Hazard Communication

Introduction
Hazardous chemicals are very common at industrial facilities. They are used to degrease parts, clean
building facilities such as floors, used as reactants for chemical synthesis, and hundreds of other
applications.
Employees that work at an industrial facility will inevitably be exposed to hazardous chemicals by breathing
fumes or gases, breathing dust and other small particles, or by direct contact while carrying out their normal
work activities.
Employees could experience much more severe exposure during emergencies caused by system failures,
chemical spills, or human error.
Every year in the United States, millions of workers are exposed to hazardous chemicals in the workplace.
Without information and training on the harmful health effects and physical hazards (flammability and
reactivity) associated with hazardous chemicals, workers would be ill-prepared to protect themselves.
The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recognized the problem of
workplace hazardous chemicals shortly after its inception in the early 1970's. OSHA began in 1974 to
develop a standard with the purpose of protecting workers from hazardous workplace chemicals.
In 1983, OSHA passed the "Hazard Communication" standard, 29 CFR 1910.1200 to protect American
workers from hazardous chemicals in the workplace.
The cornerstones of the hazard communication program are:
 Labeling and warnings on chemical containers
 Employee information and training
 Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
As the name of the standard implies, the overall goal of the program is to "communicate" the hazards
associated with chemicals to those that use them. The program is commonly referred to as simply
"HazComm" or "Right to Know".
Lesson Objectives:
Upon completion of this lesson the student will be able to recognize safety issues concerning hazardous
chemicals in the workplace.
After completing this lesson, the student will be able to identify:
1. Basic precepts of the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard
2. The purpose of, and information contained in, MSDS
3. The purpose and meaning of chemical labels and warnings
4. Requirements of employer provided information and training pertaining to hazardous chemicals in
the workplace
A note about this training:
After successfully completing this lesson, and the associated examination, students should possess
working knowledge of elements of 29 CFR part 1910.1200, "Hazard Communication"(7/7/96).
However, each Environmental, Health and Safety (EH&S) lesson is an important part of an overall program
designed by each company's EH&S professionals. This lesson is designed to be used in conjunction with
your site specific training program. See your supervisor or EH&S professional to discuss any questions
about this lesson or your company's safety program.

The OSHA Hazard Communication Standard

The OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, or simply HazComm, was passed with the overall goal of
protecting workers from the hazardous properties of chemicals they are exposed to on the job.
The process of protecting workers begins with identifying which chemicals are hazardous and which are
not. Manufacturers, or importers, of hazardous chemicals in the United States are required to complete a
"hazard determination" to determine if the chemicals they send to an employer are hazardous.
Before a hazardous chemical can be labeled, a definition of "hazardous" must be understood. OSHA
defines a hazardous chemical as:
Any chemical which is a physical hazard or a health hazard
Generally, a health hazard means that there is significant scientific evidence that a chemical causes
immediate, or chronic, health effects to an employee when they are exposed to it. Examples of health
hazards include chemicals that cause cancer (carcinogens) and poisons such as chlorine gas.
A physical hazard means that there is significant scientific evidence that a chemical falls into one of several
categories of chemicals that cause secondary effects such as fires, explosions, or rapid energy release.
Examples of physical hazards include:
 Flammable liquids
 Compressed gases
 Water reactive chemicals

When a manufacturer, or importer, completes a hazard determination, they must consider all evidence as
to the chemical's properties and it must be scientifically based.
Health hazards are usually evaluated through toxicology studies on test animals, or through a study of
known human exposures.
Physical hazards such as flammability can usually be measured directly.
There are a large number of hazardous chemicals (some very hazardous) that are exempted from some or
all of the requirements of HazComm. Employees are not required to be familiar with all of the exemptions,
but here are a few examples.
Pesticides, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals are not required to be labeled according to HazComm because
they are controlled under separate Federal regulations.
Hazardous wastes are exempt from OSHA HazComm standards. They are regulated by the US
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), state, and/or local regulations. Additional training is available for
those who handle hazardous waste.
Consumer products or household chemicals, such as window cleaner, are exempted from HazComm
standards because their conditions of use limit exposure.
A household chemical is subject to HazComm standards if it is used in the workplace under conditions
outside its intended use. As an added precaution, many employers treat household cleaners like other
hazardous chemicals in the workplace by following prescribed purchasing, handling, storage, and disposal
procedures.

