 Must include 12 categories of information
to be considered complete
Material Safety Data Sheets
– Identity – health hazards
– name, address, and – precautions for safe
telephone number of the handling and use
manufacturer
– control measures
– date MSDS was
prepared – emergency and first-
– hazardous components aid procedures
& exposure limits – primary route(s) of
– physical and chemical exposure
characteristics – listed as a known or
– physical hazards suspected carcinogen
Chemical Identification &
Manufacturer’s Information
 Product identity
– Chemical brand or trade name, chemical name,
or common name
 Manufacturer’s information
– name, address, telephone number, and
emergency telephone number
 Date MSDS was prepared or updated
Hazardous Components or
Ingredients & Exposure Limits
 Identity of hazardous ingredients (>1% of
the mixture)
 Identity of carcinogenic ingredients (>0.1%
of the mixture)
 OSHA Permissible exposure levels (PELs)
 ACGIH Threshold Limit Values (TLVs)
Physical & Chemical
Characteristics
 Boiling point  Specific gravity
 Vapor pressure  Melting point
 Vapor density  Evaporation rate
 Solubility in water  Appearance and
 pH odor
Physical Hazards:
Fire and Explosion Data
 Flash point  Extinguishing media
 Upper and lower  Special fire fighting
flammable limits procedures
– (UFL or UEL)  Unusual fire and
– (LFL or LEL) explosion hazards
 Ignition temperature  Fire fighting
equipment & methods
 Auto ignition
 NFPA 704 Hazard
temperature
Rating
Physical Hazards:
Reactivity Data
 Stability  Hazardous
– Unstable polymerization
– Stable – May occur
– Conditions to avoid – Will not occur
 Hazardous – Conditions to avoid
decomposition or  Incompatibility
byproducts – Materials to avoid
Routes of Entry, Carcinogenic
Data & Emergency Information
 Routes of entry  Carcinogenic
– Inhalation – NTP
– Skin/eyes – IARC
– Ingestion – OSHA
 Health effects  Signs and symptoms
– Acute of exposure
– Chronic  Medical conditions
 Emergency and first aggravated by
aid procedures exposure
Precautions for Safe Handling
and Use
 Spill response  Handling and storage
 Waste disposal  Other precautions
Control Measures
 Personal protective equipment (PPE)
– Respirators, gloves, eye protection, other
 Ventilation
– Local exhaust, general, other
 Work/hygienic practices
Material Safety Data Sheets
Compliance Tips
 Verify that an MSDS is available for each
hazardous chemical
 Verify MSDSs are in English and complete
 Keep MSDSs in a readily accessible location
 Permissible to obtain/maintain MSDSs
written in other languages and use electronic
MSDSs
Information & Training
Information
 Overview of the OSHA HAZCOM standard
 Operations where hazardous chemicals are
present
 Location and availability of the
organization’s written HAZCOM program
Training
 Detection of hazardous chemical release(s)
 Physical and health hazards of the
chemicals in the work area
 Measures for preventing exposure(s)
 Details of the organization’s HAZCOM
program
Information & Training
Compliance Tips
 Provide organization-wide and work area-
specific education & training
 Ensure employees can describe or
demonstrate:
– safe work practices
– emergency procedures
– health and physical hazards
– spill reporting procedures
Spill Response
Spill Response
Determined by:
 Chemical and physical properties
 Work area location & physical hazards
 Size of the spill
 Availability of spill kits or equipment and
appropriate personal protective equipment
 Worker training
Spill Response
Compliance Tips
 Emphasize importance of spill prevention
 Train employees in spill reporting and
response procedures
 Provide spill kits or equipment and PPE
when employees must clean up spills
 Investigate spill incidents and take
corrective action(s) to prevent reoccurrence
Questions?
Review
 Purpose of the HAZCOM Standard
 4 major program components
 12 required pieces of information on an
MSDS