2002, ERI PRODUCTIONS INC.

Transcription

1 ERI Safety Videos Videos for Safety Meetings 2310-LDG-E CHEMICAL HAZARDS IN THE WORKPLACE Leader s Guide 2002, ERI PRODUCTIONS INC.

2 CHEMICAL HAZARDS IN THE WORKPLACE This easy-to-use Leader s Guide is provided to assist in conducting a successful presentation. Featured are: INTRODUCTION: A brief description of the program and the subject that it addresses. PROGRAM OUTLINE: Summarizes the program content. If the program outline is discussed before the video is presented, the entire program will be more meaningful and successful. PREPARING FOR AND CONDUCTING THE PRESENTATION: These sections will help you set up the training environment, help you relate the program to site-specific incidents, and provide program objectives for focusing your presentation. REVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS: Questions may be copied and given to participants to document how well they understood the information that was presented. Answers to the review questions are provided separately. ATTENDANCE RECORD: Document the date of your presentation as well as identify the program participants. The attendance record may be copied as needed. INTRODUCTION The focus of this program is understanding and controlling chemical hazards in the workplace. Employees must know which chemicals they work with are hazardous and what safety precautions must be taken to protect themselves from chemical hazards. This video provides detailed instruction on the hazard communication written plan, chemical container labels and Material Safety Data Sheets. Other topics include routes of entry, chronic and acute chemical exposures, the importance of personal protection and handling and storage procedures. PROGRAM OUTLINE INTRODUCTION Three-quarter of a million hazardous chemicals are used in workplaces around the world every day and hundred more are introduced each year. Employees must know which chemicals they work with are hazardous and what safety precautions must be taken to protect themselves from chemical hazards. A hazardous chemical is any substance that poses a physical or health hazard to you or others in the workplace. Physical hazards are mainly associated with unstable chemicals that may cause fires or explosions, while health hazards include a variety of problems such as cancer, skin irritation or respiratory ailments. Health effects from hazardous chemicals may be acute (meaning they happen immediately upon exposure) or chronic (which means they happen over time after repeated exposures). Chronic health effects can occur gradually and may not be noticed until serious damage has occurred. ROUTES OF ENTRY Hazardous chemicals can enter our bodies in different ways, which are called routes of entry. Understanding these routes of entry is necessary in preventing exposure to hazardous chemicals. Contact with exposed skin may allow a chemical to be absorbed into the body through the skin. This route of entry is known as absorption.

3 Chemicals may become airborne in the form of a gas, vapor, mist or dust. This allows them to enter our lungs when we breathe. This route of entry is called inhalation. Chemicals may also be swallowed. Eating or drinking while working with chemicals or not washing hands afterwards can contaminate food or drink. Swallowing hazardous chemicals is called ingestion. CHEMICAL LABELS For employees to select the proper protective equipment and determine safe work practices for a specific chemical, they must first be able to identify the hazards posed by the chemical. The first source for this information is the chemical label. The manufacturer s label will provide the commercial name of the chemical, the name and address of the manufacturer and the possible physical and health hazard warnings. When the manufacturer s label describes the chemical as posing a physical or health hazard, you need to start thinking about precautions and protection. Some labels may have additional information to help protect you from the hazards. This may include listing what protective equipment must be used when handling the chemical, special handling or storage requirements and first aid and clean up procedures. Chemical labels vary from manufacturer to manufacturer and the symbols and language used to indicate hazards might vary widely. Make sure you understand the information on the label before using the chemical; if you have any questions, ask your supervisor. NFPA, HMIS & OTHER LABELS Because manufacturer s labels are sometimes hard to read and understand quickly, other systems of labeling have been created to quickly indicate the type and degree of hazard a chemical presents. Two of the more common types of supplemental labels include the National Fire Protection Association or NFPA label and the Hazardous Material Identification System or HMIS label. These labels rank hazards related to health, flammability and reactivity of a chemical. These properties are ranked from zero to four, with zero being a minimal hazard and four being an extreme hazard. The blue area of the NFPA label ranks the health hazard. A 4 displayed here indicates that death or extreme injury can occur from even a small exposure, while a 1 indicates a slight health hazard such as skin irritation. The red area of the diamond ranks the flammability of a material. A 4 displayed here warns of an extreme fire hazard with a flashpoint below 73 degrees. A 1 indicates a very low fire hazard, requiring heating to over 200 degrees before ignition will occur. The yellow area of the diamond displays a ranking of the material s reactivity. A 4 displayed here indicates a tendency to explode or decompose violently at normal temperature and pressure. A 1 in this area indicates the material is stable at normal temperature and pressure. The white area at the bottom of the diamond is reserved for special warnings and symbols that indicate specific hazards, such as use no water, radiation or oxidizer. The HMIS label uses the same ranking and colors arranged in bars to display health, flammability and reactivity information.