What is the overall goal of the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard?

A large number of the hazardous chemicals used in the workplace are mixtures - some hazardous and
some not. Mixtures are not commonly tested as a whole for their health effects, but are treated as
hazardous based on the hazards presented by individual ingredients.
If a mixture has NOT been tested as a whole to determine its health hazards, it must be assumed to
present the same hazards as the ingredients that make up one percent or greater (by volume or weight) of
the mixture. For carcinogens, the threshold is greater than, or equal to, 0.1 percent.
Once an employer takes possession of a hazardous chemical that workers may be exposed to, the
employer must comply with three important elements of HazComm:
 Labels and warnings
 Information and training
  Material safety data sheets or MSDSs
An employer's methods of complying with HazComm are detailed in a site specific Hazard Communication
Plan. A HazComm plan contains, at a minimum, the following information:
 How hazardous chemicals are labeled or otherwise identified
 Where MSDS are stored and how they can be accessed by employees
 A description of the employer's training program for HazComm
 A list of the hazardous chemicals known to be present in the workplace
 Provisions for unusual tasks that may involve more hazardous situations where chemicals are a
factor
Similar to other written plans required by OSHA, employers must provide employees, or their
representative, with a copy of the written hazard communication plan upon request.
Employers must also make sure that the written plan is kept up to date, including changes to labeling
procedures, the location of MSDSs, or the list of hazardous chemicals.

What organization regulates hazardous wastes? Federal Environmental Protection Agency

Where can the details of an employer's methods of complying with HazComm be found? Hazard
Communication Plan

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) are prepared by chemical manufacturers and importers. The primary
function of the MSDS is to communicate important information about the chemical to the user.
The OSHA Hazard Communication Standard sets requirements for minimum information that must be
contained in MSDSs. This includes emergency contact information, chemical ingredients for mixtures, and
emergency response guidelines.
Employers must maintain MSDSs in the workplace for all chemicals used at their facility. MSDSs must be
readily accessible to all employees on all shifts. If an employee travels to various locations in the company,
the MSDSs must be accessible at each primary workplace.
In recent years, most employers are transitioning to electronic databases where MSDSs are kept. If
electronic databases are used, employers must ensure that all employees are trained and able to access
the MSDS database.
MSDSs do not follow a standard format which often leads to confusion and difficulty when reading them. All
must contain the minimum information required by OSHA, but the manufacturer, or importer, can present
the information on the MSDS in the manner they wish.
The next several slides contain examples of important information a user should be able to locate on an
MSDS. The information is taken from several MSDSs to illustrate different styles, and formatting, a user
may encounter.
OSHA requires manufacturers, and importers, to provide their name, address and telephone number in
case a user requires more information on the chemical. Section I of most MSDSs contains the
manufacturer's contact information and the chemical identity contained on the chemical's label.
The information in the graphic below was taken from an MSDS for acetone, a commonly used solvent.
All MSDSs must contain information on the composition and exposure limits for the chemical or mixture. If
the hazardous chemical is a pure chemical (only one component), the common name must be listed.
Mixtures may contain more than one hazardous chemical. All hazardous components that make up 1% or
more, by volume or weight, of the total mixture must be listed on the MSDS. The example to the right is for
a common household cleaner, which contains three hazardous components.
MSDSs must also contain exposure limits and toxicology information for each component. For someone not
versed in exposure limits, a lot of this information may be confusing. A novice user should be able to
identify the active ingredients. However, if the user has a question on the meaning of the terms in this
section the site safety professional should be consulted.
Note the information at the bottom of the graphic. All MSDSs must contain a statement about the
chemical's toxicity data. These chemicals are not listed in any of the major toxicology databases. If they
were, it would indicate that the chemicals cause cancer, or are suspected of causing cancer.
All MSDSs must contain information on the physical and health hazards associated with the chemical.
Recall that a physical hazard is caused by a severe chemical reaction where a person is injured by a
secondary effect such as a fire or explosion. The physical hazard data below was taken from an MSDS for
glycerine. By itself, glycerine is harmless. When mixed with other chemicals, such as oxidizing agents, it
can become explosive.
Health effects from chemicals are caused when the chemical comes in contact with, or enter the body. All
of the potential health effects from glycerine are listed in the graphic below. OSHA also requires
manufacturers, or importers, to list the "primary routes of entry". In the example below, all of the routes of
entry are listed (eye, skin, lungs or inhalation, ingestion), even though there may not be a hazard
associated with all.
The most important information for a user, in an MSDS, is the protective measures. OSHA requires that
MSDSs contain at least the following:
 "Any generally applicable precautions for handling"
 "Any generally applicable control measures"
These two requirements include engineering controls, work practices, storage, and personal protective
equipment. The graphic below is from an MSDS for sulfuric acid. In other MSDSs, this same information
may be contained in several different sections.
Emergency first aid measures must be contained on all MSDSs. The description below is from an MSDS
for pure chlorine. Symptoms, and other indicators, that a user has been overexposed, along with
instructions to attending physicians, will also be listed along with first aid measures.

