Hazard Communication

Online Training
ENTER

The HazCom Standard Protects Workers

To comply with the Illinois Department of Labor regulations, ISU recognizes OSHA regulations. The OSHA HazCom standard requires ISU to protect its workers from the dangers of hazardous materials in the workplace. As a means to protect you, this online training has been developed to cover the basics of the University program. Following the online training is a short quiz, to be submitted.

Written Policy
ISU has developed a written Hazard Communication Program that is also available to be viewed by all applicable employees. Your supervisor has a copy tailored to your worksite. This lists the specific means of communicating hazards to you about chemicals! If you are unsure of its whereabouts, ask your supervisor.

HazCom is about Material Safety

Hazard Communication involves the communication of hazards about chemicals to employees, also known as the Right To Know. ISU has a HazCom program that each affected employee should be familiarized with. It is the responsibility of the department, as well as your own to handle chemicals safely, understand chemical labels, and understand the MSDS.

Your Right To Know

As part of the Right To Know program, the following will be looked at: 5 Elements of Your RTK Program
Written Policies Chemical Inventory

Training & Safety Awareness

Your RTK Program

MSDS

Labeling

Lets Get Started!!!

MSDS Give You Detailed Information

Material Safety Data Sheets give you more information than what is on the label. The information includes: Chemical name and common or brand name Emergency and first-aid procedures List of physical and chemical characteristics Safe Handling Health & Physical Hazards Date of preparation of MSDS or last change to it Control measures (ie. PPE) Routes of entry PEL-Permissible Exposure Limit

MSDSs are Always Available

A Material Safety Data Sheet comes with every ISU purchase. The supervisor or department has a designated area where the MSDSs are to be located. If you cannot locate the MSDS, contact your supervisor. Your supervisor will call to locate one to make it readily available and accessible to all employees.

Labels
The label on a bleach container tells you the contents, the hazard associated with the chemical, and what part of your body it affects. The unlabeled container could be water or it could be a strong acid. You do not know what it is so you do not know what precautions to take. Remember, you should never remove a label from a container! If you have any doubt about a label, contact your supervisor or EHS.

Labels Provide Basic Information

The label must have the following:
The chemicals name Hazards of the chemicals The manufactures name and address
If a label gets removed, destroyed or covered, you must put a new label with the above information on it
H2O2 Siigma Manf. Hazards:

Secondary Labels Protect Others

Make sure others have the benefit of the same information that you had. If you put some chemical into a new container, label it with information from the original label. Only containers that you fill and use up yourself over one shift may be with out labels.

What is hazardous?
Click on the substance you would consider most hazardous.

Labeled container of bleach

Unlabeled container of bleach

This container is acceptable, you know what it is!

Right! The less you know about a material, the more hazardous it is to you.

What is Considered A Hazard?

Physical hazard:
Combustible liquid Compressed gas Explosive Flammable Organic Peroxide Oxidizer Pyrophoric Unstable Water-reactive

Health hazard:
Carcinogens Toxic or highly toxic Reproductive toxins Irritants Corrosives Sensitizers Hepatotoxins Nephrotoxins Neurotoxins Damage to lung, skin, eyes mucous membranes Agents that act on hematopoietic system

Hazardous Materials are used all over Campus

The following are some of the hazardous materials found on campus:
Asbestos Chlorine Cleaners Freon Paint Solvents Sulfuric Acid Water treatment chemicals

Physical and Health Hazards

The physical state affects the hazards Physical state is one of the factors in determining how hazardous a material is and in deciding what precautions, such as personal protective equipment, are necessary.

Materials whose physical state can be hazardous include:

Combustible liquids (Low flashpoints between 100F200F)
Compressed gas (Gases in containers under pressure) Explosives (Substance that react rapidly and violently) Flammable (Materials with flashpoint below 100F) Oxidizers (Materials that give off oxygen and simulate combustion

Hazardous Chemicals Affect you:

Click on the buttons to see the effects hazardous chemicals have on you.
Make you sick (toxic/Irritant)
ie. Silica Gel, glycine

chemicals) ie. Pine oil, gasoline

Catch fire or explode (flammable, combustible, or reactive

BOOM!!

Chemicals affect the body

Chemicals that enter your body affect it. Different kinds and doses of chemicals can have different effects. The effects can be acute or chronic and also systematic or localized.

Lets take a closer look at the differences!!

What is the difference?

Localized Systematic Acute Chronic
Site of contact
On body
This is like an organic coming in contact with your skin and burning it! This is like inhaling vapors and causing damage to your lungs This is like the effects alcohol has on the brain and kidneys.

