Saving Lives

As per the standard employers are required to develop, implement, and maintain at each workplace a written hazard communication program that at least describes how the program will be managed and operated, including the requirements for labeling and other forms of warning, SDSs, and employee information  and training, and how these requirements will be met, which also includes:

Scope and application.

This section requires distributors to transmit the required information to employers. (Employers who do not produce or import chemicals need only focus on those parts of this rule that deal with establishing a workplace program and communicating information to their workers.) This section applies to any chemical which is known to be present in the workplace in such a manner that employees may be exposed under any condition.

• Employers shall ensure that labels on incoming containers of hazardous chemicals are not removed or defaced;
• Employers must maintain every safety data sheets that are received with incoming shipments of hazardous chemicals, and ensure that they are readily accessible during each work shift to laboratory employees when they are in their work areas;
• Employers need to ensure that laboratory employees are provided information and pieces of training also Laboratory employers that ship hazardous chemicals are considered to be either a chemical manufacturer or a distributor under this rule, and thus must ensure that any containers of hazardous chemicals leaving the laboratory are labeled and a safety data sheet is provided to distributors and other employers.
• Employers shall ensure that labels on incoming containers of hazardous chemicals are not removed or defaced
• Employers shall maintain copies of all safety data sheets that are received with incoming shipments of the sealed containers of hazardous chemicals, shall obtain a safety data sheet as soon as possible for sealed containers of hazardous chemicals received without a safety data sheet if an employee requests the safety data sheet, and shall ensure that the safety data sheets are readily accessible during each work shift to employees when they are in their work area(s)
• Employers shall ensure that employees know what to do in the event of a spill or leak of a hazardous chemical from a sealed container.
• 1910.1200(b)(5)
  This section does not require labeling of the following chemicals:
  Any pesticide as such term is defined in the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.), when subject to the labeling requirements of that Act and labeling regulations issued under that Act by the Environmental Protection Agency;
• Any chemical substance or mixture as such terms are defined in the Toxic Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.), when subject to the labeling requirements of that Act and labeling regulations issued under that Act by the Environmental Protection Agency;
• Any food, food additive, color additive, drug, cosmetic, or medical or veterinary device or product, including materials intended for use as ingredients in such products (e.g. flavors and fragrances), as such terms are defined in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.) or the Virus-Serum-Toxin Act of 1913 (21 U.S.C. 151 et seq.), and regulations issued under those Acts, when they are subject to the labeling requirements under those Acts by either the Food and Drug Administration or the Department of Agriculture;
• Any distilled spirits (beverage alcohols), wine, or malt beverage intended for nonindustrial use, as such terms are defined in the Federal Alcohol Administration Act  Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives;

The chemical manufacturer, importer, or distributor shall ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals leaving the workplace is labeled, tagged, or marked. Hazards not otherwise classified do not have to be addressed on the container. Where the chemical manufacturer or importer is required to label, tag, or mark, the following shall be provided:

• Product identifier;
• Signal word;
• Hazard statement(s);
• Pictogram(s);
• Precautionary statement(s);
• Name, address, and telephone number of the chemical manufacturer or other responsible party.

Safety Data Sheet

SECTION 1: Identification of the substance/mixture and of the company/undertaking
1.1. Product identifier
1.2. Relevant identified uses of the substance or mixture and uses advised against
1.3. Details of the supplier of the safety data sheet
1.4. Emergency telephone number
SECTION 2: Hazards identification
2.1. Classification of the substance or mixture
2.2. Label elements
2.3. Other hazards
SECTION 3: Composition/information on ingredients
3.1. Substances
3.2. Mixtures
SECTION 4: First aid measures
4.1. Description of first aid measures
4.2. Most important symptoms and effects, both acute and delayed
4.3. Indication of any immediate medical attention and special treatment needed
SECTION 5: Firefighting measures
5.1. Extinguishing media
5.2. Special hazards arising from the substance or mixture
5.3. Advice for firefighters
SECTION 6: Accidental release measure
6.1. Personal precautions, protective equipment, and emergency procedures
6.2. Environmental precautions
6.3. Methods and material for containment and cleaning up
6.4. Reference to other sections
SECTION 7: Handling and storage
7.1. Precautions for safe handling
7.2. Conditions for safe storage, including any incompatibilities
7.3. Specific end use(s)
SECTION 8: Exposure controls/personal protection
8.1. Control parameters
8.2. Exposure controls
SECTION 9: Physical and chemical properties
9.1. Information on basic physical and chemical properties
9.2. Other information
SECTION 10: Stability and reactivity
10.1. Reactivity
10.2. Chemical stability
10.3. Possibility of hazardous reactions
10.4. Conditions to avoid
10.5. Incompatible materials
10.6. Hazardous decomposition products
SECTION 11: Toxicological information
11.1. Information on toxicological effects
SECTION 12: Ecological information
12.1. Toxicity
12.2. Persistence and degradability
12.3. Bioaccumulative potential
12.4. Mobility in soil
12.5. Results of PBT and vPvB assessment
12.6. Other adverse effects
SECTION 13: Disposal considerations
13.1. Waste treatment methods
SECTION 14: Transport information
14.1. UN number
14.2. UN proper shipping name
14.3. Transport hazard class(es)
14.4. Packing group
14.5. Environmental hazards
14.6. Special precautions for user
14.7. Transport in bulk according to Annex II of MARPOL[5] and the IBC Code
SECTION 15: Regulatory information
15.1. Safety, health, and environmental regulations/legislation specific for the substance or mixture
15.2. Chemical safety assessment
SECTION 16: Other information
16.2. Date of the latest revision of the SDS

Training

• Methods and observations that may be used to detect the presence or release of hazardous chemicals in the work area should be known to the workers;
• The physical and health hazards of the chemicals in the work area should be known to the workers;
• The measure employees can take to protect themselves from these hazards, including specific procedures the employer has implemented to protect employees from exposure to hazardous chemicals;
• The details of the hazard communication program developed by the employer, including the explanation of the labeling system and the MSDS, and how employees can obtain and use the appropriate hazard information.
• Employers shall develop, implement, and maintain at each workplace, a written hazard communication program
• Methods and observations that may be used to detect the presence or release of a hazardous chemical in the work area (such as monitoring conducted by the employer, continuous monitoring devices, visual appearance or odor of hazardous chemicals when being released, etc.

  Remember The details of the hazard communication program developed by the employer, including an explanation of the labels received on shipped containers and the workplace labeling system used by their employer; the safety data sheet, including the order of information and how employees can obtain and use the appropriate hazard information.