Jump to:
- Background
- Purpose
- Approach
- Application
- Determining Chemical Hazards
- Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
- SDS Availability
- Labels & Other Forms of Warnings
- Employee Information, Education, & Training
- Retraining
- Non-Routine Tasks
- Contractors
- Program Availability
Background This Chemical Hazard Communication Plan meets the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements for CFR 29 1910.1200 and ensures that university faculty and staff are effectively informed concerning potential and existing chemical hazards. Hazard Communication is one important aspect of UA Little Rocks’ Occupational Safety and Health Program, which includes:
- Commitment and active support from Management
- Engineering controls for safety and health hazards
- Enforcement of safety rules and programs
- Recognition, Evaluation, and control of occupational safety and health hazards
- Medical Surveillance
- Assigned safety and health responsibility and accountability
The purpose of this Chemical Hazard Communication Plan is to inform our employees of all potential or existing chemical hazards.
Methods used to inform employees include:
- Container labeling and other forms of warning
- Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
- Employee education and training
This Chemical Hazard Communication Plan applies to:
- Known occupational safety and health hazards
- Chemicals to which employees may be exposed under normal conditions of use or in a foreseeable emergency
Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) and Principle Investigators are responsible for identifying chemical hazards from safety data sheets (SDSs) provided by chemical manufacturers and distributors.
SDSs are prepared and distributed by manufacturers and distributors of hazardous materials. All chemical manufacturers and distributors must obtain or develop an SDS for each hazardous material they produce or import. A hazardous material is one that is either a physical hazard (i.e., flammable, oxidizer, etc.) or a health hazard (i.e., causes acute or chronic health effects). EHS maintains the master SDS library for hazardous materials used or handled in UA Little Rock workplaces. Safety Data sheets are reviewed to make sure they are complete and old data sheets are replaced with new ones that accompany shipments of materials. SDSs are written in English and include the following information:
- Identification
- Hazard(s) identification
- Composition/information on ingredients
- First-aid measures
- Fire-fighting measures
- Accidental release measures
- Handling and Storage
- Exposure controls/personal protection
- Physical and chemical properties
- Stability and reactivity
- Toxicological information
- Ecological information
- Disposal considerations
- Transport information
- Regulatory information
- Other information
Departments will forward all SDSs to EHS for storage in the SDS library. Departments will maintain a copy of all SDSs for each hazardous material in the workplace and make them readily accessible during each work shift to faculty and staff when they are in their work area(s). Employees may review the SDSs for the materials they are working with at the time and while they are in their work area. They also may request a copy of an SDS if they wish. Copies of SDSs for materials used in each work area are maintained in that work area. Upon request, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), OSHA, and the Arkansas Department of Labor have access to our SDSs.
Labels & Other Forms of Warnings
Chemical manufacturers, importers, and distributors provide labels, tags, or other markings for containers of hazardous chemicals. This identification includes the following information:
- Identity of the hazardous chemical
- Appropriate hazard warnings
- Name and address of the chemical manufacturer, distributor, or other responsible parties
UA Little Rock requires that containers of hazardous materials in the workplace be labeled, tagged, or marked with the identity of the hazardous chemical and appropriate hazard warning. Portable containers of hazardous chemicals must be labeled if they contain chemicals transferred from labeled containers even if intended only for the immediate use of the employee who performs the transfer. Labels on incoming containers must not be defaced in any way. Missing or defaced labels on containers of Hazardous Chemicals being received will not be accepted at UA Little Rock.
Employee Information, Education, & Training
An information, education, and training program is provided and coordinated by EHS to make sure employees know about hazardous chemicals in the workplace and the appropriate control measures to reduce exposure. New employees receive appropriate safety and health information, education, and training during their initial assignment. This training includes information about hazardous materials and processes in the workplace through the use of printed materials, classroom instruction, and online training. New employee safety and health training begins upon hire and continues during the length of employment with on-site training as needed or required. The specific information in the safety and health training includes:
- General chemical hazards
- Hazards associated with non-routine tasks
- Recognition, evaluation, and control of hazardous chemicals
- Chemical labeling
- Hazards associated with unlabeled piping and processing systems
- MSDSs
- Access to information on hazardous chemicals
- Compliance with safety and health rules and regulations
- Requirements of Federal Hazard Communication Regulations
- Specific hazards present in work areas
- Location and availability of the written Chemical Hazard Communication program and all supporting information
- Measures employees can take to protect themselves from hazards, including pertinent work practices, company emergency procedures, and personal protective equipment
All employees are informed by EHS concerning the Chemical Hazard Communication Program and an explanation of the University’s labeling system, SDSs, and how hazard information may be obtained by employees.
It is necessary to provide additional employee training concerning workplace hazards when:
- New materials or processes are introduced into the workplace
- Process or equipment changes are made that could cause new or increased employee exposure
- Procedures or work practices are introduced or changed, which could cause changes in the employees’ exposure
- Employees are transferred from one work area to another where different hazards are present
- Required annual re-training is due
A permanent record of all employees’ training progression is maintained in the employee’s personnel folder at Human Resources. Copies of the training sign in sheet and test will be kept at EHS located in Facilities Management.
A non-routine task is one that the employee does not normally perform and for which the employee has not previously been trained. The supervisor of an employee performing a non-routine task, such as cleaning process equipment, is responsible for properly training the employee concerning the potential hazards associated with the task. The employee also shares in this responsibility by making sure that his/her immediate supervisor knows that the non-routine task will be performed. Contact Environmental Health and Safety at 501-916-6351 if assistance is needed.
All contractors working on UA Little Rock property are notified by EHS of hazardous materials located in the work area. Proper controls will be established to ensure that operations do not expose the contractor’s employees to (unnecessary) safety and health hazards. Copies of SDSs will be made available to the contractor’s employees by EHS.
UA Little Rock’s Chemical Hazard Communication program is available upon request.