Hazard Communication
Online Training
ENTER
The HazCom Standard Protects
Workers
To comply with the Illinois Department of Labor regulations,
ISU recognizes OSHA regulations. The OSHA HazCom
standard requires ISU to protect its workers from the dangers
of hazardous materials in the workplace. As a means to
protect you, this online training has been developed to cover
the basics of the University program. Following the online
training is a short quiz, to be submitted.
Written Policy
ISU has developed a written
Hazard Communication
Program that is also available
to be viewed by all applicable
employees. Your supervisor has
a copy tailored to your worksite.
This lists the specific means of
communicating hazards to you
about chemicals! If you are
unsure of its whereabouts, ask
your supervisor.
HazCom is about Material Safety
Hazard Communication involves
the communication of hazards
about chemicals to employees,
also known as the “Right To
Know”.
ISU has a HazCom program that
each affected employee should
be familiarized with.
It is the responsibility of the
department, as well as your own
to handle chemicals safely,
understand chemical labels, and
understand the MSDS.
Your “Right To Know”
As part of the “Right To Know” program, the following
will be looked at:
5 Elements of Your RTK Program
Written
Policies
Chemical
Inventory
Your RTK
Program
Training &
Safety
Awareness
MSDS
Labeling
Let’s Get Started!!!
MSDS Give You Detailed Information
Material Safety Data Sheets give you more information
than what is on the label. The information includes:
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Chemical name and common or brand name
Emergency and first-aid procedures
List of physical and chemical characteristics
Safe Handling
Health & Physical Hazards
Date of preparation of MSDS
or last change to it
– Control measures (ie. PPE)
– Routes of entry
– PEL-Permissible Exposure Limit
MSDSs are Always Available
A Material Safety Data Sheet
comes with every ISU
purchase. The supervisor or
department has a designated
area where the MSDSs are to
be located.
If you cannot locate the
MSDS, contact your
supervisor. Your supervisor
will call to locate one to
make it readily available and
accessible to all employees.
Labels
The label on a bleach container tells you
the contents, the hazard associated with
the chemical, and what part of your
body it affects.
The unlabeled container could be water
or it could be a strong acid. You do not
know what it is so you do not know
what precautions to take. Remember,
you should never remove a label from a
container!
If you have any doubt about a label,
contact your supervisor or EHS.
Labels Provide Basic Information
The label must have the following:
– The chemicals name
– Hazards of the chemicals
– The manufacture’s name and address
• If a label gets removed, destroyed or covered,
you must put a new label with the above
information on it
H2O2
Siigma Manf.
Hazards:
Secondary Labels Protect Others
Make sure others have the benefit of
the same information that you had. If
you put some chemical into a new
container, label it with information from
the original label.
Only containers that you fill and use up
yourself over one shift may be with out
labels.
What is hazardous?
Click on the
substance you would
consider most
hazardous.
Labeled
container
of bleach
This
container is
acceptable,
you know
what it is!
Unlabeled
container
of bleach
Right! The less
you know about
a material, the
more hazardous
it is to you.
What is Considered A Hazard?
Physical hazard:
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Combustible liquid
Compressed gas
Explosive
Flammable
Organic Peroxide
Oxidizer
Pyrophoric
Unstable
Water-reactive
Health hazard:
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Carcinogens
Toxic or highly toxic
Reproductive toxins
Irritants
Corrosives
Sensitizers
Hepatotoxins
Nephrotoxins
Neurotoxins
Damage to lung, skin,
eyes mucous
membranes
– Agents that act on
hematopoietic system
Hazardous Materials are used all over
Campus
The following are some of the hazardous
materials found on campus:
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Asbestos
Chlorine
Cleaners
Freon
Paint
Solvents
Sulfuric Acid
Water treatment chemicals
Physical and Health Hazards
The physical state affects the hazards
Physical state is one of the
factors in determining how
hazardous a material is and in
deciding what precautions,
such as personal protective
equipment, are necessary.
