Office of Security, Safety and Risk Management

Hazard Communication Standard

The Federal government enacted the Hazard Communication standard in response to the dramatic increase in the use of chemicals in the workplace. Many of these chemicals can cause illness and injury if used or handled improperly. The law requires employers to provide their employees with the information and training they need to protect themselves from chemical hazards in the workplace.

Hazard Evaluation -- The standard requires employers to figure out what materials in their workplace are hazardous. Most of the chemicals used are purchased from companies who manufacture and/or distribute chemicals. This law requires these companies to tell employers if these materials are hazardous at the time they are purchased. Included with any hazardous material, the companies are required to supply a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) and container labels.
An employer may produce its own hazardous materials as products for sale or as by-products of research. When this happens, the employer is responsible for developing MSDSs and container labels for these materials.

What this means to persons at Denison University is that any purchase of hazardous materials should include MSDSs for every item. Many companies only supply the MSDS upon request. Therefore, if you receive a hazardous material without an MSDS, it is your responsibility to contact the company and request it. In addition, if you are doing research and produce a compound, do not send this compound off campus. If you do, technically, the law requires you to evaluate its hazards and develop an MSDS to be included when shipped.
Hazardous Materials Inventory -- Employers must prepare and maintain an inventory itemizing all of the hazardous materials present in their workplace. This list becomes the focus of employers' efforts to obey the standard. The inventory should list each materials by the same name used on the MSDS for the material. The employee should have access to this inventory upon request.
Here at Denison, each department should have an updated inventory. If a student or staff wishes to see the inventory, contact the department head. Its also worth noting that Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA), enforced by EPA, Title III grants any member of the community, in which the school is located, access to information on chemicals present on campus. SARA also requires that the institution provide EPA, the state government, and local community officials with an inventory of hazardous material located on campus.
Material Safety Data Sheet -- As mentioned above, an MSDS must be available for every hazardous material in the inventory. The MSDSs are one of the key ingredients in the hazard communication process. Their purpose is to provide information about the hazardous materials. See the section of this training program for more information on MSDSs and how to interrupt them. Also note the Security and Safety Home Page as to the location of MSDSs on Denison's Campus.
Labeling -- Employers must make sure that all containers of hazardous materials are properly labeled. Hazardous materials must haveproper labels before they can be shipped. OSHA requires the following information:
1. Identity of the hazardous material.
2. Appropriate hazard warnings (specific hazards, target organ effected, precautions, flammability, etc).
3. Name and address of the material's manufacturer.
If the manufacturer's label falls off or if the material is repacked into another container, a label of equal warning must be placed on the container.

An important consideration on Denison's campus is when a compound is transferred into laboratory glassware. The glassware should always be labeled with its contents. Many times, hazardous solutions are left by laboratory workers with no label and therefore create risk to others in the lab. Also, when products of research are placed in vials or laboratory glassware, these containers should be labeled with their contents, dates they were made, and names of the researchers.
Employee Training -- The last part of the Hazard Communication standard requires employers to provide their employees with information and training on the hazardous materials they may be exposed to. When new employees are hired, or when an employee may be exposed to a new hazard, training must be provided. The training information should include:
1. An explanation of the Hazard Communication Standard.
2. Identification of the hazardous materials, potential health effects, and location on the material.
3. The location and availability of the written hazard communication program and MSDSs.
4. Procedures to be used to detect and measure workplace contaminants.
5. Safe work practices and protective equipment employees can use to reduce risk.
6. An explanation of the labeling system.
Here at Denison University, training is carried out by department. The training should be scheduled as soon as possible after the beginning of the new school year. Student employees are required to take this training before they can work in the laboratory as teaching assistants, laboratory assistants and stockroom assistants. It is encouraged that all students taking science laboratory courses, be given the opportunity to join this training.

This training program provided by Campus Security and Safety is meant to supplement the departmental training, not to replace it. However, this general training will provide you with a sound foundation of laboratory safety.