1
Chemical Safety and Hazard
Communication
This material was produced by Asian Immigrant Women Advocates
under grant number SH-05002-SH8 from the Occupational Safety
and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. It does not
necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of
Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or
organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
2
Training Objectives
• Employer requirements for chemical safety at
the workplace
• How to recognize chemical hazards associated
with the workplace
• How chemical hazards affect the body
• How to handle chemicals safely in the
workplace
3
Asian Immigrant Workers
• Asian immigrant workers handle chemicals in their
workplaces every day. These are some of the most
common chemicals they work with.
– Hand soaps
– Dish washing liquids
– Cleaning sprays and powders
– Bleaches
– Alcohol solutions
– Disinfectants
– Detergents
4
Other Chemicals in the Workplace
• Depending on their industries (restaurant,
hotel, janitorial, home care, salon and beauty
services, and other employment settings),
Asian immigrant workers recognize and handle
other chemicals in the work areas.
5
Do you work with chemicals?
• What chemicals do you use in the workplace?
• How does your body feel when you work with
these chemicals?
• [short discussion]
6
Employer Requirements:
Workers’ “Right to Know” Law
• Employers are required
– to ensure that all employees know the hazards of
chemicals they work with at their jobs
– to ensure that employees are provided with
information about chemicals they work with
through:
• Information on chemical labels
• Safety Data Sheets (SDSs)
• Training on hazard communication (HAZCOM)
• Written HAZCOM plan
7
Employee Information and Training
• Employers must provide employees with
information and training on hazardous
chemicals in their work area.
– At the time of initial assignment
– When a new hazardous product or chemical is
introduced into the workplace
8
Employee Training
• Employee training shall include at least:
– The means to detect the presence of a hazardous
chemicals in the work area
– The physical and health hazards of chemicals in
the work area
– Measures employees can take to protect
themselves
9
Have you received training?
• Have you received training from your
employer on the chemicals used in your work
area and how to handle them safely?
• [Short discussion]
10
What is a chemical hazard?
• Chemical hazards are gases, vapors, liquids, or
dusts that can harm your body.
Breathing (Inhalation)
Skin or Eye Contact
Swallowing (Ingestion)
11
HOW DO
CHEMICALS
GET INTO
THE BODY?
12
Health Hazards
• Chemical exposure can cause serious health
problems:
– Itching/rashes/burns
– Kidney/lung damage
– Heart problems
– Cancer
– Sterility
– Central nervous system damage
HOW
CHEMICALS
CAN AFFECT
YOUR BODY
13
14
Health Hazards
• Major Types
– Corrosives - cause tissue damage and
burns on contact with skin or eyes
– Primary Irritants - cause intense redness
or swelling of skin or eyes on contact.
No permanent tissue damage
– Sensitizers - cause an allergic skin or
lung reaction
– Acutely Toxic Materials - cause an
adverse effect even at very low doses
– Carcinogens - may cause cancer
– Teratogens - may cause birth defects
– Organ Specific hazards - damage to
specific organ systems such as liver or
lungs
15
Acute and Chronic
• Acute health effects
– Happens quickly. Occur with short-term exposure
and last a brief period. For example, skin
irritation with chemical contact.
• Chronic health effects
– May not smell, see, or feel sick right away. Occur
with long-term exposure and last a long time. For
example: lung cancer.
16
Chemical Hazard Protection
• What can you do to protect yourself from
chemical hazards?
• [Short discussion]
17
Chemical Hazard Control Approaches
(1) Remove
the Hazard from
Work Area
(2) Review and Follow Work
Policies and Procedures
(3) Wear Personal Protective Equipment
18
(1) Remove the Hazardous Chemical
• Remove the chemical hazard from work area
• Choose nontoxic products
– “Green Seal Certified”
– “Ecologo UL”
– “Safer Choice”
19
(2) Work Policies and Procedures
• Train on reading labels and know what
symbols and warnings mean
• Use small amounts of chemicals, measuring &
diluting them
• Use tools to avoid direct contact with
chemicals
• Cover and store chemicals safely
20
Learn to read Chemical Hazard Labels
• Train on reading labels and knowing what
symbols and warnings mean
21
Required Elements on a Label
Information should be in the
same order for all labels
Labels MUST include:
• Product Identifier
• Supplier Identifier
• Chemical Identity
• Hazard Pictograms *
• Signal Words *
• Hazard Statements *
• Precautionary Information
The items with * are hazard
warning and MUST be located
together on the label!
22
Hazard Pictograms
• Pictograms are required on labels to alert
users of the chemical hazards. Pictograms
consists of a symbol on a white background
framed within a red border and represents a
distinct hazard.
