2006 COURSE TITLE: HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY

Transcription

1 COURSE INTRODUCTION Hazardous substances are routinely used at work. However, that does not mean they are without risk. Some substances harm you right away. Others may cause health problems that show up years later. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has designed the Hazard Communication Standard to ensure that information about workplace hazardous substances and associated protective measures is distributed to workers and employers. This CE module will present information to assure you can work safely with hazardous materials. Ver /2006 1

2 2006 COURSE TITLE: HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY Author: Lucia Johnson, MA Ed, CLS(NCA), MT(ASCP)SBB Director of Continuing Education National Center for Competency Testing Number of Clock Hours Credit: 3.0 Course # P.A.C.E. Approved: _ Yes _X_ No Course Objectives Upon completion of this CE module, the professional will be able to: 1. Identify the components of the OSHA mandated hazard communication program. 2. Compare and contrast physical and health hazards. 3. Describe four types of potential health effects that can result from overexposure to hazardous materials. 4. List methods by which you can be exposed to hazardous materials. 5. State how you can find out what hazardous materials are present in your workplace. 6. List information that must be included on all labels of hazardous substances. 7. Recognize and identify warning information found on the NFPA diamond label. 8. State steps to take if a chemical spill occurs. 9. Identify how to obtain an MSDS in your workplace. Disclaimer The writers for NCCT continuing education courses attempt to provide factual information based on literature review and current professional practice. However, NCCT does not guarantee that the information contained in the continuing education courses is free from all errors and omissions. 2

3 INTRODUCTION Hazardous substances are routinely used at work. However, that does not mean they are without risk. Some substances harm you right away. Others may cause health problems that show up years later. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has designed the Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR ) to ensure that information about workplace hazardous substances and associated protective measures is distributed to workers and employers. The Hazard Communication Standard is also known as Chemical Safety, the Rightto-Know Standard, and Hazardous Materials Safety. When hazardous substances are present in the workplace, OSHA requires employers to have a written Hazard Communication program. There are additional OSHA requirements that must be met if the workplace is a laboratory and employees are exposed to certain hazardous materials that represent specific health hazards. These requirements can be found in OSHA s Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in the Laboratory, 29CFR The Hazard Communication Standard requires that employees receive hazardous materials education consisting of three parts. Training: Training provides general information on types of hazards, potential health effects, exposure routes, chemical inventories, safe work practices, and spill procedures. Labeling: Container labels and warning signs come in many forms. All offer you a quick way to inform the user about the substance. Labels also contain brief warnings about the hazards. It is important to know how to read and understand labels. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS): MSDS give details about hazardous substances. An MSDS will also list the hazards to watch out for and what to do if a spill or accident occurs. Knowing how to obtain and read an MSDS is important in the event of an exposure or spill. TRAINING Hazardous materials can be divided into two general categories: physical hazards and health hazards. Physical hazards Can harm quickly. May cause fires or explosions, become unstable, or react with other substances. Types of physical hazards Explosives: may suddenly blow up. Flammables: gases, liquids, and solids may catch on fire. Compressed gases: may explode. Reactives: may become unstable. Combustible liquids: may catch on fire. Oxidizers: may cause other chemicals to catch on fire. 3

4 Health hazards Can irritate, cause illness, or injure the body. Types of health hazards Carcinogens: may cause cancer. Corrosives: may destroy tissue. Irritants: may inflame skin or eyes. Reproductive toxins (teratogens): may cause birth defects or infertility. Sensitizers: may cause allergic reactions. Toxics: may cause death. Potential Health Effects May cause acute or chronic health effects. Acute health effects happen right away. Example: Some substances may cause coughing and a sudden burning feeling in the throat. Chronic health effects occur over time. Cancer or reproductive problems may occur after years of exposure. Target Organ effects: Health hazards can cause damage to the lungs, liver, kidneys, or other body organs. Systemic Effects: Exposure to hazardous materials may harm the central nervous, respiratory, cardiovascular, or other body systems. Routes of exposure Inhalation Skin/eye (mucous membrane) contact Ingestion Chemical Inventory Each workplace should maintain a list of all hazardous materials (chemicals) located in their area. For each chemical the inventory must include Chemical name Catalog # Quantity present Hazard class and hazard severity, including carcinogens/teratogens Expiration date Storage location Safe Work Practices Know what hazardous materials are present in your work area. Handle all hazardous materials with caution. Store and transport materials safely. Learn emergency procedures. Know what to do in the event of a spill. Spills of hazardous materials are handled differently than spills of blood or body fluids. Spills are often cleaned up by using spill pillows or inert particles to soak up the material. Materials used to clean up spills are often disposed of in a YELLOW bag to assure it is handled differently from biohazard spills that are generally placed in RED bags. 4

5 Wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Gloves, safety goggles, respirators, and other personal protective equipment can help keep you safe. Gloves, glasses, and respirators cannot fully protect you if they are damaged, the wrong size, or not designed for the hazard you are working with. Policies and Procedures Your workplace should have policies and procedures specific for the hazardous materials you work with. Policies and procedures should include information on use, storage, required PPE, spill clean up, and disposal. Special handling procedures exist for potential or known reproductive toxins and carcinogens. Individuals working with these substances must be aware of proper handling procedures. Disposal of hazardous materials varies by type. Some may be flushed down a sink, some may be recycled, and some may need to be disposed of by a licensed contractor. LABELS Labels provide important information about handling hazardous materials. Manufacturer labels on containers of hazardous materials must identify the substance and list any hazard warnings. Many manufacturer labels also include information on: Storage, Handling, First aid instructions, Required personal protective equipment, and Manufacturer s name and address. Warning labels come in many styles. The commonly used labels are standardized to color and hazard ratings to make it easy to see at a glance what the specific hazards are. Refer to the following table for specific information about color and number coding. 5

