Health Hazards & Hazard Communication New England Roofing Industry Partnership

Training Objectives  After completing this unit, you will be able to: –Explain the purpose and content of the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard. –Identify basic types of health hazards from chemicals used on the work site. –Identify routes of entry and potential health effects. –Explain the purpose & identify the components of a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). –Find hazard control information on an MSDS. –Identify manufacturer’s and standardized labeling systems. 1 D Health Hazards & Hazard Communication SUBPART

References  29 CFR , Subpart D, Hazard Communication  29 CFR , Subpart Z, Hazard Communication  National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 2 D Health Hazards & Hazard Communication SUBPART

The Dangers of Chemicals  Are chemicals really worth worrying about? –A recent study shows that exposure to harmful substances causes 18% of all on the job deaths in construction! –This does not include those workers who get long term diseases from exposures. –Asbestos, fiberglass, adhesives, and paint products cause thousands of cases of lung disease among construction workers. 3 D Health Hazards & Hazard Communication SUBPART

How Chemicals Get Inside Us 4 D Health Hazards & Hazard Communication SUBPART

Routes of Entry  Inhalation –Usually our biggest concern due to very large surface area of the lungs.  Ingestion –A concern where hand-to-mouth actions occur, for example eating or smoking.  Skin Absorption –Can lead to a double exposure with inhalation of some solvents.  Injection –Into the skin, such as compressed air or high pressure paint spray. 5 D Health Hazards & Hazard Communication SUBPART

Inhalation Hazards  Each year respiratory hazards cause illness and death for thousands of construction workers.  The hazards in the air can be either: –Gases, Vapors, such as ADHESIVE VAPORS –Particulates Dust, fibers, fumes, such as SILICA DUST –Oxygen-Deficient Atmospheres 6 SUBPART D Health Hazards & Hazard Communication

Gases and Vapors  Gases- –formless at room temperature; things like carbon monoxide, methane and propane.  Vapors- –formed when liquids evaporate; things like paint vapors, adhesive vapors, and gasoline vapors.  Either can get into your bloodstream by breathing them into your lungs. Once in your blood they can damage your organs. 7 SUBPART D Health Hazards & Hazard Communication

Oxygen-Deficient Atmospheres  Most often found in confined spaces.  Considered immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH).  IDLH situations will cause death or serious injury within 30 minutes.  19.5% oxygen is the lowest legal limit.  Lack of oxygen can damage your brain. 8 SUBPART D Health Hazards & Hazard Communication

Particulates  Dusts – produced by grinding, sanding, cutting, and mixing.  Mists – given off when a liquid is sprayed.  Fumes – tiny particles given off when metals or other solid materials are vaporized, then cooled. – for example – welding fumes. Health effect will depend on origin and particle size. Finer material can penetrate deep into your lungs. 9 SUBPART D Health Hazards & Hazard Communication

How Chemicals Affect Us 10 D Health Hazards & Hazard Communication SUBPART

Once A Chemical Gets In  Depending on its toxicity and how much, you were exposed to, it may: –Irritate or injure your nose, mouth, throat, or lungs. –Get into your blood stream through your lungs or skin. –Have an additive, or synergistic, effect with some other compound. –Stay in your body for a long time. –Damage certain organs, or systems. 11 D Health Hazards & Hazard Communication SUBPART

Working Safely With Chemicals  We can prevent chemical exposure and related illness by: –Knowing everything we can about the chemicals we work with. – Applying the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard which was designed to make sure workers know about the chemicals they work with. 12 D Health Hazards & Hazard Communication SUBPART

Hazard Communication Standard  The Hazard Communication Standard requires employers to: –Get and provide Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) on each chemical. –Use only chemicals that are labeled. –Inform and train workers about the chemicals. –Have a written program which includes a list of all chemicals being used. 13 D Health Hazards & Hazard Communication SUBPART

Container Labeling  All chemicals must be labeled.  Employers may use the manufacturer’s label which came on the container.  Employers may also use standardized systems such as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) label. –Note: As a worker you are permitted to have an unlabeled container if you have complete control over the container at all times and you only have as much as you will use-up for the task. Walking away from it, even for a moment, is losing control. 14 D Health Hazards & Hazard Communication SUBPART

Check It Out!  One of the most effective ways to learn about the chemicals you use is to read the label.  What you learn may surprise you.  More importantly it will give you the knowledge to help protect yourself. 15 D Health Hazards & Hazard Communication SUBPART

Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) 16 D Health Hazards & Hazard Communication SUBPART

MSDS - Product Information  Chemical name.  Who makes it.  The manufacturer’s address.  The manufacturer’s phone number.  The date the MSDS was prepared. 17 D Health Hazards & Hazard Communication SUBPART

MSDS - Chemical/Physical Properties  Physical and chemical characteristics help predict a chemical’s behavior. –Boiling point, vapor pressure, vapor density, solubility in water, specific gravity, melting point, evaporation rate, and appearance/odor. –For example, A chemical with a vapor density greater than 1 will have a vapor heavier than air, like gasoline. A liquid with a specific gravity less than 1 will float on water, like oil. 18 D Health Hazards & Hazard Communication SUBPART

