Hazard Communication Healthcare Workers

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc Session Objectives You will be able to: Understand chemical hazards Interpret hazard information on labels Access and understand the information on the MSDS Take adequate safety precautions Respond effectively to emergencies

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc What You Need to Know Hazard Communication Program Hazard Communication Standard Physical and health hazards of chemicals Where to find vital safety and health information Required personal protective equipment Emergency response

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc Encounters with Chemicals We encounter chemicals almost every day Filling your vehicle with gasoline Cleaning the house Applying pesticides or insecticides Using solvents or acids at work Many chemicals can cause injury or illness

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc Encounters with Chemicals (cont.) 30 million workers exposed or potentially exposed to 650,000 chemicals annually 20,000 incidents of exposure result in lost workdays annually

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc Hazard Communication: Laws and Regulations We must provide you with: A written hazard communication program A list of hazardous chemicals MSDSs Training

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc Hazard Communication: Laws and Regulations (cont.) You must be able to: Read labels and MSDSs Follow instructions and warnings

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc Hazard Communication: Laws and Regulations (cont.) You must be also be able to: Identify hazards before starting a job Participate in training

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc Types of Chemicals You May Encounter at Work Chemicals may be used: To clean and disinfect To sterilize To treat certain diseases For research and testing in the lab Hazardous chemicals might also be contained in waste materials

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc Physical Hazards of Chemicals Flammable Explosive Reactive

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc Health Hazards of Chemicals Short-term effects include headache, dizziness, skin irritation Long-term effects may be liver or lung damage or even cancer Some examples of health hazards are: Corrosive Toxic

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc How Chemicals Enter Your Body Skin absorption and eye contact Inhalation Swallowing (eating contaminated food) Penetration (cut, puncture, or injection)

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc How Chemicals Affect Your Body Dosage Acute effects Chronic effects

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc Chemical Hazards Do you understand the information that has been presented so far?

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc Check the Label for Safety and Health Information Chemical identity Manufacturer contact information Physical/health hazards Special handling PPE recommendations First aid, fire response, and spill cleanup

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc What Else Is on the Label? The product label also shows: The name of the chemical The manufacturer Miscellaneous safety information Hazard warnings List of hazardous ingredients

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc NFPA Labeling Systems Blue = Health hazard Red = Flammability Yellow = Instability White = Other hazards Numbers: 0 (No Hazard) to 4 (Extreme Hazard)

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc Material Safety Data Sheets Read the MSDS before working with a chemical. The MSDS: Provides a written description of a hazardous chemical Describes the risks, precautions, and remedies to exposure Must be readily available to you

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc MSDS (cont.) Chemical and manufacturer identity Hazardous ingredients Physical and chemical properties Fire, explosion, and reactivity

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc MSDS (cont.) Health hazards: Routes of entry Exposure levels (PEL or TLV) Symptoms of exposure First-aid and emergency information

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc MSDS (cont.) PPE Safe handling and storage Spills and leaks Compliance issues

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc MSDS and Labels Do you understand the information about MSDSs and labels?

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc Personal Protective Equipment Commonly required PPE includes: Safety goggles Face shields Gloves Other skin protection Respiratory protection

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc Emergency First-Aid Procedures Eyes: Flush with water for 15 minutes Skin: Wash with soap and water, remove contaminated clothing Inhalation: Move to fresh air Swallowing: Get emergency medical assistance

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc Emergency Response to Chemical Spills or Leaks Notify a supervisor or the emergency response team Alert others in the area Evacuate Stay away until told it’s safe to return

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc Key Points to Remember Identify chemical hazards Read labels and MSDSs Follow warnings and instructions, or ask your supervisor if in doubt Use the correct PPE Practice sensible, safe work habits Learn emergency procedures