Hazard Communications/ Right-to-Know  What do these words mean?

The Right-to-Know the hazards of products you use At work (or at home) –Fuels –Grease –Paints –Oils –Cement –Road salt

The Right-to-Know the hazards of products you use At work (or at home) –Insecticide or repellent –Welding rods –Anti-freeze/coolants –Other auto fluids –Hand cleaners

Right-to-Know Law  New York State Law

Hazard Communication  Federal OSHA Regulation

Hazard Communication/Right- to-Know training  Safety information provided about the products used

What information?  Safe work practices using the product  Protection for lungs, skin, eyes, etc. when using  Fire safety

What other information?  Medical response to accidents  Safe disposal  How can it injure user?

What additional information?  What other materials is it unsafe to combine with?

Right-to-Know  Requires information source  Requires annual training  Must post sign about contact person for information

Hazard Communications  OSHA regulation 29 CFR  Requires initial training  Requires training on new products as they are introduced  Requires training on new procedures that create chemical hazards

Where do you get the information?  Labels of products  Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)  Training  (help each other)

What ways can you be exposed to the hazards of the products?  Inhale or breathe in  Ingest or eat –On your food from dirty hands or surfaces –On a cigarette –Fall off hair onto food as you eat  Absorbed through skin

Two types of hazards  Acute – immediate reaction, usually intense  Chronic – accumulates over time (didn’t know it was happening)

HMIS system sometimes used  Hazardous Materials Identification System  Very useful  Provides quick information on health, fire, reactivity and other hazards –Numbers 0 to 4 rate hazards 0 practically non-hazardous Up to 4 which is very hazardous –May be as a diamond with four quadrants

Information on label  Flammable?  Eye or skin hazard?  Caustic or corrosive?

Information on MSDS  At least 8 sections –Section 1 or I should identify the product –Section 2 or II usually tells hazards ingredients and the limits of exposure PEL- Permissible Exposure Limit –The lower it is, the more hazardous the material

Information on MSDS (cont’d.)  Other sections may be in different order –A section about how to handle product safely Fire and explosion hazard Reactivity data –Like if need to keep away from water Control measures like ventilation and personal protective equipment suggested

Information on MSDS (cont’d.)  Health hazard data –How to tell if you are having an overexposure Symptoms to watch for like dizziness, vision problems, faintness, etc. Acute and chronic effects  Safe disposal advice

Information on MSDS (cont’d.)  Physical and chemical characteristics  Emergency treatment for exposure

MSDS information WHO can get you an MSDS?

Where can the written program be found? Check with the management representative in your unit.