Materials whose physical state can be
hazardous include:
Combustible liquids (Low flashpoints between 100°F200°F)
Compressed gas (Gases in containers under pressure)
Explosives (Substance that react rapidly and violently)
Flammable (Materials with flashpoint below 100°F)
Oxidizers (Materials that give off oxygen and simulate
combustion
Hazardous Chemicals Affect you:
Click on the buttons to see the effects hazardous
chemicals have on you.
Make you sick (toxic/Irritant)
ie. Silica Gel, glycine
Catch fire or explode (flammable, combustible, or reactive
chemicals)
ie. Pine oil, gasoline
BOOM!!
Chemicals affect the body
Chemicals that enter your body affect it. Different
kinds and doses of chemicals can have different
effects. The effects can be acute or chronic and
also systematic or localized.
Let’s take a closer look
at the differences!!
What is the difference?
Localized
Site of contact
On body
Systematic
Widespread
Throughout body
Acute
Short-term
Health problems
Chronic
Long-term
Health problems
This is like an organic
coming in contact
with your skin and
burning it!
This is like inhaling
vapors and causing
damage to your lungs
This is like the effects
alcohol has on the
brain and kidneys.
This is like the effects
of alcohol on the liver
over time.
Chemicals build up in the body
Some chemicals travel in the body to a particular
organ where they build up. You call this organ the
chemical’s target organ.
Carbon monoxide targets the blood
Lead targets the blood, nervous, and
reproductive system
While there, the chemical may prevent that organ or
body system from working at its best.
What are the routes of entry?
How do chemicals enter the body? Check each
to look for the best answer
Breathing is the only important way chemicals
enter the body
There is a better answer, check the other choice.
Most commonly by breathing but also by passing
through the skin (cuts or rashes), or by swallowing.
Yes! You can prevent chemicals from entering your
body if you are careful, follow safe work practices, and
wear PPE when necessary.
Beware of Oxygen in the Atmosphere
Asphyxiation can occur through inhalation if there is not
enough oxygen (O2) in the area or if something prevents your
body from getting the oxygen it needs.
This happens when gas fills up a room or space and pushes
all the air out, there will not be enough oxygen to breathe.
Asphyxiation decreases the amount of oxygen to your brain.
This can damage the brain or cause death.
Example: Carbon Monoxide attaches to blood
cells and prevents the cells from carrying O2 to
the rest of the body, this is a chemical
asphyxiant
Exposure to Chemicals
An exposure is the amount of a chemical
you come in contact with. This is usually
measured by its concentration in the air.
Skin exposure is more difficult to measure
than exposure through breathing.
Click on Each to see who is most
affected by exposure
Yes! The smaller
person is likely to
take in a bigger dose
per pound of body
weight.
Not exactly, the
larger person
may still be
affected but less
extreme.
Be Aware of your Surroundings!!
Use primarily sight and
monitoring devices to detect for
hazard. Smell is an unreliable
indicator of chemicals. You may
get used to the smell and no
longer be able to detect it. Also,
some chemicals do not have a
smell!
Example: The presence of Radon & Asbestos can only
be determined by actual tests. Carbon Monoxide
cannot be detected by smell either.
Chemicals Affect you!
Chemicals can enter your body in 3
different ways. So be aware!
Inhalation
Ingestion
Absorption
Dusts, Mists, and Gases can be
hazardous
Dusts, mists, vapors, gases,
droplets, and fumes all float in
the air you breathe. They can
settle on your skin, or get into
your eyes, nose, lungs, mouth.
They can irritate, damage, or
build up in your body.
A common dust like flour or
even fluorescent bulb dust can
irritate your nose, throat, and
lungs if you inhale a lot of it.
Liquids Can Irritate or Burn
Liquids can spill, run,
splatter, and splash.
Chemical burns or irritation
can occur if certain liquids
splash in your eyes or if they
came into contact with it.