MSDS - Fire & Explosion Data  We can use the MSDS to find out about the fire and explosion hazard of a product, things like: –The Chemical’s Flash Point. –What type of extinguisher to use. –Any special fire fighting precautions. –What not to mix it with. 19 D Health Hazards & Hazard Communication SUBPART

Flash Point  The temperature the chemical must reach to give off enough vapor for fire or explosion if an ignition source or spark was there. 20 D Health Hazards & Hazard Communication SUBPART

MSDS - Health Hazard Information 21 D Health Hazards & Hazard Communication SUBPART

Exposure Limits  Limits are based on laboratory research and are set based on what 85% of the population can stand without getting sick.  The number is based on the average concentration over an 8-hour day, 40 hours per week, for your whole working life. 22 D Health Hazards & Hazard Communication SUBPART

Exposure Limits 2  Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) are from current research.  Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) are OSHA law but the levels may be higher than TLVS as they depend on older research results.  On your MSDS take note, some chemicals may have a TLV lower than the PEL. 23 D Health Hazards & Hazard Communication SUBPART

PELs and TLVs 24 D Health Hazards & Hazard Communication SUBPART

MSDS - Protective Measures  We can use the MSDS to find out if ventilation is required, and things like: –Specific type of respirator needed. –What type of gloves to use. –What type of eye and face protection is needed. –Any other protective equipment and protective measures needed. 25 D Health Hazards & Hazard Communication SUBPART

MSDS - Handling Spills & Leaks  We can use the MSDS to find out what to do with leaks and spills, things like: –Procedures for clean-up. –Disposal after clean-up. –Any other special precautions such as insuring good ventilation during clean-up. 26 D Health Hazards & Hazard Communication SUBPART

MSDS - Special Precautions  We can use the MSDS to find out if there are any special precautions for handling and storage, things like: –Avoiding ignition sources. –Avoiding storage above Fahrenheit. –What it should not be stored near such as oxygen tanks. 27 D Health Hazards & Hazard Communication SUBPART

Most Importantly!  Check the health hazards section for routes of entry and symptoms of overexposure.  Check the protective measures section for safe handling and PPE selection.  Check the fire and explosion data section for unusual fire & explosion potential.  Read the MSDS before using a chemical!  Read the label before using a chemical! 28 D Health Hazards & Hazard Communication SUBPART

NFPA Label  National Fire Protection Association  The higher the number in the blue box (max. is 4), the greater the health hazard. Check the MSDS. 29 D Health Hazards & Hazard Communication SUBPART

Health Hazards & Hazard Communication SUBPART D 30 HMIS Label

What About Training?  Training must include: –The hazards of the job including chemical hazards. –The OSHA Hazard Communication Standard itself. –The specific chemicals you work with, the potential hazards, and ways to control those hazards. 31 D Health Hazards & Hazard Communication SUBPART

Access to Information  Material safety data sheets must be available whenever you want them. – Computerized MSDS is OK, if immediately available on the job.  You must also be able to see the company’s written hazard communication program including the list of chemicals. 32 D Health Hazards & Hazard Communication SUBPART

Case Study: What went wrong? A laborer was given the job of thinning a large stock pile of oil-based paints while inside a small storage building. At the end of the second day, he was found unconscious. He was taken to the hospital with an irregular heart beat & almost died. 33 D Health Hazards & Hazard Communication SUBPART

Occupational Health ( ) Common OSHA Citations: –.62(d)(1)(i): Lead - Exposure assessment –.55(a): Gases, vapors, fumes, dusts & mists - exposure –.55(b): Gases, vapors, fumes, dusts & mists – controls –.50(c): First aid Training –.59[ ]:Hazard Communication - Written Program D Health Hazards & Hazard Communication SUBPART 34 How can the hazards addressed by these Standards best be corrected, controlled, or eliminated?

Review Questions  True or False? 1.There are only two ways chemicals enter the body. 2.Chronic exposure means a one time exposure. 3.OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) was designed to make sure workers know about the chemicals they work with. 4.The only thing OSHA’s HCS requires employers to do is get an MSDS sheet for every chemical. 35 D Health Hazards & Hazard Communication SUBPART

Review Questions  True or False? 5.OSHA requires all chemicals to be labeled. 6.It’s not always necessary to read the MSDS sheet and container label before using a chemical. 7. As a worker, the health hazards, protective measures, and fire and explosion sections of the MSDS sheet are the most important. 36 D Health Hazards & Hazard Communication SUBPART

Review Questions  True or False? 8. Your employer is required to provide training about general hazard communication but not about the specific chemicals you use. 9. The MSDS sheet will tell you how a chemical can get in your body but will not tell you what kind of PPE to use. 10. As a worker, you must always have access to any MSDS sheet any time you want. 37 D Health Hazards & Hazard Communication SUBPART