Chemical Safety Guide a Companion to the NIH Chemical Hygiene Plan and Hazard Communication Program Hazard Identification
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2015 NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH | OFFICE OF RESEARCH SERVICES | DIVISION OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY Chemical Safety Guide A companion to the NIH Chemical Hygiene Plan and Hazard Communication Program Hazard Identification Globally Harmonized System Classification of physical, health and environmental hazards: PHYSICAL HAZARDS HEALTH HAZARDS The United Nations adopted the Globally Label Elements Label Elements Harmonized System (GHS) to provide an Old New Hazard Classes Old New Hazard Classes internationally standardized approach to the • Acute toxicity • Unstable explosives • Fatal if inhaled, in contact • Self-reactive substances classification and labeling of chemicals. The with skin, or swallowed and mixtures Danger Explosive • Occupational Safety and Health Administration Organic peroxides • Danger Acute toxicity • Toxic if inhaled, in contact (OSHA) is modifying its Hazard Communication toxic/toxic Very with skin, or swallowed Standard (HCS) to conform with the GHS and No Explosives classification • Specific target organ toxicity ensure consistency of information. Compliance Warning (single or repeated with some changes begins December 2013, with Toxic exposure) • full compliance required within two years. The Extremely flammable Danger Carcinogenicity liquids, vapors, gases • Germ cell mutagenicity Danger and aerosols • Extremely Reproductive toxicity Harmful changes include: flammable Hazard classification: Provides specific criteria for Highly flammable • Respiratory sensitization liquids and vapors • Aspiration hazard Highly • Warning Specific target organ toxicity classification of health, physical and environmental flammable (single or repeated exposure) • Carcinogenicity hazards, as well as classification of mixtures. No Harmful Warning • Germ cell mutagenicity symbol Flammable liquids, • Reproductive toxicity Labels: Chemical manufacturers and importers vapors, and aerosols No Warning are required to provide a label that includes a classification Flammable • Acute toxicity • Harmful if inhaled, in • contact with skin, or harmonized signal word, pictogram and hazard Pyrophoric liquids and Harmful Warning solids swallowed statement for each hazard class and category, • Substances and mixtures, which in along with precautionary statements. Highly Warning contact with water, emit Flammable flammable gases Skin corrosion Safety Data Sheets (SDS): Previously called, Corrosive Danger • Self-heating substances Danger Causes serious eye Material Safety Data Sheets, will have a specified and mixtures damage 16-section format. • Self-reactive substances Irritant and mixtures Danger Oxidizing • Organic peroxides • Causes serious eye irritation Signal word: There are two signal words in the • Specific target organ toxicity, single exposure (may cause GHS system - Danger and Warning. These signal Warning respiratory irritation) • Skin irritation words are used to communicate the relative level Oxidizing liquids • Skin sensitization Warning Oxidizing of hazard on both the label and the SDS, with • Specific target organ toxicity, No Danger/Warning single exposure (may cause “Danger” indicating the more severe hazard. The symbol drowsiness and dizziness) appropriate signal word is determined by the Gases under pressure: No – compressed ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS hazard classification. classification – liquefied Warning – refrigerated liquefied Label Elements Information and trained: While the GHS does not – dissolved Old New Hazard Classes address training, the proposed HCS requires that • Hazardous to the aquatic environment - acute No all personnel working with chemicals be properly Corrosive to metals classification • Hazardous to the aquatic Warning trained to recognize and understand the new Warning environment - chronic labels and safety data sheets. Labeling In compliance with GHS, chemical This includes: The SDS is to include the following manufacturers and importers are required to • All chemicals transferred from original sixteen sections in this order: provide a label that includes six elements: container 1. Identification 1. Product identifier • Any prepared solution 2. Hazards identification 2. Signal word • Secondary containers within which a 3. Composition/information on ingredients chemical is stored 3. Pictogram 4. First aid measures • Chemical waste (the word “waste” must 4. Hazard statement also appear on the label) 5. Firefighting measures 5. Precautionary statement Containers of newly synthesized 6. Accidental release measures 6. Product supplier chemicals have unknown hazards. Label 7. Handling and storage these containers with hazard information as EPICHLOROHYDRIN 1 best determined. It is important to include UN No. 2023 3 8. Exposure controls/personal protection CAS No. 106-89-8 the location (lab notebook, computer file) for 9. Physical and chemical properties 2 DANGER finding specific information, such as: 4 10. Stability and reactivity • Chemical name, exactly as it appears on Flammable liquid and vapor. Toxic if swallowed. Toxic in contact with skin. the outside of the container 11. Toxicological information Causes severe skin burns and eye damage. May cause an allergic skin reaction. May • Molecular formula 12. Ecological information cause cancer. 