6 Hazard Color NFPA Rating 0* NFPA Rating 1* NFPA Rating 2* NFPA Rating 3* NFPA Rating 4* Health Blue Normal material Slightly hazardousirritation Hazardous-use mask or special ventilation Severe hazarduse special clothing or mask Extreme hazardavoid contact or breathing vapor Flammability Red Will not burn Will burn at temperatures above 200 F Will burn at temperatures above 100 F Fire and explosion hazard at normal temperatures (below 100 F) Extremely dangerous fire and explosion hazard (below 73 F) Reactivity Yellow Normally stable Unstable if heated Violent chemical change possible Other White OXY for oxidizing agent ACID for substances that react violently with alkalis COR for alkali substances that react violently with acids W Use No Water P Polymerizer Radioactive Severe explosion hazard Extreme hazard, vacate area in case of fire * The higher the number, the more hazardous the substance. A commonly used warning label is the one that has been designed by the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA). Red Blue Yellow The NFPA diamond Example of a manufacturer s label for 3% hydrogen peroxide Slightly hazardousirritation oxy Will not burn Unstable if heated 6

7 Another example of a manufacturer s label ACETONE Chemical Name 1 HEALTH 3 FLAMMABILITY 0 REACTIVITY HAZARD RATING 4 Extreme 1 Slight 3 Serious 0 Minimal 2 Moderate Assure labels are: Not worn, torn, or damaged, Not covered up with another label, and Present on all containers including secondary containers that do not have a manufacturer s label. MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEETS (MSDS) Workplaces should maintain a hard copy of an MSDS for each hazardous material used in the workplace. Alternately, many workplaces opt to subscribe to a company that is able to supply a MSDS upon demand. There are many styles of MSDS but all contain the same information about the hazardous substances in the same section. How to read an MSDS Introduction to the hazardous material Section 1: Chemical Product and Company ID Identifies the substance and manufacturer/importer. Section 2: Composition/Information on Ingredients Lists what is in the substance, including other chemicals. Section 3: Hazards Identification Explains potential acute and chronic health effects. Tells how it enters the body and signs/symptoms of exposure. What to do in an emergency Section 4: First Aid Measures Tells you what to do if you are exposed to the substance. Section 5: Fire Fighting Measures Tells you what to use to put out a fire caused by the substance. Section 6: Accidental Release Measures Tells how to respond to spills, leaks, or releases, and how to clean them up. How to prevent exposures and accidents Section 7: Handling and Storage Describes safe work practices for the substance. Section 8: Exposure Controls/Personal Protection 7

8 Describes ways to reduce hazards and the correct personal protective equipment to use when working with the substance. Exposure controls show the greatest concentration of a substance you may be safely exposed to. Section 9: Physical and Chemical Properties Provides more technical data about the substance. You find out how a substance looks and smells. Section 10: Stability and Reactivity Tells you how stable the substance is and how it may react to other substances or conditions, like heat. Other Useful Information Section 11: Toxicological Information Based on test data, describes harmful effects that can occur if you are overexposed to the substance. Section 12: Ecological Information Tells how a spill or release may affect plants, animals, and the environment. Section 13: Disposal Consideration Advises the proper way to dispose of hazardous waste. Section 14: Transport Information Provides basic shipping guidelines. Section 15: Regulatory Information Refers you to applicable federal, state, and international laws. Section 16: Other Information Contains any other information needed to safely work with, store, transport, dispose, etc. of the substance. REFERENCES U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Health and Safety Administration. What is Hazard Communication? U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Health and Safety Administration. OSHA Fact Sheet Hazardous Chemicals in the Lab. U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Health and Safety Administration. Hazard Communication Standard 29CFR U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Health and Safety Administration. Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in the Laboratory 29CFR Business and Legal Reports. Hazard Communication. 8

9 TEST QUESTIONS HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY # Directions: Before taking this test, read the instructions on how to complete the answer sheets correctly. If taking the test online, log in to your User Account on the NCCT website Select the response that best completes each sentence or answers each question from the information presented in the module. If you are having difficulty answering a question, go to and select Forms/Documents. Then select CE Updates and Revisions to see if course content and/or a test questions have been revised. If you do not have access to the internet, call Customer Service at Health hazards can cause fires, become unstable, or react with other substances. 2. Flammables, oxidizers, and reactives are examples of physical hazards. 3. Health hazards could cause damage to the lungs, liver, kidneys, and other body organs. 4. Inhalation and ingestion are the only methods by which you can be exposed to a hazardous material. 5. A review of an MSDS will provide an employee with information about acute and chronic health effects of a hazardous material. 6. Warnings labels like the NFPA diamond rate health, flammability, and reactivity hazards from 0 4 with 4 being the most hazardous. 9

10 7. A hazardous material that is a carcinogen may. a. cause cancer b. cause allergic reactions c. destroy tissue d. suddenly blow up 8. The degree of reactivity of a hazardous material is located in the color portion of the NFPA diamond. a. blue b. red c. white d. yellow 9. In what section of the MSDS will you find information on how to clean up a spill of a hazardous material? a. Section 2 b. Section 6 c. Section 12 d. Section You need to dispose of a hazardous material. In what section of the MSDS will you find information on the proper way to dispose of the material? a. Section 1 b. Section 4 c. Section 11 d. Section 13 *end of test* 10