Warning labels chemical hazards

By adopting portions of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS), OSHA s Hazard Communication (HazCom) Standard, requires the use of GHS-compliant labels. Chemical hazard warning labels are one way of informing employees of the hazards and of how to protect themselves when using or storing a material. 

Warning labels. The hazard communication standard requires every chemical manufacturer (or importer, if the chemical is of foreign manufacture) to label every container of hazardous chemical shipped to a user. The... 

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 ... 

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

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... 

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). 

Best-seller covering chemical hazard evaluation, warning labels, MSDSs, written hazard communication plans, workplace-specific training, and employer/employee responsibilities. 

A critical aspect of chemical industry product labeling is the fact of government regulation of many of the products which are considered to be potentially hazardous to consumers and/or workers. Such products are subject to various federal, state and local laws and ordinances which in many instances mandate the inclusion of specific warnings on product labels. These warnings describe the hazards and inform the user as to proper use procedures, actions to be taken in the event of exposure to hazard, first aid or medical advice, and disposal procedures, all in addition to whatever other material the seller might wish to include on the product label. 

Gusman, S. and hrwin, F. (Eds.), Chemical Hazard Warnings Labeling for Effective Communication, The Conservation Foundation, Washington, D.C., 1979. 

Physical and Chemical Hazards— EPA regulations require that the term flammable appear on the label of any pesticide product whose flash point falls between 20°F and 80°F. See Table 10.4 for a description of flammability criteria and appropriate required warning and precautionary statements. 

EPA could require information on warning labels where there is evidence that the chemicals in question present an unreasonable risk and disclosure of confidential information is necessary to protect against that risk. It should be noted, however, that this provision imposes a high standard on EPA. The Agency must show not merely that a chemical poses an unreasonable risk but that the inclusion of confidential information in warning labels represents the only effective mechanism for controlling that risk and other approaches are inadequate. EPA probably could not meet this standard where users of a chemical would be adequately informed about potential risks by a generic description of the chemical s identity or where a description of the hazard posed by the chemical and appropriate precautionary instructions are adequate to assure its safe use. 

Many of the products recommended for home improvement projects contain very unpleasant chemicals. Check the labels for hazard or health warnings before you buy, and try to source safer alternatives. There are a whole range of natural, responsibly sourced choices if you decide to buy new materials. 

The identity of the hazardous chemical displayed on the hazard warning label... 

Employers must ensure that each container of hazardous chemical in their workplace is labeled, tagged, or marked to identify the chemical and its specific hazards. Hazard warning labels must remain on the container even when empty until the container has been cleaned and purged. There are exceptions to the labeling requirements just discussed. For instance, labels are not required for ... 

There are several forms of warning labels available that provide information about the hazards of chemicals in the workplace. Two of the most commonly used are the Hazardous Material Identification System (HMIS) warning label and the National Fire... 

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