Hazard Communication Standard 29 CFR

OSHA estimates tens of millions of U.S. workers are potentially exposed to one or more hazardous chemicals in their workplaces. There are hundreds of thousands of hazardous chemicals found in the workplace, with numerous new ones being introduced each year. The chemicals can be either health hazards, physical hazards, or in some cases, both. Simple rashes or more serious conditions such as burns, sterility, lung damage, heart ailments, kidney damage, or cancer can be associated with exposures to hazardous chemicals (State of Kentucky, 1992, p. 1). 

Protecting the employee from the harmful effects of hazardous chemical exposures is a formidable task for the employer. In order for a chemical to harm an individual s health, it must come in contact with or enter the body. The four routes of entry or pathways by which a chemical can enter the body are 

For the employer to develop and implement control measures to block these routes of entry, all pertinent information about a chemical is essential. 

In 1983, the OSHA enacted the HAZCOM to confront the seriousness of this health and safety problem. The purpose is to ensure that the hazards from all chemicals produced or imported are evaluated and the hazard information transmitted downstream to all affected parties. The rule also guarantees the workers right to know about the hazardous chemicals in their workplaces therefore, it was often referred to as the right-to-know standard. After the passage of SARA, it has been typically referred to as the HAZCOM Standard. 

While there is no all-inclusive list of chemicals covered by the HAZCOM Standard, the regulation refers to any chemical which is 

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OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, 29 CFR Section 1910.1200, OSHA, Washington, D.C., 1983. 

OSHA 1994. Hazard Communication Standard. 29 CFR 1910.1200. Paragraph (c), Definitions. U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration. February 9. 

There are OSHA standards designed to protect employees from acute chemical hazards resulting lfom reactive incidents-including fires, explosions, and toxic releases. The Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) requires chemical manufacturers to evaluate chemicals produced or handled in their workplace and to communicate the hazards associated with the products they produce via labels and MSDSs. The standard also requires all employers to provide information to employees about the hazardous chemicals to which they could be exposed. The PSM Standard (29 CFR 1910.119) requires employers to prevent or minimize the consequences of catastrophic releases of highly hazardous chemicals, including highly reactive chemicals. 

The USOSH Hazard Communication Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1200, has categorized certain target organ effects, including examples of signs and symptoms and chemicals which have been found to cause such effects. These examples are presented to illustrate the range and diversity of effects and hazards found in the workplace, and the broad scope employers must consider in this area, but they are not intended to be all-inclusive. These are summarized for the reader in Table 17. 

Biphenyl is defined as a toxic chemical under, and subject to, reporting requirements of Section 313 of Tide III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) of 1986 and 40 CFR, Part 372 under the name biphenyl. It is identified as a hazardous chemical under criteria of the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200). 

The small amount of mixed terphenyls that are sold as such, are shipped in the form of flaked solids in 22.7 kg multiwall bags. The U.S. freight classification is Plastics, synthetic other than liquid, NOIBN. Like biphenyl, mixed terphenyls fall under the hazardous chemical criteria of the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200). 

Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200). The hazard communication standard requires that all personnel receive training concerning the types of materials handled in the workplace and the potential hazards associated with handling and use of these materials. In addition, the standard requires that a MSDS for each hazardous material be made available for individual employee reference. The MSDS outlines specific material chemical and physical properties, exposure information, emergency response information, regulatory information, and any other information of significance concerning the material. 

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration s (OSHA) Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) of 1986 requires that employers at manufacturing facilities, and any other work place where toxic chemicals are handled or processed, be provided Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for aU hazardous substances used in their facility, and to make these MSDSs available to all employees potentially exposed to these hazards. 

A Materials Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is a document summarizing the hazards and health and safety information for a chemical. In the United States, the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) requires that chemical manufacturers must make an MSDS available to employees and customers for every chemical manufactured or sold. The Canadian Hazardous Products Act (R.S., 1985, c. H-3) has the same requirement. 

Under OSHA hazard communication standard 29 CFR 1910.119, employers are required to carry out an assessment to evaluate the risk to health from any chemicals handled and establish what precautions are needed to protect employees. A written record of the assessment should be kept and details made available to employees. The design engineer should consider the preventative aspects of the use of hazardous substances. Points to consider are... 

OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) The US OSHA s Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) ensures that information about chemical hazards and associated protective measures is provided to workers and employers. This is accomplished by requiring chemical manufacturers and importers to evaluate the hazards of the chemicals they produce or import, and to provide information through labels on shipped containers and MSDSs. Employers with hazardous chemicals in their workplaces must prepare and implement a written hazard communication program, and must ensure that containers are labeled, employees are provided access to MSDSs, and an effective training program is conducted for all potentially exposed employees. The HCS provides workers the right-to-know the... 

Risk identification. Once the presence and concentrations of specific hazardous substances and health hazards have been established, the risks associated with these substances shall be identified. Employees who will be working on the site shall be informed of any risks that have been identified. In situations covered by the Hazard Communication Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1200, training required by that standard need not be duplicated. 

The CCMC administers the SRS HazCom Program, in complianee with the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) and the S/RID. All employees have access, via the SRS Intranet, to the site MSDS database, which contains electronic images of MSDSs for products used on site. This open access is important for worker health and safety and satisfies OSHA requirements. 

The chemical and physical hazards of the chemicals in the workplace. This is almost the same as the basic information on PELs and MSDSs hsted in the previous section. Those requirements basically defined limits of exposure and the sources of data. This requirement provides that the employees be given chemically specific hazard information on the chemicals in their work area. It is most important that the chemicals in actual use are the principal ones for which this information is provided. However, generic hazard information by class for chemicals present but not in use should be provided as well. There is always the potential for an accident involving chemicals not in current use. The employees must be informed that they are not to deface or remove the labels on commercial containers of chemicals, since they represent a primary source of information. It is not required by the standard, but following the requirement from the Hazard Communication Standard 29 CFR 1910.1200, that secondary containers intended for use beyond a single work shift should be labeled, it is highly recommended that this be required. 

A characteristic of many research laboratories is that chemicals may be produced or synthesized in the course of the research. If the composition of the chemical is known and it is a hazardous material, all of the training requirements and other provisions of the standard apply. If the composition is not known, it shall be assumed to be hazardous and, with the exception of the requirements for MSDSs and similar information sources, the provisions of the CHP apply. If the chemical is produced for a user outside the laboratory, the provisions of the Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) apply, including the requirement for providing an MSDS and proper labeling of the material. Compliance with these requirements will be the responsibility of the individual laboratory and a commitment to this compliance should be in the laboratory CHP. 

Originally, the principal audience for MSDSs comprised health and safety professionals (who are responsible for formulating safe workplace practices), medical personnel (who direct medical surveillance programs and treat exposed workers), and emergency responders (e.g., fire department personnel). With the promulgation of federal laws such as the Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) and the OSHA Laboratory Standard (29 CFR 1910.1450), the audience for MSDSs has been expanded to include laboratory workers in industrial and academic laboratories. However, not all MSDSs are written to meet the requirements of this new audience effectively. 

In addition to the Laboratory Standard, the Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) applies to all nonlaboratory businesses or operations "where chemicals are either used, distributed, or produced" and is more stringent than the Laboratory Standard in some respects. Other OSHA standards concerning level of exposure apply to hundreds of chemicals and are included in the LCSSs prepared for this report and in many MSDSs. 

There are 50 titles in the CFR and to get a sense of the range of the CFR it is best to simply examine the 50 titles at http //www.access.gpo.gOv/nara/cfr/cfr-table-search.html pagel. Title 29 deals with Labor (see Figure 1.3.3.1). There are nine volumes in 29 CFR and Volume 5 contains Part 1910, which is where the laws and regulations associated with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are listed. Within 29 CFR 1910, there are 26 subparts labeled with the letters A-Z. Subpart Z has the title Toxic and Hazardous Substances and is the location of the Hazard Communication standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) and the Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories standard (29 CFR 1910.1450—commonly called the Lab Standard ). (See Figure 1.3.3.1.)... 

Review and explanation of OSHA s hazard-communication standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) and lockout-tag-out standard (29 CFR 1910.147). 

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