5 • Molecular weight (if known) 13. Disposal considerations Do not breathe dust/fume/gas/mist/vapor/spray. 14. Transport information Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection. Safety Data Sheets Fill Weight: 18.52 lbs. Lot number: AO323111323 15. Regulatory information Gross weight: 20 lbs Fill Date: 1/15/2012 6 Jackson Chemical Company - City of Industry, Los Angeles, California, USA (800)-444-456-8989 16. Other information Safety Data Sheets (SDS) will replace Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) under the Globally Once in the lab, the user may not obscure or Harmonized System. They will present details of remove any of the label elements from the the chemical hazards in a standardized format container. If the chemical is transferred into a to improve clarity and comprehension. different container, the name of the chemical and any associated hazards must also be placed on that container; The label must be legible, in English, and prominently displayed on the container. Image courtesy of Mastery.com Hazard Identification Hazard Control/Hazardous Spill Procedure Hazard Assessment A Chemical Hazard Assessment identifies the each unfamiliar chemical should be reviewed. hazards of the chemicals and processes used SDSs should be maintained by the laboratory in in the laboratory. The Assessment evaluates a central location, accessible either as a hard the potential for risk and the severity of the risk copy or electronically. associated with the hazards. The Assessment Who does the Assessment? determines measures to eliminate, minimize, or control the hazards and potential risks. The Principal Investigator or Supervisor with primary responsibility for specific hazard What needs to be done? training, performs the Chemical Hazard To perform a Chemical Hazard Assessment, Assessment. He or she may consult with laboratory workers should examine their plan colleagues or Safety Specialists from the for an experiment and identify any chemicals Division of Occupational Health and Safety with which they are not familiar. The SDS for (DOHS). Identify steps in a procedure where hazard What does it entail? controls are needed. A Chemical hazard Assessment entails gathering information about the properties and Chemical Hazard Assessment proposed use of a chemical or reagent. This Name of Process: information should include: Chemical Name/CAS #: Signs/Symptoms of Exposure: 1. SDS for the chemical or reagent Date Prepared: Date Last Reviewed: 2. Description of work/activities/use IC: Building: Room(s): PI Name: Lab: 3. Storage requirements Procedure Step Hazards Associated with Step Controls 4. Disposal and environmental requirements (e.g., Physical, Health, Environment) 5. Health surveillance Engineering: 6. First aid/emergency procedures 7. Proposed controls, to include: Administrative: • Chemical substitution • Isolation PPE: • Engineering controls Other: • Administrative controls • Practices and procedures • Personal protective equipment Chemical Hazard Assessment Control of Exposure The best way to control or minimize Engineering Controls: • Test flush eyewash stations weekly and exposures is to eliminate the hazard. document the date and initials of the • Use a certified chemical fume hood or other individual who performed the test. Call If a hazard cannot be eliminated, other hazard local exhaust ventilation whenever opening, ORF (301-435-8000) to have failed tests control methods must be used. Personal pouring, or handling hazardous chemicals. corrected immediately. protective equipment (PPE) should never be the • Store chemicals in the proper locations. Do only method used to reduce exposure because • Call Office of Research Facilities (ORF) not use or store chemicals or compressed PPE may “fail” (stop protecting the worker) with (301-435-8000) to have the safety gases in cold or warm rooms because the little or no warning. showers tested annually. air inside is recirculated. • Contact Division of Occupational Health • Ensure that air flows into the lab to contain and Safety (DOHS) (301-496-2346) for hazardous particles and noxious odors. clearance of the workspace when non- (see “Ventilation” section) laboratory personnel have to enter the Prevention is the most effective means laboratory to perform services such as of hazard control. Prepare your work area