Policy #: 6450:15
Subject: Hazard Communications Policy
Section: Business Operations
Effective: June 7, 1994; Revised February 10, 1999
Introduction
In order to comply with the OSHA Hazard Communications Standard 29CFR1910.1200 and State of Maine laws, the following hazard communication policy and its associated procedures have been established. Mr. Larry Laplante, director of finance, serves as the colleges’ hazard communications officer.
All employees/departments, including multiple work sites of the college, are included within the policy and under the procedures. This policy and associated procedures shall be maintained the college’s Faculty and Staff Handbook, in the library and in the office of the director of finance for review by any interested individual(s). This policy covers 1) a listing of hazardous materials by department area; 2) material safety data sheets for all hazardous substances; 3) the necessity for container labels and other forms of warnings and information they are to contain; 4) a description of training information and procedures to be used for and with employees; and 5) the exchange of information with contractors.
An inventory of all known toxic and hazardous substances (approximately 1,000) used by employees of the college is located in the library, in the office of the director of finance and on the NMCC web site. The substances are listed alphabetically by the names used by college employees. Further information on each substance can be obtained by reviewing the MSDS in the area of use. The list of hazardous substances must be updated each time a new substance s procured by any department. A chemical list related to all hazardous substances used by the college shall be kept on file for thirty years. An initial chemical list as well as annual update of the chemical list must be sent to the Bureau of Labor Standards by July 1 of each year.
Hazardous Non-routine Tasks
Periodically, employees are required to perform hazardous non-routine tasks. Prior to starting work on such projects, each assigned employee will be given information by his/her supervisor about the hazardous chemicals to which they may be exposed during the work activity. This information will include specific hazards; protective/safety measures the employee is to take; and measures the college has taken to lessen the hazard, including ventilation, respirators, presence of another employee, and emergency procedures.
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
The person who initiates and/or signs the initial ordering requisition for hazardous or toxic materials shall be the responsible party (herein referred to as the responsible party).
The outlined process will be followed for any hazardous or toxic material requisitions:
- The responsible party shall recognize, identify, and accept the hazardous or toxic material.
- The responsible party shall note the need for the MSDS on the requisition.
- Materials shall be accepted only with proof of an existing or new MSDS sheet.
- When the MSDS sheets are received by the responsible party, the MSDS shall be forwarded to the supervisor of buildings and grounds, the library, the department chairperson and the area where the substances are to be used.
Labels
The departmental supervisor will verify that all containers received for use are clearly labeled to indicate a) the identity of the substance (the identity must match the corresponding MSDS); b) the hazardous warnings (including routes of entry and target organs if known); c) the name and address of the manufacturer, importer, or responsible party from whom additional information can be obtained if needed; d) the area supervisor in each department will insure that all secondary containers are labeled with either an extra copy of original manufacturer’s label or with a generic label that contains a block for the identity and a block for a hazardous warning. For help in labeling. Please see the supervisor of building and grounds.
Transfer vessels are exempt form labeling requirements under certain conditions. At all times such vessels must be kept under the control of the person who originally filled them from a properly labeled container and the label exclusion only applies for the immediate use of the material in the vessel (i.e. during the single shift involved). If the chemical is not entirely removed from the transfer vessel by the end of the shift during which it was filled, then the label requirements go into effect. The supervisor of building and grounds will review the college’s labeling system semi-annually.
Employee Training and Information
All employees and new hires must be told about the hazards posed by all the materials they work with that are covered under the Standard. Employees shall be provided with effective information and training on hazardous substances in the work area at the time of their initial assignment, and whenever a new physical or health hazard the employees have not previously been trained about is introduced into their work area. They must be told how to detect the presence of the materials, how to use personal protective equipment properly, what emergency procedures to use in case of leaks and spills, and what procedures are to be used in non-routine tasks such as maintenance, and cleaning of contaminated equipment. This training should be repeated periodically even if no new materials are introduced.
All employees of Northern Maine Community College will attend a health and safety orientation and will receive information and training annually on the following:
- An overview of the requirements contained in the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, 1910.1200;
- Chemicals present in their work operations;
- Location and availability of our written hazard communication policy and procedures;
- Physical and health effects of the toxic of hazardous substances;
- Methods and observation techniques used to determine the presence of release of toxic and hazardous substances in the work area;
- How to use toxic and hazardous substances in the safest possible manner, including safe work practices and personal protective equipment requirements;
- Steps the company has taken to lessen or prevent exposure to toxic and hazardous substances;
- How to read labels and review MSDS to obtain appropriate hazard information; and
- Location of MSDS file and location of toxic hazardous substances list.
All training and information sessions of any kind need to be documented as subjects covered, times, dates, instructors and/or packaged programs used, and names of employees attending. An up-to-date summary of this information signed by the employee should also be maintained. The typical record will be similar to the NMCC Hazard Communication Training Record.
Prior to a new chemical hazard being introduced into any department of this college, each employee of that department will be given information as outlined above.
Informing Contractors and Non-employees
It is the responsibility of the supervisor of building and grounds to make available and disseminate to contractors (with employees) the following information:
- toxic and hazardous substances to which they may be exposed while on the job site; and
- precautions the employees may take to lessen the possibility of exposure by usage of appropriate protective measures.
To gather and disseminate any information concerning chemical hazards that contractors or service agents bring to the NMCC workplace, the following individuals are to be consulted before work begins.
- The NMCC purchasing agent for contractors/service agents servicing equipment and instructional systems.
- The NMCC supervisor of buildings and grounds for contractors/service agents providing construction and/or maintenance services for or in support of facilities or grounds.
In each case, the MSDS provided by the vendor must be distributed immediately to the designated file locations and the work area.
The supervisor of buildings and grounds should inform the local fire department of the storage and use of chemicals in college facilities, particularly if significant quantities are involved. This individual must also notify the local medical community that emergency exposure information is available.
Last changed: Dec 12 2007 at 4:19 PM
Back
