Standards: chemical hazards Protection Association

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... 

In 1992, OSHA promulgated its Process Safety Management (PSM) Standard (29 CFR 1910.119). The standard covers processes containing individually listed chemicals that present a range of hazards, including reactivity, as well as a class of flammable chemicals. Reactive chemicals were selected from an existing list of chemicals identified and rated by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) because of their instability rating of "3" or "4" (on a scale of 0 to 4)4,5... 

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. 

Information on incompatible materials can be found in most Materials Safety Data Sheets. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) also publishes standards NFPA 491 (1997), Guide to Hazardous Chemical Reactions, and NFPA 49 (1994), Hazardous Chemicals Data, both of which provide data on incompatible materials. 

National Fire Protection Association, Standard on Vapor Protective Suits for Hazardous Chemical Emergencies, NFPA 1991, Quincy, MA, 1994. 

In Part IV, the last section. Jay Young and Charles O Connor discuss current and proposed industry standards. The Chemical Manufacturers Association (CMA) sponsored ANSI Guide to Precautionary Labeling of Hazardous Chemicals and the National Fire Protection Association s (NFPA) Identification of Fire Hazards of Materials are the two oldest standards. The ANSI Standard owes its beginnings to the original Labels and Precautionary Information Committee (LAPI) Guide published by CMA in 1938, while the NFPA System was first explicated in 1952. 

The Chemical Data Summary Sheet (CDSS) is a part of a larger INEEL Chemical Management System (ICMS) — a computerized tracking system for chemical products, chemicals, or hazardous agents (CPCHA). INEEL developed the CDSS as a tool to aid in hazard identification. Chemical safety experts evaluated every CPCHA at INEEL and developed a CDSS for each. Information on the CDSS includes the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) diamond a listing of all hazards and a compatibility classification, time-sensitive classification, and building code classification for the identified CPCHA. While the CDSS is not a replacement for an MSDS, it does contain site-specific safety information that cannot be found in an MSDS and that information is presented in a standardized format... 

National Fire Protection Association, Fire Protection for Laboratories Using Chemicals NFPA-45, 1982. Safety Standard for Laboratories in Health Related Institutions, NFPA, 56c, 1980. Fire Protection Guide on Hazardous Materials, 7th edition, 1978. National Fire Protection Association, Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA... 

Air Contaminants 29 CFR 1910.1000, Table Z-1, Limits for Air Contaminants 1910.1450, Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories 29 CFR 1910.1450, App A, National Research Council Recommendations Coneeming Chemical Hygiene in Laboratories (Non-Mandatory) and 29 CFR 1910.1450, App B, References (Non-Mandatory). Laboratory safety is also addressed by NFPA 45, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard on Fire Protection for Laboratories, and the International Codes by the International Code Council (ICC). Laceration... 

In other words, employers may continue to use rating systems such as National Fire Protection Association (NFPA ) 704 diamonds or Hazardous Materials Identification System (HMIS ) III requirements for in-house workplace labels as long as they are consistent with the requirements of the HazCom Standard, and the employees have immediate access to the specific hazard information as discussed above. If you use NFPA or HMIS labeling, you must, through training, ensure that your employees are fully aware of the hazards of the chemicals used. 

FIGURE 3.1.2.3 NFPA Diamond. The fire diamond is frequently used in chemical laboratories. The ratings indicate the hazard level under fire conditions, not necessarily ambient laboratory conditions. (The NFPA diamond is reprinted with permission from NFPA 704-2007, System for the Identification of the Hazards of Materials for Emergency Response. Copyright 2007 National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA. This reprinted material is not the complete and official position of the NFPA on the referenced subject, which is represented only by the standard in its entirety. The NFPA classifies a limited number of chemicals and cannot be responsible for the classification of any chemical whether the hazard of classifications are included in NFPA or developed by other individuals.)... 

In the wake of a December chemical fire at an Ohio hazardous waste company that killed one worker and left another with severe burns, the Chemical Safety Board (CSB) is calling for the Environmental Technology Council (ETC) to petition the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to issue a standard for hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal facilities. 

Standard (often referred to as HazCom or the Right-to-Know Law). Briefly, its intent is to assure workers of their right to know about the hazards associated with chemicals to which they are being exposed in their places of employment. This law prohibits employers from directing workers to handle hazardous chemicals without first training the workers on the potential hazards involved workers must also be trained on how to protect themselves from the chemical hazards. This law applies to all chemical substances known to be present within the workplace, chemicals to which workers could be exposed under normal working conditions, and chemicals to which workers could be exposed in an emergency. 

Under this program, our employees will be informed of the contents of the Hazard Communication Standard, the hazardous properties of chemicals with which they work, safe handling procedures, and measures to take to protect themselves from these chemicals. Our employees will also be informed of the hazards associated with nonroutine tasks, such as the cleaning of reactor vessels, and the hazards associated with chemicals in rmlabeled pipes. 

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