23
Pictograms and Hazards
24
Hazard Signal Words
• There are two Signal Words used in chemical
labels: DANGER or WARNING
• DANGER is used for more severe hazards
• WARNING is used for less severe hazards
25
Hazard Statements
• Hazard statements provide wording to
indicate the hazards of the chemical product,
including, when appropriate, the degree of
the hazard
26
Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
• For information about chemical hazards, Safety Data
Sheets provide valuable facts about chemicals and how
to handle them. It contains:
– Product name, manufacturer, contact information and
emergency number
– Hazard identification
– Information on chemical ingredients
– First-aid measures
– Firefighting measures
– Accidental release measures
– Handling and storage
27
(3) Personal Protective Equipment
• Use gloves, masks, goggles, aprons, hats,
shoes, and other protective covers
28
Mei’s Story: What should Mei do?
29
Summary
• Employees have the right to chemical safety
information and training in the workplace.
• It is important to recognize chemical hazards
through labels, pictograms, signal words, and
hazard statements.
• It is important to use personal protective
equipment for safely handling chemicals.
• Take action to make your workplace safer!
30
Any Questions?
31
Acknowledgements
• “Chemical Hazard and Hazard Communication”
(PowerPoint Presentation). Susan Harwood Grant/OSHA.
• “Hazard Communication (HAZCOM) and the Globally
Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of
Chemicals (GHS)” (PowerPoint Presentation). Susan
Harwood Grant/OSHA.
• “Hazard Communication Standard 1910.1200”
(PowerPoint Presentation). Susan Harwood Grant/OSHA.
• Scruggs, Kelsie, MPH. “Safe Jobs for Youth” (PowerPoint
Presentation). Labor Occupational Health Program, U.C.
Berkeley. Susan Harwood Grant/OSHA
32
Also this training was created by adapting
publicly available materials from Susan
Harwood Training Program, UC Berkeley Labor
Occupational Health Program, and
Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry.

Chemical Hazard handling storing Training

  • 1.
    1 Chemical Safety andHazard Communication This material was produced by Asian Immigrant Women Advocates under grant number SH-05002-SH8 from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. It does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
  • 2.
    2 Training Objectives • Employerrequirements for chemical safety at the workplace • How to recognize chemical hazards associated with the workplace • How chemical hazards affect the body • How to handle chemicals safely in the workplace
  • 3.
    3 Asian Immigrant Workers •Asian immigrant workers handle chemicals in their workplaces every day. These are some of the most common chemicals they work with. – Hand soaps – Dish washing liquids – Cleaning sprays and powders – Bleaches – Alcohol solutions – Disinfectants – Detergents
  • 4.
    4 Other Chemicals inthe Workplace • Depending on their industries (restaurant, hotel, janitorial, home care, salon and beauty services, and other employment settings), Asian immigrant workers recognize and handle other chemicals in the work areas.
  • 5.
    5 Do you workwith chemicals? • What chemicals do you use in the workplace? • How does your body feel when you work with these chemicals? • [short discussion]
  • 6.
    6 Employer Requirements: Workers’ “Rightto Know” Law • Employers are required – to ensure that all employees know the hazards of chemicals they work with at their jobs – to ensure that employees are provided with information about chemicals they work with through: • Information on chemical labels • Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) • Training on hazard communication (HAZCOM) • Written HAZCOM plan
  • 7.
    7 Employee Information andTraining • Employers must provide employees with information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area. – At the time of initial assignment – When a new hazardous product or chemical is introduced into the workplace
  • 8.
    8 Employee Training • Employeetraining shall include at least: – The means to detect the presence of a hazardous chemicals in the work area – The physical and health hazards of chemicals in the work area – Measures employees can take to protect themselves
  • 9.
    9 Have you receivedtraining? • Have you received training from your employer on the chemicals used in your work area and how to handle them safely? • [Short discussion]
  • 10.
    10 What is achemical hazard? • Chemical hazards are gases, vapors, liquids, or dusts that can harm your body.
  • 11.
    Breathing (Inhalation) Skin orEye Contact Swallowing (Ingestion) 11 HOW DO CHEMICALS GET INTO THE BODY?
  • 12.
    12 Health Hazards • Chemicalexposure can cause serious health problems: – Itching/rashes/burns – Kidney/lung damage – Heart problems – Cancer – Sterility – Central nervous system damage
  • 13.
  • 14.