Physical and chemical properties such as pH, density, melting point, freezing point, and other relevant
information are required by OSHA to be included in an MSDS. The primary purpose of including this
information is to provide the user with information about how the chemical behaves in the environment if it
is released, or if a user is overexposed. For example, the data below is for chlorine. Note its
appearance/color/odor data. It is a "greenish-yellow gas or a clear amber colored liquid". Having this
information provides the user with an indication of when the chemical is being released.
Many MSDSs contain a significant amount of information in addition to what was discussed on previous
pages. Recall that OSHA requires manufacturers and importers to include information on control measures
and precautions for handling. This includes at least the following:
 Storage precautions
 Precautions for transportation
 Incompatible chemicals
 Fire fighting precautions
Fire fighting measures, from an MSDS for sulfuric acid, are listed below.

What is the most important information for a user in an MSDS? Protective measures
What is the primary function of a MSDS? communicate important information about the chemical to the
user

Chemical Labels and Warnings

As stated previously, common household chemicals are exempted from HazComm even if they are used in
the workplace. This includes chemicals like window cleaner, floor stripper, paint stripper, and other
hazardous chemicals.
But household chemicals are intended for limited use under a clearly defined set of conditions. Household
chemicals can be dangerous if they are used in a manner that is not consistent with their intended use. For
this reason household chemicals must be labeled.
Hazardous chemicals that are brought into the workplace must be labeled by the manufacturer, or importer,
with at least the following information:
 Chemical identity
 Appropriate hazard warnings such as "flammable" or "poison"
 Name and address of the manufacturer or importer
Household chemicals, still in their original containers, will also be labeled with this information.
Manufacturers, or importers, of hazardous chemicals are required to label their products to communicate
hazardous chemical properties. Employers are required to ensure that these same chemicals are labeled
as they are used in the workplace. At all times, labels must be legible and in good condition.
If a label is damaged, employers are responsible for ensuring that a new label is affixed.
Many times, employers purchase chemicals in bulk, and transfer smaller quantities of the chemical to a
portable container. Employers must ensure that the new container is labeled with the chemical's identity,
and an appropriate hazard warning.
Employees are allowed to transfer chemicals to unlabeled containers as long as they are in control of the
container at all times, and the contents are emptied at the end of their shift.
Hazardous chemicals should NEVER be transferred to food or drink containers.