Widespread
Throughout body

Short-term
Health problems

Long-term
Health problems

This is like the effects of alcohol on the liver over time.

Chemicals build up in the body

Some chemicals travel in the body to a particular organ where they build up. You call this organ the chemicals target organ.

Carbon monoxide targets the blood Lead targets the blood, nervous, and reproductive system
While there, the chemical may prevent that organ or body system from working at its best.

What are the routes of entry?

How do chemicals enter the body? Check each to look for the best answer
Breathing is the only important way chemicals enter the body
There is a better answer, check the other choice.

Most commonly by breathing but also by passing through the skin (cuts or rashes), or by swallowing.
Yes! You can prevent chemicals from entering your body if you are careful, follow safe work practices, and wear PPE when necessary.

Beware of Oxygen in the Atmosphere

Asphyxiation can occur through inhalation if there is not enough oxygen (O2) in the area or if something prevents your body from getting the oxygen it needs. This happens when gas fills up a room or space and pushes all the air out, there will not be enough oxygen to breathe. Asphyxiation decreases the amount of oxygen to your brain. This can damage the brain or cause death.

Example: Carbon Monoxide attaches to blood cells and prevents the cells from carrying O2 to the rest of the body, this is a chemical asphyxiant

Exposure to Chemicals
An exposure is the amount of a chemical you come in contact with. This is usually measured by its concentration in the air. Skin exposure is more difficult to measure than exposure through breathing.

Click on Each to see who is most affected by exposure

Not exactly, the larger person may still be affected but less extreme.

Yes! The smaller person is likely to take in a bigger dose per pound of body weight.

Be Aware of your Surroundings!!

Use primarily sight and monitoring devices to detect for hazard. Smell is an unreliable indicator of chemicals. You may get used to the smell and no longer be able to detect it. Also, some chemicals do not have a smell!

Example: The presence of Radon & Asbestos can only be determined by actual tests. Carbon Monoxide cannot be detected by smell either.

Chemicals Affect you!

Chemicals can enter your body in 3 different ways. So be aware!
Inhalation Ingestion Absorption

Dusts, Mists, and Gases can be hazardous

Dusts, mists, vapors, gases, droplets, and fumes all float in the air you breathe. They can settle on your skin, or get into your eyes, nose, lungs, mouth. They can irritate, damage, or build up in your body. A common dust like flour or even fluorescent bulb dust can irritate your nose, throat, and lungs if you inhale a lot of it.

Liquids Can Irritate or Burn

Liquids can spill, run, splatter, and splash. Chemical burns or irritation can occur if certain liquids splash in your eyes or if they came into contact with it. Skin contact with some chemicals can produce rashes or your skin can absorb them making you ill.

Check each to see which is right

Click on each precaution to see which is the most appropriate for non-volatile liquids:
Splash proof goggles, chemical protective gloves
Right! Splash proof goggles will prevent chemicals from touching your skin or eyes

Gas-tight goggles or full-face respirator, chemical protective clothing, store in cool, well ventilated area WRONG! Use a wet mop or HEPA vacuum, to clean up spills, wear a HEPA filtered respirator, and pour out the contents under an exhaust hood
WRONG!

Gases/Vapors Float and Move in Air

Gases float in the air at normal temperatures and pressures. Because gases float, they are hard to contain if released. Also, they move in air, you can inhale them. This is dangerous if they are poisonous. Gases can also irritate or burn tissue they contact. Chlorine is not only a poison by inhalation, it is also very irritating to the skin.

Vapors can fuel a fire

Some organic substance such as alcohol and gasoline, are good fuel for fires. You call the temperature at which enough liquid evaporates to fuel a fire the vapors flash point. The warmer the room, the more a liquid will evaporate. When there is enough vapor, a spark or other source can ignite it. A fire in an enclosed space can cause an explosion

What burns when liquid fuel ignites?

The vapors that have evaporated from the liquid
Yes! The vapors are what burn when a liquid ignites.

The liquid itself burns

Not quite!

Compressed Gases are Under Pressure

When you put gas into a container, you push it into a smaller and smaller space. This increases the pressure in the container. If the container leaks, released gas can cause the container to travel at great speeds that can cause injuries.

Check this out!

Choose the chemical you think is a gas:
Carbon Monoxide
Right! Carbon Monoxide is a gas

Gasoline
Not exactly! Gasoline is a liquid at room temperature. However, it may evaporate and release vapors in the air. Thats why you can smell it when you pump gas.

