University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Policy Name: Chemical Hazard Communication Program
Policy Number: LR 701.5
Effective Date: July 25, 2008
Revised Dates:
Most Recent Review Date:
Policy
This Chemical Hazard Communication Program 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 UALR’s Occupational Safety and Health Program, this 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.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this Chemical Hazard Communication Program is to inform employees of all potential or existing chemical hazards.
APPROACH
Methods used to inform employees include:
- Container labeling and other forms of warning.
- Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS).
- Employee education and training.
APPLICATION
This Chemical Hazard Communication Program 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.
DETERMINING CHEMICAL HAZARDS:
The Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHS) and principal investigators are responsible for identifying chemical hazards from material safety data sheets (MSDS) provided by chemical manufacturers and distributors.
MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEETS (MSDS)
MSDSs are prepared and distributed by manufacturers and distributors of hazardous materials. All chemical manufacturers and distributors must obtain or develop an MSDS 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 MSDS library for hazardous materials used or handled in UALR workplaces. Data sheets are reviewed to make sure they are complete and old data sheets are replaced with new ones that accompany shipments of materials.
MSDSs are written in English and include the following information:
- The identity of the chemical.
- The physical and chemical characteristics.
- The physical and health hazards.
- Primary routes of entry.
- Exposure limits.
- Precautions for safe handling.
- Controls to limit exposure.
- Emergency and first aid procedures.
- Name of manufacturer or distributor.
MSDS AVAILABILITY
Departments will forward all MSDSs to EHS for storage in the MSDS library. Departments will maintain a copy of all MSDSs 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 MSDSs 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 MSDS if they wish. Copies of MSDSs 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 MSDSs.
MATERIAL INVENTORY
A chemical inventory of the hazardous chemicals used or stored at UALR locations is attached in Appendix A. The chemical inventory list will be updated as necessary or at least annually.
LABELS AND 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.
UALR 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 UALR.
EMPLOYEE INFORMATION, EDUCATION, AND TRAINING
An information, education, and training program is provided by EHS to make sure employees know about hazardous chemicals in the workplace and the appropriate control measures to reduce exposure. This program is coordinated by EHS. 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 is provided by EHS 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 unlabelled piping and processing systems.
- MSDSs
- 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, MSDSs, and how hazard information may be obtained by employees.
RETRAINING
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.
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 at Facilities Management, Room 208-C.
NON-ROUTINE TASKS
A non-routine task is one which 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 or her immediate supervisor knows that the non-routine task will be performed. Contact the Environmental Health and Safety Office at 501-916-6351 if assistance is needed.
CONTRACTOR
All contractors working on UALR 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 MSDS’s will be made available to contractor’s employees by EHS.
PROGRAM AVAILABILITY
UALR’s Chemical Hazard Communication Program is available upon request.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Facilities Management Environmental Health and Safety Office
501-916-6351
Email: ehs@ualr.edu
Source: Environmental Health and Safety
Status: Active
Approved By: Environmental Health and Safety Committee, July 25, 2008
Originator:
Custodian: EHS Committee
ATTACHMENT A-1
CERTIFICATION OF TRAINING
I CERTIFY THAT I HAVE RECEIVED TRAINING UNDER THE CHEMICAL HAZARD COMMUNICATION PROGRAM. I FURTHER CERTIFY THAT I UNDERSTAND THE PROCEDURES AND WILL ABIDE BY THOSE PROCEDURES.
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EMPLOYEE SIGNATURE DATE
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INSTRUCTORS SIGNATURE DATE