Which of the following is a common household chemical exempted from HazComm? Floor Stripper
Employees must be familiar with the hazardous properties of the chemicals they use. Given the large
number of chemicals in the workplace, employers often choose to train employees on "hazard classes",
rather than discussing specific chemicals they use.
This type of training familiarizes employees with common signs, placards, and labels used to identify
hazardous chemicals. Following training, employees must still review the MSDSs for the chemicals they
use in the workplace.
One of the more common classes of hazardous chemicals is flammable. Flammable chemicals may be
liquid, gas, aerosol, or solid. In general, flammable chemicals are those that promote and sustain a fire.
Some examples of flammable chemicals are:
 Acetone
 Sodium metal
 Acetylene
 Engine starting fluid
Compressed gases can be dangerous if not handled properly. This is true even for a gas such as air which,
under normal conditions, is harmless.
If a container of compressed gas is breached a large amount of energy is released and causes the
container to move uncontrollably. A cylindrical compressed gas container will act like a missile if the
container's valve is broken off.
A poison is a substance that may kill, injure, or impair humans, or other organisms, through its chemical
action. The terms poison and toxic are often used interchangeably. Poisonous gases are particularly
dangerous because they spread very quickly if their container is ruptured. Chlorine gas and cyanide are
examples of poisons.
Corrosive is a class of hazardous chemical that will cause severe skin burns, and respiratory distress, if
fumes from the chemical are inhaled.
Corrosive chemicals will also rapidly degrade metal, which is why they are always stored in glass or non-
metallic containers.
Examples of corrosive chemicals include:
 Nitric acid
  Sulfuric acid
 Sodium hydroxide (caustic)
Oxidizers are chemicals, other than blasting agents, that initiate or promote combustion in other chemicals.
This is why oxidizers must be segregated from flammable or combustible chemicals when they are
shipped. Examples of oxidizers include:
 Hydrogen peroxide
 Nitric acid
 Compressed pure oxygen
Explosive chemicals are those that cause a near instantaneous release of pressure, or heat, when
subjected to a sudden shock or change in pressure or temperature. Examples of explosive chemicals
include:
 Ammonium nitrate
 Gunpowder
 Roadside flares

Which one of the following hazard classes initiate or promote combustion in other chemicals and must be
segregated from flammable or combustible chemicals when they are shipped? Oxidizers
The labels discussed on the past several slides are those that would be on a chemical container as it is
received at a facility. Afterward, the employer would label it using a system of their choosing.
Two of the most commonly used labels in the United States are the Hazardous Materials Identification
System (HMIS) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) labels. Both use a color coding
system to illustrate the severity of health, flammability, and reactivity hazards, as well as special
requirements for personal protective equipment.
The label shown in the graphic to the right is an Hazardous Materials Identification System label.
The graphic in this slide is an NFPA label. The person filling out this label would obtain information from the
chemical's MSDS on its health, fire, and reactivity hazards, as well as other specific hazards such as
corrosivity.
A higher rating in a hazard class means that the hazards are more severe. For example, a rating of 4 for
the health hazard means that the chemical is "deadly" and should be handled with extreme caution. A
rating of 1 for health means that the chemical is "slightly hazardous".
Labels are prepared from information contained in a chemical's MSDS. The graphic to the right is from the
MSDS for acetone, a dangerous solvent commonly used at industrial facilities.
In order to fill in the label, a user would simply look up the information on the MSDS and write in the
appropriate numbers on the label. Notice that the NFPA and HMIS labeling systems are not exactly the
same. For acetone, the NFPA health rating is 1, whereas the HMIS rating is 2. The concept is the same
however; a higher rating is more hazardous.
Not all MSDSs contain labeling information as prominent as in this example. If a user is unable to locate
labeling information for a chemical, they should contact their site safety professional for assistance.
OSHA requires that all labels be written in English. An employer may choose to provide labels in other
languages to protect workers that do not speak English.

NFPA and HMIS labeling systems are exactly the same. False
All labels for hazardous chemicals must be written in English, French, and Spanish. False

Information and Training

Prior to using a hazardous chemical, employees are required to review the material's MSDS and
understand what precautions are necessary to protect themselves. Without proper training, employees may
not fully understand what is contained in an MSDS or what is printed on the material's label. This is why
employers are required to provide employees with training prior to their initial job assignment.
Employee training must include at least the following elements:
 How to use an MSDS
 Labeling and warning information
 The provisions of the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard
 An explanation of the employer's site specific hazard communication plan
 An explanation of the various hazard classes for chemicals or chemical specific training for those
that employees use
Employees are required to attend training upon their initial assignment, and whenever new chemical
hazards are introduced into the workplace.
In addition to training, OSHA requires employers to continuously communicate with employees about
workplace chemical hazards. The form of communication is up to the employer, but it must at least include
proper labeling and warnings.
When are employees required to attend training on workplace chemical hazards? upon their initial
assignment and whenever new chemical hazards are introduced into the workplace