Solids have Form

Unlike gases, solids take on a definite form at normal temperatures and pressures. If a solid breaks or if you grind it, you produce a dust or a powder. Dusts mix in the air and you can inhale them. This can be hazardous. For example, if you inhale dust from a powdered drain cleaner that is corrosive, it could burn your throat, nose, and lungs.

Solids have Form Cont

If you heat a solid to a high enough temperature fumes form. Fumes mix in the air as dust do and you can inhale them. This can be hazardous. When you heat welding flux or other metals, you produce fumes. Flux cord arc welding produces the highest amount of fumes, and shielding metal arc welding the next highest.

Click each button to see which one may be present in more than one state: Carbon Monoxide
Not this one

Asbestos
Not this one either!

Alcohol
Right! Alcohol is a liquid that evaporates into a vapor. Asbestos is a fiber and Carbon Monoxide is a gas.

Dusts can be Explosive!!

At very high concentrations and under the right conditions, some dusts can be explosive.

The smaller the particle, the more reactive the dust. As the materials become smaller, they disperse and remain suspended more easily, increasing the potential for ignition and propagation of the reaction.
An example is excess organic material created from dumping corn into a silo or small fibers.

Click on each button to see which Precaution is

most Appropriate for a Dust or Powdered Material:

Splash-Proof Goggles, chemical protective gloves Gas tight goggles or full-face respirator , chemical protective clothing, store in a cool, well ventilated area. Not quite Use a wet mop or HEPA vacuum to clean up spills, wear a HEPA-filtered respirator, empty the vacuum under an exhaust hood
Right! Dusts and powders in the air can harm you when inhaled. The use of wet mopping, HEPA vacuum,and HEPA filtered respirators minimize dust exposure. Not quite

By-Products can also be produced:

By-products of work can release hazardous chemicals Hazardous by-products can be the result of mixing different chemicals An example of a hazardous by-product
Bleach and ammonia (chlorine gas is formed) Sodium hydroxide and nitric acid (Caustics and acids)

Always use Safe Work Practices

Use these safe work practices when handling chemicals: Do not spill, splash, or drop them Use flammable and combustibles away from open flames, sparks, and other sources of heat Do not eat or smoke on the job Wash your hands before going on break or eating

Protect yourself from Solvents

Solvents can produce skin irritation or be inhaled as a vapor, which causes adverse health effects. To protect yourself from solvent vapors, first use adequate ventilation. You can absorb solvents through the skin, which also causes adverse health effects. Proper Personal Protective Equipment must be used.

Protecting Yourself
The proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) must be used to provide barriers between you and the solvents you use. Examples of solvents include:
Alcohol Benzene Mineral spirits Trichloroethane Turpentine

Click on each statement to see which is right

Solvents are liquids, such as water, that dissolve solids
Wrong, keep looking

Solvents are liquids, such as water, that dissolve other liquids.

Wrong, Keep looking

Both of the above are true

Yes! Solids are liquids that can dissolve liquids and solids

Flammables can ignite at normal Temperatures

Most flammable liquids have flash points below 100F. Combustible liquids have a flash point above 100F. Such liquids are dangerous because their flash points may be near room temperature. Remember! the lower the flash point, the more hazardous it is.

Check to see which Chemical is most Hazardous!

Gasoline whose flash point is -45F
Yes! The flash point of -45F means that at extremely cold temperatures, there are enough vapors to ignite. Vapors from gasoline stored in an unheated shed could catch fire.

Mineral spirits whose flash point has a range of 105-140F

Not exactly!

Lets look at safe work procedures for handling flammables like solvents. Click on each to see the best precautions for using flammables and combustibles.

Keep them away from other chemicals

Not unless they are also reactive with those chemicals

Keep them away from flames, sparks, hot equipment, or other possible ignition sources
Yes! This is a key safe work practice when you work with flammables. For example, cleaning tools with a solvent in an area where vapors could travel to a water heater and ignite.

Wear gloves and other protective gear

Not unless the chemicals also have some toxic property

Acids and Bases will burn skin and eyes

A scale, called the pH scale, measures how acidic or basic a chemical is. Basic (caustic) chemicals have a pH between 8 and 14. Very caustic chemicals can burn your skin and eyes.

Ie. Battery acid Sulfuric acid

Ie. Saliva Pure water

Ie. Bleach Oven cleaner

Acids and Bases will burn skin and eyes Cont

Acids have pH readings between 1 and 6. Very acidic chemicals can also burn the skin and eyes and eat quickly through materials. Inhaled acid or caustic dusts can irritate or burn your respiratory track.