4 The white area of the HMIS label is reserved for PPE requirements, such as aprons, respirators or goggles. Many companies have their own chemical labeling systems that are applied to every chemical in the facility. Be sure you know and understand how to obtain the hazard information given by the labeling system used at your facility. Keep in mind that anytime chemicals are transferred from large containers to small containers, the secondary container must also be labeled. Never use chemicals from an unlabeled container. MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEETS Every chemical in the workplace has a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) which contains more detailed information about the chemical than the label. The company makes these MSDS s readily available to every employee. Always consult the MSDS before working with any chemical to make sure you have the needed information to work safely. Most MSDS s are divided into numbered sections. The number of sections and the information given can vary; however, most MSDS s will contain the following sections: Product and Company Information This section will include the name of the chemical and the manufacturer. The manufacturer s contact information is listed as well as an emergency contact number. Hazardous Ingredients This section will list the hazardous ingredients contained in the chemical, specifically naming any known carcinogens. Carcinogens are substances know to cause cancer. Hazard Identification This section will describe the hazards that are posed by the chemical. This will include physical hazards, health hazards and environmental hazards. First Aid Measures This section will list what actions to take for specific exposure situations, such as eye contact, inhalation or ingestion. Exposure Controls and Personal Protection This section will list occupational exposure limits for the chemical as well as the protective equipment to be used while working with the chemical. Recommended protective equipment will usually be grouped by body systems that must be protected, such as the respiratory system, skin and body, hands, face and eyes. This is where you will determine if chemical gloves, goggles and/or a respirator are needed. Using the proper protective equipment is one of the most important safety practices to follow when working with hazardous chemicals. Also listed in this section will be any recommended engineering controls, such as exhaust ventilation, that may be required when working with the chemical. Physical and Chemical Properties This section will list the material s properties, such as boiling point, flashpoint, specific gravity, color, odor and physical state. This information can be used in a variety of ways, including predicting how the chemical will react under certain conditions and detecting leaks and spills.

5 Stability and Reactivity This section describes if the chemical will react violently when exposed to other chemicals, water, air or other factors. Handling and Storage This section gives safe handling and storage instructions, such as avoid fumes, use adequate ventilation, keep away from heat or sparks, use explosion-proof electrical equipment and keep containers in cool, well-ventilated areas. Toxicological Information This section describes the various routes of entry for the chemical, such as contact with skin or eyes or if it is an inhalation hazard. The information in this section will also affect how you safely work with the material. Any acute or chronic effects of exposure will also be listed. THE WRITTEN HAZARD COMMUNICATION PLAN Chemical labels and Material Safety Data Sheets are just one part of a larger written program maintained by the company to control exposure to hazardous chemicals. OSHA requires employers to provide employees with training and information about chemicals in the workplace. This is commonly referred to as hazard communication training or right-to-know training. The written hazard communication plan is designed to be a comprehensive plan to control exposures to hazardous chemicals. This plan is available for review by management and employees alike. The written plan details guidelines for employee training, the locations of hazardous chemicals in the workplace, the name of the person responsible for maintaining the company s chemical inventory and the locations where MSDS s can be found. Also contained in the written plan is a description of the company s container labeling program. The company s plan requires all employees to receive chemical hazard communication training before working with any hazardous chemicals. Employees will also receive additional training anytime a new chemical is introduced into the work area. Employees have the responsibility to put this information into action through proper use of protective equipment and following recommended safe work practices while using hazardous chemicals.

6 PREPARE FOR THE SAFETY MEETING OR TRAINING SESSION Review each section of this Leader's Guide as well as the videotape. Here are a few suggestions for using the program: Make everyone aware of the importance the company places on health and safety and how each person must be an active member of the safety team. Introduce the videotape program. Play the videotape without interruption. Review the program content by presenting the information in the program outline. Copy the review questions included in this Leader's Guide and ask each participant to complete them. Copy the attendance record as needed and have each participant sign the form. Maintain the attendance record and each participant's test paper as written documentation of the training performed. Here are some suggestions for preparing your videotape equipment and the room or area you use: Check the room or area for quietness, adequate ventilation and temperature, lighting and unobstructed access. Check the seating arrangement and the audiovisual equipment to ensure that all participants will be able to see and hear the videotape program. Place or secure extension cords to prevent them from becoming a tripping hazard. CONDUCTING THE PRESENTATION Begin the meeting by welcoming the participants. Introduce yourself and give each person the opportunity to become acquainted if there are new people joining the training session. Explain that the primary purpose of the program is to make employees aware of the safety precautions they must take when working with hazardous chemicals. Introduce the videotape program. Play the videotape without interruption. Review the program content by presenting the information in the program outline. Lead discussions about specific chemicals used at your facility and the precautions employees must take to prevent exposures to them. Use the review questions to check how well the participants understood the information. After watching the videotape program, the viewer will be able to explain the following: The information displayed on chemical manufacturer labels as well as NFPA and HMIS labels; The sections of a Material Safety Data Sheet and the information they contain; How chemicals enter the body (routes of entry); The components of a company s written hazard communication plan.

7 CHEMICAL HAZARDS IN THE WORKPLACE REVIEW QUESTIONS Name Date The following questions are provided to check how well you understand the information presented during this program. 1. A hazardous chemical is best defined as. a. a substance that has a flashpoint below room temperature b. a substance that causes cancer c. any substance that is flammable d. any substance that poses a physical or health hazard to you or others in the workplace 2. Chronic health effects are those that. a. happen quickly after exposure b. occur over time after repeated exposures 3. Which color represents the Health hazard based on the NFPA and HMIS labeling system? a. blue b. red c. yellow d. white 4. Which color represents the Flammability hazard based on the NFPA and HMIS labeling system? a. blue b. red c. yellow d. white 5. When transferring a chemical from a large container to a smaller secondary container, the secondary container must be properly labeled. a. true b. false 6. The company maintains a MSDS sheet for only the most commonly used chemicals on site. a. true b. false 7. Using the NFPA or HMIS labeling system, which number represents the greatest hazard? a. 4 b. 3 c. 1 d What is considered to be the first source of chemical hazard information? a. the encyclopedia b. Material Safety Data Sheets c. the manufacturer s label 9. Employees have a responsibility to review the information provided on chemical labels and MSDS s and use the information to select proper protective equipment and follow safe work practices. a. true b. false

8 ANSWERS TO THE REVIEW QUESTIONS 1. d 2. b 3. a 4. b 5. a 6. b 7. a 8. c 9. a