Skin contact with some
chemicals can produce
rashes or your skin can
absorb them making you ill.
Check each to see which is right
Click on each precaution to see which is the
most appropriate for non-volatile liquids:
Splash proof goggles, chemical protective gloves
Right! Splash proof goggles will prevent
chemicals from touching your skin or eyes
Gas-tight goggles or full-face respirator, chemical
protective clothing, store in cool, well ventilated
area
WRONG!
Use a wet mop or HEPA vacuum, to clean up spills,
wear a HEPA filtered respirator, and pour out the
contents under an exhaust hood
WRONG!
Gases/Vapors Float and Move in Air
Gases float in the air at normal
temperatures and pressures.
Because gases float, they are
hard to contain if released.
Also, they move in air, you can
inhale them. This is dangerous
if they are poisonous. Gases
can also irritate or burn tissue
they contact. Chlorine is not
only a poison by inhalation, it is
also very irritating to the skin.
Vapors can fuel a fire
Some organic substance such as
alcohol and gasoline, are good
fuel for fires. You call the
temperature at which enough
liquid evaporates to fuel a fire the
vapor’s flash point.
The warmer the room, the more
a liquid will evaporate. When
there is enough vapor, a spark or
other source can ignite it. A fire
in an enclosed space can cause
an explosion
What burns when liquid fuel
ignites?
The vapors that have evaporated from the
liquid
Yes! The vapors are what burn when a liquid
ignites.
The liquid itself burns
Not quite!
Compressed Gases are Under
Pressure
When you put gas into a
container, you push it into a
smaller and smaller space.
This increases the pressure
in the container. If the
container leaks, released
gas can cause the container
to travel at great speeds
that can cause injuries.
Check this out!
Choose the chemical you think is a gas:
Carbon Monoxide
Right! Carbon Monoxide is a gas
Gasoline
Not exactly! Gasoline is a liquid at room
temperature. However, it may evaporate and
release vapors in the air. That’s why you can
smell it when you pump gas.
Solids have Form
Unlike gases, solids take on a definite form at
normal temperatures and pressures. If a
solid breaks or if you grind it, you produce a
dust or a powder. Dusts mix in the air and
you can inhale them.
This can be hazardous. For example, if you
inhale dust from a powdered drain cleaner
that is corrosive, it could burn your throat,
nose, and lungs.
Solids have Form Con’t
If you heat a solid to a high enough
temperature fumes form. Fumes mix in the
air as dust do and you can inhale them.
This can be hazardous. When you heat
welding flux or other metals, you produce
fumes. Flux cord arc welding produces the
highest amount of fumes, and shielding
metal arc welding the next highest.
Click each button to see which one may be
present in more than one state:
Carbon Monoxide
Not this one
Asbestos
Not this one either!
Alcohol
Right! Alcohol is a liquid that evaporates into a
vapor. Asbestos is a fiber and Carbon Monoxide is a gas.
Dusts can be Explosive!!
At very high concentrations and under the right conditions,
some dusts can be explosive.
The smaller the particle, the more reactive the dust. As the
materials become smaller, they disperse and remain
suspended more easily, increasing the potential for ignition
and propagation of the reaction.
An example is excess organic material created from dumping
corn into a silo or small fibers.
Click on each button to see which Precaution is
most Appropriate for a Dust or Powdered Material:
Splash-Proof Goggles, chemical protective gloves
Not quite
Gas tight goggles or full-face respirator , chemical
protective clothing, store in a cool, well ventilated
area.
Not quite
Use a wet mop or HEPA vacuum to clean up spills,
wear a HEPA-filtered respirator, empty the vacuum
under an exhaust hood
Right! Dusts and powders in the air can harm you when
inhaled. The use of wet mopping, HEPA vacuum,and
HEPA filtered respirators minimize dust exposure.
