Right-to-Know Program Gwynedd Mercy University Right-to-Know Program Environmental Safety Office of
You Have the Right to Know and Standard, also called the Right to Know to Understand Law Based on the concept that employees have both a need and a right to know the identities and understand the hazards of the chemicals in their workplace, and how to protect themselves.
Standard OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910.1200 requires safety training Designed to require employers to educate employees about: the hazards of chemicals protective measures to reduce exposure OSHA has adopted the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) standardizing chemical labels and Safety Data Sheets (SDS) to communicate better understanding of hazardous chemicals in the workplace.
Requirements of the Standard Employers are required to take these steps: 1. Chemical Inventory 2. Safety Data Sheets 3. Chemical Labels 4. Information and Training Program 5. Written Program
What are Hazardous Materials? any substance for which there is significant scientific evidence that acute or chronic health effects may occur in exposed individuals includes: (a) health hazards (carcinogens, corrosives, poisons) (b) physical hazards (flammables, explosives, chemically reactive) (c) environmental hazards (aquatic toxicity) The GHS is built on 10 health, 16 physical and 3 environmental hazard classes and uses pictograms, hazard classes and hazard categories as communication elements.
Pictograms There are 9 pictograms that are used to communicate physical, health or environmental hazard classes and categories.
Health Hazards Toxic Hazards - chemicals that have the potential to cause death Hazard Class : acute toxicity Skull and Crossbones Corrosive Hazards - materials that cause irreversible damage to living tissue at the site of contact. Hazards Class: corrosive Corrosive Corrosion
Health Hazards Contact Hazards - materials that cause a reversible inflammatory effect on living tissue at the site of contact. Hazard Class: skin sensitizer, skin/eye irritant Exclamation Mark Particularly Hazardous Substances - materials that are highly toxic, or cause cancer or reproductive harm. Hazard Class: carcinogen, reproductive toxin, respiratory sensitizer, aspiration hazard, organ toxicity, cell mutations Health Hazard
Physical Hazards Fire Hazards - materials that readily burn Hazardous Class: pyrophoric, flammable, organic peroxides Flame Compressed Gases gases that are under extreme pressure Hazard Class: compressed, liquefied, dissolved, refrigerated gases Gas Cylinder
Physical Hazards Reactivity Hazards materials which are potentially explosive, pressure releasing or vigorously unstable under certain conditions. Hazardous Class: unstable explosives, self-reactive, pyrophoric, oxidizer, organic peroxide, dangerous when wet, selfheating, corrosive to metals Exploding Bomb Flame Flame Over Circle Corrosion
Environmental Hazards Materials which could potentially have either acute or chronic effects to the aquatic environment. Environment Hazardous Class: hazardous to the aquatic environment
Chemical Safety Information Sources Adverse effects associated with any chemical are provided by the standard chemical safety information sources, including: The Chemical Label The Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
Chemical Container Labeling OSHA Standard requires that all hazardous materials be labeled. Labels must contain: the identity of the product the supplier s identification (name, address and telephone number) precautionary statements pictograms for each hazard class & category specific signal words hazard statements supplemental information
Label: Precautionary Statements Phrases that describe the physical and health hazards and recommended measures to be taken to reduce or prevent adverse effects resulting from exposure to a hazardous chemical.
Label: Precautionary Statements There are 116 individual and 33 combined Precautionary Statements. These are assigned a unique alphanumerical code which consists of one letter and three numbers as follows: The letter P (for precautionary statement ) one number designating the type of precautionary statement as follows: - 1 for general - 2 for prevention - 3 for response - 4 for storage - 5 for disposal two numbers (corresponding to the sequential numbering of precautionary statements) Example: P233- Keep container tightly closed P for precautionary statement 2 for a prevention precaution 33 for the 33 rd precautionary statement listed
Label: Pictograms When a chemical is identified under any hazard class, a corresponding pictogram must be present on the chemical label. A pictogram is a symbol plus other graphic elements intended to convey specific information. The pictogram must have a black symbol on a white background with a red diamond border frame. Exclamation Mark Red border Black Symbol White Background
Pictograms There are 9 pictograms that are used to communicate physical, health or environmental hazard classes and categories. These pictograms are based on images and symbols that employees world-wide would recognize and understand.
Label: Signal Words Two key words signal extra precautionary measures are necessary: DANGER most serious hazard WARNING moderate hazard Both signal words cannot be included on the same label.
Label: Hazard Statements Hazard alert data is provided to alert the user of the hazardous nature of the chemical. This information is useful when storing, dispensing or using the product.
Label: Hazard Statements There are 72 individual and 17 combined Hazard Statements. These are assigned a unique alphanumerical code which consists of one letter and three numbers as follows: the letter H (for hazard statement) one number designating the type of hazard statement as follows: - 2 for physical - 3 for health - 4 for environmental two numbers (corresponding to the sequential numbering of hazard statements) Example: H204 Fire or projection hazard H for hazard statement 2 for a physical hazard 04 for the 4 th hazard statement listed
Label: Supplemental Information Directions for use Fill weight Gross weight Expiration date Lot number Fill date
Chemical Label: Color Coding This National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and Hazardous Materials Identification System (HMIS) is used in conjunction with other chemical labeling systems to maximize safe usage and storage of hazardous materials. These labels rate the type of hazard and the degree of hazard
Label: Chemical Name Toward the top of the label will be the chemical trade name of the hazardous material
Label: Hazard Classes Each colored bar or diamond represents a different class of hazard. Each hazard class is rated according to the degree of hazard on a scale from 0-4.
Health Hazard Any health hazard is colored BLUE. The rating scale for Health Hazards is: 0 - No Health Hazard 1 - Slightly Hazardous 2 - Dangerous 3 - Extreme Danger 4 - Deadly