Strong Acids and Bases are Corrosive

You call the ability of a chemical to eat into a material corrosivity. The farther the pH of a material is from 7, the more corrosive it is. Corrosive materials are hazardous. You must handle them with caution and wear the proper PPE.

Check to see which is most corrosive!

An acid, pH 3
Not exactly

An acid, pH 5
Not exactly

A base, pH 13
Yes! The most corrosive substance has a pH farthest from 7. A pH of 13 is farther from a pH of 7 than either 3 or 5.

Sensitization to a Chemical
Have you ever walked into an area where paints or various chemicals have been used and find yourself becoming itchy, swollen, teary, or even tight in the chest? Some individuals may have worked around these same chemicals for years and then find out that the reaction was suddenly caused by these same chemicals. This is becoming sensitized. Once sensitized, you may react to that chemical for the rest of your life! You may be allergic.

Personal Protective Equipment

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is the barrier between you and the hazardous material you are working with. There are many factors to consider when choosing the proper PPE.
For example:
Type of PPE
Material PPE should consist of Durability Care of PPE Availability of the PPE Expense

Lets take a closer look!

Check the MSDS

The Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is where you can find out which PPE is right for the particular chemical. This is why it is important to know the location of the MSDS. If questions still arise about the PPE, ask your supervisor.

Choose the Proper Material

PPE is used to protect you from injury to the eyes, hands, feet, face, skin, and head. To prevent skin absorption you must wear personal protective equipment made of the proper material. Choosing the right gloves is especially important to protect the hands. Look on to see the importance of glove use

Why you should wear Gloves!

If you try to use regular rubber or latex grocery store gloves, many chemicals can pass right through these. Gasoline and other solvents can eat away the material. Only certain gloves can offer the proper protection of certain chemicals

Wear the right PPE

Face protection is necessary when splashing or flying pieces may be encountered and even when working around dust. Equipment that can be used includes:
Face shield
Safety eye glasses Eye goggles

Look on to see the importance of eye protection

Why you should wear Eye Protection

Your eyes are very sensitive & delicate and therefore are easy to injure. You do not want to get chemicals in your eyes!

Respirators Protect you from hazards in the Air

You can inhale many substances in many work operations. You can inhale substances in various forms, including:
Vapors Gases Dusts Mists Metallic Fumes Fibers

Respiratory Protection is necessary when hazardous chemicals reach unacceptable levels in the workplace.

Respiratory Protection
Respirators protect:
The highly absorbent tissues in your nose from being damaged
Your lungs if chemicals enter through inhalation. If chemicals enter your lungs it can cause damage or be transported to the rest of your body

If you think you need a respirator:

If you think you need a respirator, talk with your supervisor or call Environmental Health & Safety located on campus. If a respirator is needed, you will become part of the Respiratory Protection Program.

Storage of Chemicals
Store all chemicals and waste in a safe and secure area. The chemicals should be stored in a structurally sound, good condition container with a tight fitting cap. The container should be compatible with the material. Milk jugs or soda bottles are not acceptable. Leave 10-20% headspace in the container to prevent pressure build up.

Chemical Storage
Certain chemicals should not be stored together. For example:
Halogenated separated from non-halogenated Solids separated from liquids

Solvents and low boiling point chemicals generate vapors and should be stored in a well ventilated area.

Chemical Waste
Remember!
Always try to minimize the waste generated by using alternatives when possible.

Never dump hazardous or other chemical waste down the drain. For example:
Toxic, Flammable, Mercury, Gasoline, Acids, or Caustics

Never leave waste in an area that is subject to public contact.

Hazardous Waste Pick-up

If there is hazardous waste that needs to be disposed of, contact EHS (438-8325) EHS will pick up the waste and store it prior to final disposition. The hazardous waste must be properly labeled.
If it is in the original container with original label, that label will be sufficient. If you need a label, contact EHS for a replacement. Include the following information:
Content Amount Date Generator Hazards/Precautions

Request for Pick-Up

If you need to have a waste pickup, contact EHS or download the form from the EHS web page. Complete the form and return it to EHS.
Percent concentrations are needed for disposal. If the content is unknown, the generator pays for the analysis.

The Waste will be picked up within one week.

Ask for Help!!

If you are unsure about the use and handling of a chemical, ask your supervisor or someone who does have knowledge about it. The Environmental Health & Safety Office is here to help you! Contact them at 438-8325 if you have any questions. So should you do next??

Whats Next?
Your supervisor is to conduct specific training with you regarding the specific duties and exposures you are around. Inquire with your supervisor about job specific HazCom training. Now it is time to see if you understood the basic concepts. Lets take a short quiz.
QUIZ