1. Health Hazards & Hazard Communication New England Roofing Industry Partnership 1926.59

2. 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 & 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

3. References  29 CFR 1926.59, Subpart D, Hazard Communication  29 CFR 1910.1200 Subpart Z, Hazard Communication  National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 2 D Health Hazards & Hazard Communication SUBPART

4. 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

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

6. Hazards of Chemicals…  There are 2 basic types of chemical hazards –Physical Hazards –Health Hazards  The first rule of Chemical safety is… "Know what you are working with and how to protect yourself and others“

7. Physical Hazards…  Chemicals are classified as having Physical Hazards if they are Explosive Compressed Gas Combustible Liquids Flammable Unstable Water Reactive Oxidizers

8. Physical Hazards…  Some chemicals may be safe by themselves, but become dangerous when in contact with other substances.

9. Chemicals with Physical Hazards…  Used only by trained employees  Stored in a safe manner  Never mixed with other chemicals unless by an approved procedure

10. Health Hazards  Chemicals are classified as being a health hazard if they: Can cause cancer Are poisonous (toxic) Cause harm to your skin, internal organs, or nervous system Are corrosive - such as acids Cause allergic reactions after repeated exposure

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. What’s wrong with this picture?

21. 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

22. 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

23. Employee Information and Training  Employers must provide employees information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area: –At the time of their initial assignment –Whenever a new physical or health hazard the employees have not previously been trained about is introduced into their work area  Training may cover categories of hazards

24. Employee Information  Employers must inform employees: –Of the training requirements of this section (1910.1200 (h) Employee information and training.); –Any operations in their work area where hazardous chemicals are present; –The location and availability of the written hazard communication program

25. Employee Information  Employers must inform employees: –The location and availability of the list of hazardous chemicals –The location and availability of material safety data sheets

26. Employee Training  Employee training shall include at least: –Methods and observations that may be used to detect the presence or release of a hazardous chemical in the work area –The physical and health hazards of chemicals in the work area –Measures employees can take to protect themselves –Details of the employers specific program

27. New Hazard Information  One important function of the individual(s) in charge of maintaining MSDS for the employer is to replace current MSDS with the revised version, when it is received.  Companies can have copies in several locations, so updating all copies requires a conscientious effort by the individual(s) responsible for maintaining MSDS. MSDS

28. MSDS availability off-site  For employees who work off-site: –MSDS may be kept at the central location –In an emergency, the employer must have provisions in place to ensure that employees can immediately obtain the required information

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

30. 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

31. 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

32. 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

33. 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

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

35. 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

36. Exposure Limits 2  Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) are from current research.  Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) are OSHA law but the levels may be higher 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

37. PELs and TLVs 24 D Health Hazards & Hazard Communication SUBPART

38. 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

39. 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

40. 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 100 0 Fahrenheit. –What it should not be stored near such as oxygen tanks. 27 D Health Hazards & Hazard Communication SUBPART

41. 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

42. 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

43. Health Hazards & Hazard Communication SUBPART D 30 HMIS Label

44. 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

45. 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

46. Subpart D - Occupational Health (1926.50 - 66) Gases, vapors, fumes, dusts & mists - Exposure Hazard Communication - Written Program Lead - Exposure assessment Gases, vapors, fumes, dusts & mists - Controls Employee exposure assessment - Biological monitoring Employee exposure assessment - Appropriate PPE D Health Hazards & Hazard Communication SUBPART 34