By-Products can also be produced:
By-products of work can release hazardous
chemicals
Hazardous by-products can be the result of
mixing different chemicals
An example of a hazardous by-product
– Bleach and ammonia (chlorine gas is formed)
– Sodium hydroxide and nitric acid (Caustics and acids)
Always use Safe Work Practices
Use these safe work
practices when handling
chemicals:
– Do not spill, splash, or
drop them
– Use flammable and
combustibles away from
open flames, sparks, and
other sources of heat
– Do not eat or smoke on
the job
– Wash your hands before
going on break or eating
Protect yourself from Solvents
Solvents can produce skin
irritation or be inhaled as a
vapor, which causes
adverse health effects. To
protect yourself from
solvent vapors, first use
adequate ventilation. You
can absorb solvents
through the skin, which also
causes adverse health
effects. Proper Personal
Protective Equipment must
be used.
Protecting Yourself
The proper Personal Protective Equipment
(PPE) must be used to provide barriers
between you and the solvents you use.
Examples of solvents include:
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Alcohol
Benzene
Mineral spirits
Trichloroethane
Turpentine
Click on each statement to see which is
right
Solvents are liquids, such as water, that dissolve
solids
Wrong, keep looking
Solvents are liquids, such as water, that dissolve other
liquids.
Wrong, Keep looking
Both of the above are true
Yes! Solids are liquids that can dissolve liquids and solids
Flammables can ignite at normal
Temperatures
Most flammable liquids have
flash points below 100°F.
Combustible liquids have a flash
point above 100°F.
Such liquids are dangerous
because their flash points may
be near room temperature.
Remember! the lower the flash
point, the more hazardous it is.
Check to see which Chemical is
most Hazardous!
Gasoline whose flash point is -45°F
Yes! The flash point of -45°F means that at extremely cold
temperatures, there are enough vapors to ignite. Vapors
from gasoline stored in an unheated shed could catch fire.
Mineral spirits whose flash point has a range of
105-140°F
Not exactly!
Let’s look at safe work procedures for handling
flammables like solvents. Click on each to see the best
precautions for using flammables and combustibles.
Keep them away from other chemicals
Not unless they are also reactive with those chemicals
Keep them away from flames, sparks, hot
equipment, or other possible ignition sources
Yes! This is a key safe work practice when you work with
flammables. For example, cleaning tools with a solvent in
an area where vapors could travel to a water heater and
ignite.
Wear gloves and other protective gear
Not unless the chemicals also have some toxic property
Acids and Bases will burn skin and eyes
A scale, called the pH scale, measures how acidic or
basic a chemical is. Basic (caustic) chemicals have
a pH between 8 and 14. Very caustic chemicals can
burn your skin and eyes.
Ie. Battery acid
Sulfuric acid
Ie. Saliva
Ie. Bleach
Pure water
Oven cleaner
Acids and Bases will burn skin and eyes Con’t
Acids have pH readings between 1 and 6. Very acidic
chemicals can also burn the skin and eyes and eat
quickly through materials. Inhaled acid or caustic
dusts can irritate or burn your respiratory track.
Strong Acids and Bases are Corrosive
You call the ability of a chemical to eat into a
material corrosivity. The farther the pH of a
material is from 7, the more corrosive it is.
Corrosive materials are hazardous. You must handle
them with caution and wear the proper PPE.
Check to see which is most corrosive!
An acid, pH 3
Not exactly
An acid, pH 5
Not exactly
A base, pH 13
Yes! The most corrosive substance has a pH farthest
from 7. A pH of 13 is farther from a pH of 7 than either
3 or 5.
Sensitization to a Chemical
Have you ever walked into an area where paints or various
chemicals have been used and find yourself becoming
itchy, swollen, teary, or even tight in the chest?
Some individuals may have worked around these same
chemicals for years and then find out that the reaction was
suddenly caused by these same chemicals. This is
becoming sensitized.
Once sensitized, you may react to that chemical for the
rest of your life! You may be allergic.
Personal Protective Equipment
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is the barrier
between you and the hazardous material you are
working with. There are many factors to consider
when choosing the proper PPE.
