Labeling: Hazardous Chemicals Standard, 333 Material Safety

The hazard communication (HAZCOM) standard is a central feature in the safe operation of the chemical processing industry. HAZCOM ensures that process technicians can safely handle, transport, and store chemicals. The standard mandates that workers have access to chemical lists, material safety data sheets, information on physical and health hazards, toxicology, hazardous chemicals and operations, manufacturers information, and warning labels. It also sets requirements for availability and use of personal protective equipment. 

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. 

The HCS, also known as the Employee Right-to-Know Law, is basically concerned with the exposure of workers to hazardous chemicals in the workplace. Under this standard, since 1986, all manufacturers, importers, and distributors of hazardous chemicals have had to label the containers they ship, listing the ingredients and hazards of the material in the containers, and provide Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) to all downstream users, handlers, and storers of these chemicals. 

The Standards Advisory Committee on Hazardous Materials Labeling was established under section 7(b) of the OSHA Act to develop guidelines for the implementation of section 6(b)(7) of the Act with respect to heizardous materials. On June 6,1975, the Committee submitted its final report which identified issues and recommended guidelines for categorizing and ranking chemical heizards. Labels, material safety data sheets (MSDS), and training programs were also prescribed. 

More than one year after withdrawal of the Hazard Identification proposed standard, the new proposed standard (standard) entitled Hazard Communication, was published in the Federal Register, Volume 47, No. 5, Friday, March 19,1982. It proposes that chemical manufacturers assess the hazards of chemicals which they produce and that all employers in SIC Codes 20 through 39 (Division D, Standard Industrial Classification Manual) provide information to their employees about the hazardous chemicals which they use by meems of a hazard communication program, labels, placards, material safety data sheets, and information and training. 

There are two important types of labels in laboratories. The labels on commercial containers are usually extremely comprehensive, providing not only information on the nature, amount, and quality of the product but also a very laige amount of safety-related data. Typically a commercial label will readily meet the requirements of the hazard communication standard. On the other hand, labels placed on secondary containers in the laboratory by employees may be something such as soln. A or even less. This may be sufficient if all of the material is to be promptly used by the individual placing the label on the container, but otherwise it is not. In most instances, secondary containers of hazardous chemicals should be marked with labels identifying the chemical in the container and providing basic hazard warnings. The secondary label should be affixed before the container is put into use. 

The hazardous material identification requirements applied to SNL/NM facilities are defined in the SNL ES H Manual, Chapter 6, Sections D and E, Hazard Communication Standard and Laboratory Standard, respectively (SNL 1998). These standards address the labeling of hazardous chemicals and the availability of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs). HCF activities will follow the Hazard Communication Standard (for isotope processing operations) and the Laboratory Standard (most other activities). The requirements within these standards vary slightly, however, both require appropriate hazards labeling and the availability of MSDSs. 

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulation 29 CFR 1910.1200 et seq.. Hazard Communication Standard (HCS). It requires the development and dissemination of such information. Chemical manufacturers and importers are required to evaluate the hazards of the chemicals they produce or import, and prepare labels and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) to convey the hazard information to their downstream customers. All employers with hazardous chemicals in their workplaces must have labels and MSDSs for their exposed workers, and train them to handle the chemicals appropriately. See also Hazardous Communication (HAZCOM). 

In addition, this subpart is Hazard Communication and Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in the Laboratory. These regulations attempt to ensure worker awareness and knowledge of hazardous materials. Material Safety Data Sheets, container labeling, and employeetraining requirements are specified in this subpart of the standards. 

The original right-to-know law was passed by Congress in 1970. The law said that chemical manufacturers and importers must determine the physical and health hazards of each product they make or import. Then they must pass the information about these hazards on to users through material safety data sheets and container labels. As of May 23,1988 employers in the nonmanufacturing sector were included and must be in compliance with provisions of the OSHA standards. 

The OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) establishes uniform requirements to assure that the hazards of all chemicals imported into, produced, or used in US workplaces are evaluated. Hazard information and associated protective measures must be communicated using labels and material safety data sheets. In... 

Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) has evolved, mostly for convenience, into a document that provides data in greater detail than the standard requires. And many more changes are in store, as OSHA plans to finalize its proposed rule to modify the current Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) to conform to the UN Globally Harmonized System (GHS) for classification and labeling of chemicals. 

To recognize occupational factors or stresses, a health and safety professional must first know about the chemicals used as raw materials and the nature of the products and by-products manufactured. This sometimes requires great effort. The required information can be obtained from the material safety data sheet (MSDS), which must be supplied by the chanical manufacturer or importer to the purchaser for all hazardous materials under the hazard conununication standard. The MSDS is a summary of the important health, safety, and toxicological information on the chanical or the mixture ingredients. Other stipulations of the hazard communication standard require that all containers of hazardous substances in the workplace be labeled with appropriate warning and identification labels. If the MSDS or the label does not give complete information but only trade names, it may be necessary to contact the mannfacturer of the chemicals to obtain this information. 

Suppliers of chemicals in the UK are required to classify potential hazards and provide information using package labels and Material Safety Data Sheets. Standard UN and EU symbols are used to identify different chemicals and industrial hazards. These are shown in Figures 5.11 and 5.12 respectively. Further information on individual... 

The Hazard Communication Standard, also known as the workers right-to-know rule, became effective in November, 1985. The rule requires manufacturers, chemical importers and all employers in the manufacturing sector (Standard Industrial Classification or SIC codes 20 through 39) to assess the hazards of chemical in their workplaces and to provide information to employees concerning their exposure to hazardous substances. This means of hazard communication includes labels, placards, material safety data sheets (MSDSs), training, and access to written medical and other records. In addition, distributors of hazardous chemicals are required to ensure that containers they distribute are properly labeled and that... 

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