    14 Health Hazards • MajorTypes – Corrosives - cause tissue damage and burns on contact with skin or eyes – Primary Irritants - cause intense redness or swelling of skin or eyes on contact. No permanent tissue damage – Sensitizers - cause an allergic skin or lung reaction – Acutely Toxic Materials - cause an adverse effect even at very low doses – Carcinogens - may cause cancer – Teratogens - may cause birth defects – Organ Specific hazards - damage to specific organ systems such as liver or lungs
  • 15.
    15 Acute and Chronic •Acute health effects – Happens quickly. Occur with short-term exposure and last a brief period. For example, skin irritation with chemical contact. • Chronic health effects – May not smell, see, or feel sick right away. Occur with long-term exposure and last a long time. For example: lung cancer.
  • 16.
    16 Chemical Hazard Protection •What can you do to protect yourself from chemical hazards? • [Short discussion]
  • 17.
    17 Chemical Hazard ControlApproaches (1) Remove the Hazard from Work Area (2) Review and Follow Work Policies and Procedures (3) Wear Personal Protective Equipment
  • 18.
    18 (1) Remove theHazardous Chemical • Remove the chemical hazard from work area • Choose nontoxic products – “Green Seal Certified” – “Ecologo UL” – “Safer Choice”
  • 19.
    19 (2) Work Policiesand Procedures • Train on reading labels and know what symbols and warnings mean • Use small amounts of chemicals, measuring & diluting them • Use tools to avoid direct contact with chemicals • Cover and store chemicals safely
  • 20.
    20 Learn to readChemical Hazard Labels • Train on reading labels and knowing what symbols and warnings mean
  • 21.
    21 Required Elements ona Label Information should be in the same order for all labels Labels MUST include: • Product Identifier • Supplier Identifier • Chemical Identity • Hazard Pictograms * • Signal Words * • Hazard Statements * • Precautionary Information The items with * are hazard warning and MUST be located together on the label!
  • 22.
    22 Hazard Pictograms • Pictogramsare required on labels to alert users of the chemical hazards. Pictograms consists of a symbol on a white background framed within a red border and represents a distinct hazard.
  • 23.
  • 24.
    24 Hazard Signal Words •There are two Signal Words used in chemical labels: DANGER or WARNING • DANGER is used for more severe hazards • WARNING is used for less severe hazards
  • 25.
    25 Hazard Statements • Hazardstatements provide wording to indicate the hazards of the chemical product, including, when appropriate, the degree of the hazard
  • 26.
    26 Safety Data Sheets(SDS) • For information about chemical hazards, Safety Data Sheets provide valuable facts about chemicals and how to handle them. It contains: – Product name, manufacturer, contact information and emergency number – Hazard identification – Information on chemical ingredients – First-aid measures – Firefighting measures – Accidental release measures – Handling and storage
  • 27.
    27 (3) Personal ProtectiveEquipment • Use gloves, masks, goggles, aprons, hats, shoes, and other protective covers
  • 28.
    28 Mei’s Story: Whatshould Mei do?
  • 29.
    29 Summary • Employees havethe right to chemical safety information and training in the workplace. • It is important to recognize chemical hazards through labels, pictograms, signal words, and hazard statements. • It is important to use personal protective equipment for safely handling chemicals. • Take action to make your workplace safer!
  • 30.
  • 31.
    31 Acknowledgements • “Chemical Hazardand Hazard Communication” (PowerPoint Presentation). Susan Harwood Grant/OSHA. • “Hazard Communication (HAZCOM) and the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS)” (PowerPoint Presentation). Susan Harwood Grant/OSHA. • “Hazard Communication Standard 1910.1200” (PowerPoint Presentation). Susan Harwood Grant/OSHA. • Scruggs, Kelsie, MPH. “Safe Jobs for Youth” (PowerPoint Presentation). Labor Occupational Health Program, U.C. Berkeley. Susan Harwood Grant/OSHA
  • 32.
    32 Also this trainingwas created by adapting publicly available materials from Susan Harwood Training Program, UC Berkeley Labor Occupational Health Program, and Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry.

Editor's Notes

  • #3 Graphics from Kelsie Scruggs “Safe Jobs for Youth” LOHP/UCB
  • #11 Kelsie Scruggs, “Safe Jobs for Youth” LOHP/UCB
  • #13 Kelsie Scruggs, “Safe Jobs for Youth” LOHP/UCB
  • #14 “Hazard Communication Standard 1910.1200.”
  • #21 “Chemical Hazard and Hazard Communication” OSHA
  • #23 “Hazard Communication (HAZCOM)…” OSHA
  • #26 “Chemical Hazard and Hazard Communication” OSHA
  • #28 “Staying Safe at Work” OSHA