Right-to-know laws

The actual coated fabrics themselves are not subject to these federal regulations. They are classified as "Articles of Commerce." However, in recent years most manufacturers have, for the convenience of their customers, generated an MSDS for their products. Their customers, the manufacturers, and contractors using these coated fabrics have requested this information because they are also covered under federal and state "Right to Know" laws and want to ensure the safety of their employees. 

The toller needs to be familiar with all raw materials, intermediate materials, products and wastes, used, produced or generated, respectively, while operating the process. Tollers in the U.S. should comply with the Federal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, codified as 29 CFR. 1910.1200 and any similar state right-to-know laws that are currently in force or may be enacted during the term of the contract. This is often stated in the contract. The contract may require the toller to inform its employees of the chemical hazards associated with products or chemicals and may also be responsible for training its employees in the proper handling methods. The toller has an obligation when in doubt about a product or chemical, to seek further information from the product s manufacturer. 

Eederal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, codified as 29 CER 1910.1200 and any similar state right-to-know laws... 

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. 

Probably one of the most important safety and healtii standards ever adopted is the OSHA hazard communication standard, more properly known as tiic right to know laws. 

State Right to Know Laws. These state guidelines can be thought of as an extension of the federal OSHA requirements and primarily affect the labeling of printing inks in various states. 

A growing number of communities are enacting right to know laws. These laws require that public officials, health workers, plant workers, and in some cases the general public, be kept informed of hazardous materials produced, used, or stored within the community. In addition, state and federal laws often give local citizens an effective voice in how those laws will be applied within their community. 

State laws may prescribe safe working conditions in chemical and other plants. They also may prescribe environmental standards which must be met in plant operations. States also have or may enact right to know laws as well as legislation governing transportation, storage, marketing, or disposal of hazardous materials. 

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. 

NJ RTK Hazardous Substance Fact Sheets are data sheets for over 1500 individual hazardous chemicals prepared under the New Jersey Right-To-Know Law. Information is available New Jersey State website. 

The OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, better known as the Right-to-Know law, requires that the hazards of all chemicals produced in or imported into the United States are evaluated and that employers provide their employees with all appropriate hazard information. This involves providing employees with hazard communication/training programs and access to material safety data sheets (MSDSs) and written records. OSHA considers the MSDS the primary vehicle for transmitting detailed hazard information to downstream employers and employees. 

S. Konar and M. A. Cohen, Information as Regulation The Effect of Community Right to Know Laws on Toxic Emissions, Journal of Environmental Economic Management, 32, 109-124 (1997). 

In addition to the amounts of chemicals released to the environment through accidents, the U. S. Toxic Release Inventory shows the release of 2.43 billion lb into air, land, or water in 1996,169 down from 3.21 billion lb in 1992.170,171 (The data is available on a number of Internet sites, including www.epa.gov/opptintr/tri.) The total decline since the law became effective in 1987 has been 46%. This right-to-know law was enacted in the aftermath of the Bhopal accident. It now covers nearly 650 chemicals out of about... 

The "Right to Know Law" covers science teachers who work with potentially hazardous chemicals. Briefly, the law states that employees must be informed of potentially toxic chemicals. An inventory must be made available if requested. 

Most states have adopted the federal HMTA and RCRA regulations, but some have additional restrictions. Most of the additional state restrictions pertain to routing restrictions, notification, public right-to-know laws, curfews, and size and weight restrictions. Five states have established specific routing requirements for RCRA hazardous wastes—Colorado, New Jersey, Idaho, Kansas, and Rhode Island. New Jersey is the only state that has requirements specific to the transport of CWM. 

Community Right to Know Law, requiring that individuals in possession of chemicals maintain records of location, quantity, and use and any releases of chemicals. The EPA is charged with maintaining a public database of these records. The EPA begins assisting communities in the development of Emergency Response Plans. 

Worker Right to Know laws, 593 Environmental management systems (EMS), 539, 1185... 

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