Chemical warning labels

Probably one of the most important safety and healtli standards ever adopted is tlie OSHA hazard communication standard, more properly known as tlie right to know laws. The liazard communication standard requires employers to communicate information to tlie employees on liazardous chemicals tliat e.vist witliiii the workplace. The program requires employers to craft a written luizard communication program, keep material safety data sheets (MSDSs) for all haztirdous chemicals at the workplace and provide employees with training on tliose hazardous chemicals, and assure tliat proper warning labels are in place. 

Hazard and operability studies (HAZOP), 396, 399 Hazard classification, 443, 452, 453, 455, 469, 477, 478 Hazard warning labels, 394, 446, 447, 452, 461, 464 Hazardous reactions. See Chemical reaction Corrosion ... 

Have you ever wondered about the content of the small packets of granules included in boxes of new electronic devices, leather products, or medications Or have you simply heeded the warning label to dispose of the sachet immediately The granular desiccants in these packets have particular physical properties that enhance their function as drying agents. A look at the chemical structure or chemical properties of these materials provides a better understanding of their capacity to control moisture. 

There are some other acute toxicity tests in which non-lethal outcome are sought. These include studies of the amount of chemical needed to cause skin or eye irritation or more serious damage. Test systems developed by J. H. Draize and his associates at the Food and Drug Administration in the early 1940s were used to study ocular effects. Warning labels on consumer products were typically based on the outcome of the Draize test. 

To disseminate information on hazardous properties of chemicals placed on the market with the purpose of promoting safe use. This is accomplished by hazard warning labelling, safety data sheets and other types of information on risks and safe use. International standards are also applicable to this part of the process. 

The standard requires an employer to identify each hazardous chemical with a label, tag, or other mark clearly identifying the material. All warning labels shall be clearly legible and provided in English, although the employer may in addition voluntarily include the warning in other languages. 

Regulatory requirements the world over dictate that hazardous chemicals and chemical products carry warning labels on them that convey health hazard information about such chemicals and products. Well-communicated warnings are instrumental in saving lives and protecting the health of people who use or are incidentally exposed to hazardous chemicals. Chemical product warnings that fail to warn, on the other hand, are often responsible for serious injuries and even death. 

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) mandates that warning labels be affixed to product containers and that material safety data sheets (MSDS) be distributed to users of commercial and industrial chemicals. M... 

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) establishes regulations to enforce the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA) which requires chemical product warning labels on consumer products... 

In addition to these regulations, the state of California requires that warning labels inform users of any chemical in the product known to cause cancer or be a developmental and reproductive toxicant. California also has a cosmetics disclosure law that requires the disclosure of all toxic chemicals contained in cosmetics and personal care products. ... 

Regulatory authorities be established initially in each country and subsequently worldwide to review and approve chemical product warning labels to assure that the best available knowledge about toxicity is universally distributed. This authority could be similar to that exercised by EPA in the United States in reviewing and approving pesticide product labelsJ6 ... 

Review and approval of warning labels be required prior to the release of a chemical product into the stream of commerce... 

A good warning label will scare a user into action. Warnings for toxic chemicals and chemical products currently inadequately address the hazards of chemicals and particularly chemical mixtures, which often produce toxic effects at lower concentration levels than the individual chemicals. An informed user of chemicals will almost always be better protected than... 

Education of the toxic effects of chemicals and chemical mixtures should become more widespread. Students should be taught how to read and understand warning labels and MSDS in their science classes and to avoid contact with chemicals whenever possible. Public service advertisements can be used to educate people about the need to limit toxic emissions, about the safe use of chemical products, and how to avoid unnecessary exposures. 

Warning labels aid in the identification of chemical hazards during shipment. Under regulations of the DOT, chemicals that are transported in the United States must carry labels based on the UN classification. DOT placards or labels are diamond shaped with a digit imprinted on the bottom corner that identifies the UN hazard class (1 to 9). The hazard is identified more specifically in printed words placed along the horizontal axis of the diamond. Color coding and a pictorial art description of the hazard supplement the identification of hazardous material on the label the artwork appears in the top corner of the diamond (Figure 1-6, A). 

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