Hazardous Chemical Communication Program Revised: April 22, 2004 1
A. Peninsula College Policy Peninsula College is committed to the prevention of exposures that result in injury and/or illness; and to comply with all applicable state health and safety rules. To make sure that all affected employees know about information concerning the dangers of all hazardous chemicals used by Peninsula College the following hazardous information program has been established. All work units of Peninsula College will participate in the hazard communication program. This written program will be available in Peninsula College for review by any interested employee. B. Container Labeling Peninsula College is responsible for container labeling procedures, reviewing, and updating. The labeling system used at is as follows: 1. Peninsula College instructional laboratories rely on a factoring labeling system for content with a four (4) dot system with different colors that denote level of hazard, type of hazard, and storage proximities to other chemicals. 2. Other departments rely on the manufacturer s label for chemical containers. The procedures for proper labeling of all containers, and reviewing and updating label warnings are as follows: When Peninsula College receiving department receives a chemical it is recorded into a database and a master copy of the MSDS is filed in the Support Service office and a copy is sent to the appropriate worksite. The MSDS file is reviewed on a annual basis in the Support Service office. It is updated with the receipt of chemicals or when a chemical will no longer be used and the remainder is properly disposed. The worksite contact person, most often a faculty member, is responsible for labeling at time of delivery, proper storage, MSDS retention, and notifying Support Services for disposal when it is no longer needed. Instructional labs will be inspected on a regular basis by Support Service personnel and faculty will be notified of the findings. Secondary containers must be labeled by the user. This is especially critical for the disposal and to insure that only compatible chemicals are put into these containers. It is the policy of Peninsula College that no container will be released for use until the above procedures are followed. C. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) The Safety Officer is responsible to establish and monitor the employer's MSDS program. This person will make sure procedures are developed and followed to obtain the necessary MSDSs and will review incoming MSDSs for new or significant health and 2
safety information. The Safety Officer will see that any new information is passed on to effected employees. The procedures to obtain MSDSs and review incoming MSDSs for new or significant health and safety information are as follows: When chemicals are ordered, the Peninsula College purchasing department notes on the purchase order a request for an MSDS to be provided. When the chemicals are delivered on campus they are delivered with their MSDS and it becomes the responsibility of the user to review the content of the MSDS and to file the new or updated MSDS for worksite use. Worksite access to MSDSs is determined site-by-site and training of workers, often students, is left to the worksite contact, mostly faculty. Copies of MSDSs for all college hazardous chemicals will be kept in the Support Service Office while work units maintain copies of specific MSDSs for their units. MSDSs also can be located at http://www.msdssearch.com. MSDSs will be available to all employees during each work shift. If an MSDS is not available or a new chemical does not have an MSDS, immediately contact the Safety Officer. D. Employee Information and Training Supervisors are responsible for the employer/employee/student training program. In an instructional setting, the faculty member is responsible for safety training. The procedures for how employees will be informed and trained are as follows: Training is provided by the supervisor and specific trainings are provided with the use of consultants. Safety training of students in lab settings is the responsibility of the faculty member in charge. Supervisors will make sure that before starting work, each new employee of Peninsula College will attend or be furnished a written health and safety orientation that includes information and training on the following: An overview of the requirements contained in the Hazard Communication Standard. Hazardous chemicals present at his or her work places. Physical and health risks of the hazardous chemical. The symptoms of overexposure. How to determine the presence or release of hazardous chemicals in the work area. 3
How to reduce or prevent exposure to hazardous chemicals through use of control procedures, work practices, and personal protective equipment. Steps the employer has taken to reduce or prevent exposure to hazardous chemicals. Procedures to follow if employees are overexposed to hazardous chemicals. How to read labels and review MSDSs to obtain hazard information. Location of the MSDS file and written hazard communication program. Before introducing a new chemical hazard into any section of this employer, each employee in that section will be given information and training as outlined above for the new chemical. E. Hazardous non-routine tasks Periodically, employees are required to perform hazardous non-routine tasks. Nonroutine tasks that are performed at Peninsula College include some custodial and maintenance hazardous tasks that are non-routine. If they include the use of chemicals we are not licensed to use or hazardous materials to remove, we contract out the task. As safety or protective measures we provide MSDSs, have first aid kits and clean-up kits available, have eye-wash stations and showers at strategic locations on campus. The college has an asbestos report for all buildings on campus and Support Services staff has received training for asbestos clean-up and identification. We provide personal protective equipment for chemical handling. Peninsula College attempts to purchase chemicals which are not hazardous. We provide training for the proper use of chemicals and require that the chemical labeling is read before the chemical is used. F. Multi-employer work places It is the responsibility of Peninsula College to provide employees of any other employers working at the college with the following information: Copies of MSDSs (or make them available in the Support Service office) for any hazardous chemicals that the other employer(s) employee may be exposed to while working. Inform other employers of any precautionary measures that need to be taken to protect employees during normal operating conditions or in foreseeable emergencies. Provide other employers with an explanation of the labeling system that is used at the work site. 4
It is also the responsibility of the Safety Officer to identify and obtain MSDSs for the chemicals the contractor is bringing into the work place. G. List of hazardous chemicals A list of all known hazardous chemicals used by our employees is attached. Further information on each chemical may be obtained by reviewing MSDSs located at Support Service Office. 5