For example:
Type of PPE
Material PPE should consist of
Durability
Care of PPE
Availability of the PPE
Expense
Let’s take a closer look!
Check the MSDS
The Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is
where you can find out which PPE is right for
the particular chemical. This is why it is
important to know the location of the MSDS.
If questions still arise about the PPE, ask your
supervisor.
Choose the Proper Material
PPE is used to protect you from injury to the eyes,
hands, feet, face, skin, and head.
To prevent skin absorption you must wear personal
protective equipment made of the proper material.
Choosing the right gloves is especially important to
protect the hands.
Look on to see the importance of glove use
Why you should wear Gloves!
If you try to use regular rubber or latex grocery
store gloves, many chemicals can pass right
through these. Gasoline and other solvents can
eat away the material. Only certain gloves can
offer the proper protection of certain chemicals
Wear the right PPE
Face protection is necessary when splashing or flying
pieces may be encountered and even when working
around dust.
Equipment that can be used includes:
Face shield
Safety eye glasses
Eye goggles
Look on to see the importance of eye protection
Why you should wear Eye Protection
Your eyes are very sensitive & delicate and
therefore are easy to injure. You do not want to
get chemicals in your eyes!
Respirators Protect you from hazards in the Air
You can inhale many substances in many work
operations. You can inhale substances in various
forms, including:
Vapors
Gases
Dusts
Mists
Metallic Fumes
Fibers
Respiratory Protection is necessary when
hazardous chemicals reach unacceptable levels in
the workplace.
Respiratory Protection
Respirators protect:
The highly absorbent tissues in your nose from
being damaged
Your lungs if chemicals enter through inhalation. If
chemicals enter your lungs it can cause damage or
be transported to the rest of your body
If you think you need a respirator:
If you think you need a respirator, talk with your
supervisor or call Environmental Health & Safety
located on campus. If a respirator is needed, you will
become part of the Respiratory Protection Program.
Storage of Chemicals
Store all chemicals and waste in a safe and secure
area. The chemicals should be stored in a
structurally sound, good condition container with a
tight fitting cap. The container should be
compatible with the material. Milk jugs or soda
bottles are not acceptable.
Leave 10-20% headspace in the container to
prevent pressure build up.
Chemical Storage
Certain chemicals should not be stored
together. For example:
Halogenated separated from non-halogenated
Solids separated from liquids
Solvents and low boiling point chemicals
generate vapors and should be stored in a
well ventilated area.
Chemical Waste
Remember!
Always try to minimize the waste generated by using
alternatives when possible.
Never dump hazardous or other chemical waste down
the drain. For example:
Toxic, Flammable, Mercury, Gasoline, Acids, or Caustics
Never leave waste in an area that is subject to public
contact.
Hazardous Waste Pick-up
If there is hazardous waste that needs to be
disposed of, contact EHS (438-8325)
EHS will pick up the waste and store it prior to
final disposition.
The hazardous waste must be properly labeled.
– If it is in the original container with original label, that
label will be sufficient.
– If you need a label, contact EHS for a replacement.
Include the following information:
Content
Amount
Date
Generator
Hazards/Precautions
Request for Pick-Up
If you need to have a waste pickup, contact EHS or download the
form from the EHS web page.
Complete the form and return it to
EHS.
Percent concentrations are needed for
disposal.
If the content is unknown, the generator
pays for the analysis.
The Waste will be picked up within
one week.
Ask for Help!!
If you are unsure about the use and handling
of a chemical, ask your supervisor or someone
who does have knowledge about it.
The Environmental Health & Safety Office is
here to help you! Contact them at 438-8325
if you have any questions.
So should you do next??
What’s Next?
Your supervisor is to conduct specific training
with you regarding the specific duties and
exposures you are around. Inquire with your
supervisor about job specific HazCom
training.
Now it is time to see if you understood the
basic concepts. Let’s take a short quiz.
QUIZ