What are the 2 main tools used to identify chemical hazards?
|
The Hazard Communication Standard (29CFR 1910.1200) requires all manufacturers or distributors of any products containing chemicals to evaluate the chemical hazards of the product. The evaluation is performed by classifying each chemical based on published toxicological or other data to determine its physical and health hazards. Show
The identified hazards have to be communicated on the container label and in documents called Safety Data Sheets (SDS). Manufacturers and distributors are required to provide safety data sheets to their clients that describe the results of the classification and all known hazards of a chemical. Globally Harmonized System (GHS)The Globally Harmonized System (GHS) was developed by the United Nations for international standardization of hazard classification and communication. OSHA has adopted GHS, and beginning June 2015, all manufacturers are required to prepare labels and SDS according to GHS. Some manufacturers already comply with this regulation. GHS Label ElementsThe main health and physical hazards have to be indicated on the product label by using pictograms, signal words, and standardized hazard statements. The pictograms are explained in the next paragraph. The signal word "Danger" is used for severe hazards and "Warning" is used for less severe hazards. Based on the classification of the product, the hazards are described in standardized phrases called "hazard statements". For example, a highly toxic chemical requires a statement "Fatal if inhaled or swallowed". GHS Hazard ClassesThe GHS classification further divides health and physical hazards into separate classes such as toxicity, irritation, sensitization, flammability, etc. The severity of the hazard within each class is described by the category. Some classes have five categories; other classes have only one category. Category 1 or A always represents the highest hazard within that class. The higher the category number, the lower the hazard. The classes, their categories and pictograms are as follows: Health HazardsPictogram Hazard Class Category Description Corrosion  Skin corrosion Category 1A, 1B, 1C Irreversible skin damage Serious eye damage Category 1 Irreversible eye damage Skull and Crossbones Acute toxicity, oral Category 1, 2, 3 Highly toxic in small amounts, serious health effects or death Acute toxicity, dermal Category 1, 2, 3 Acute toxicity, inhalation Category 1, 2, 3 Health Hazard Aspiration Hazard Category 1, 2 May be fatal if aspirated Sensitization, respiratory Category 1, 1A, 1B Induces hypersensitivity of the airways Germ cell mutagenicity Category 1A, 1B, 2 May cause genetic defects Carcinogenicity Category 1A, 1B, 2 May cause cancer Reproductive Toxicity Category 1A, 1B, 2 May damage fertility; may damage the unborn child Specific target organ toxicity, single exposure Category 1, 2 Causes damage to organs Specific target organ toxicity, repeated exposure Category 1, 2 Causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure Exclamation Mark Eye irritation Category 2A Causes serious eye irritation Skin irritation Category 2 Causes skin irritation Acute Toxicity, oral Category 4 Harmful if swallowed Sensitization, skin Category 1 May cause an allergic skin reaction Acute toxicity, dermal Category 4 Harmful in contact with skin Specific target organ toxicity, single exposure, Respiratory tract irritation Category 3 May cause respiratory irritation Specific target organ toxicity, single exposure, Narcotic effects Category 3 May cause drowsiness or dizziness Hazardous to the ozone layer Category 1 Harms public health and the environment Environment Hazardous to the aquatic environment, acute hazard Category 1 Environmental hazard Hazardous to the aquatic environment, long-term hazard Category 1, 2 Physical HazardsPictogram Hazard Class Category Description Flame Flammable liquids Category 1, 2, 3 Flammable liquids and vapors Flammable solids Category 1, 2 Readily combustible solids Aerosols Category 1, 2 Pressurized container; may burst if heated Desensitized explosives Category 1, 2, 3, 4 Fire, blast, or projection hazard if the desensitizing agent is reduced Flammable gases Category 1, Pyrophoric gas Flammable compressed gas Flammable aerosols Category 1, 2 Flammable pressurized container Self-reactive substances and mixtures; and Organic peroxides Type A, B, C, D, E, F, G Thermally unstable liquid or solid that can undergo strongly exothermic reactions even without oxygen Pyrophoric liquids; Pyrophoric solids Category 1 Substance that can spontaneously ignite in air Self-heating substances and mixtures Category 1, 2 Materials other than pyrophoric materials that can react with air and without energy added. These will only ignite in large quantities or after long periods of time. Substances and Mixtures which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases Category 1, 2, 3 Substances that emit flammable gases when in contact with water Explosive Explosives Unstable Explosive, Div 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5 Explosive compounds and projection hazards Self-reactive substances and mixtures; and Organic peroxides Type A, B Corrosion Corrosive to Metals Category 1 May be corrosive to metals Flame Over Circle Oxidizing liquids; Oxidizing solids Category 1, 2, 3 Oxidizers. Are not combustible themselves, but may cause or intensify fires in other materials Oxidizing gases Category 1 Gas Cylinder Gases under pressure Compressed gas, Liquefied gas, Dissolved gas Gases under pressure, may explode if heated Refrigerated liquefied gas May cause cryogenic burns or injury Summary PictogramsThe image below shows the pictograms used for labeling. Underneath each pictogram is a list with classes the pictogram is used for. Safety Data SheetsSafety Data Sheets (SDS), formerly called Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), communicate the hazards associated with using chemicals. They are an important source of information for workers, lab personnel, emergency responders, and emergency medical personnel. As they often provide very limited information on safe handling procedures, they should be used in conjunction with safety guides provided by DRS and other knowledgeable sources (Prudent Practices, eEROS, textbooks, etc.) and standard operating procedures written for your group. Managing SDS in a LaboratorySDS can be available as electronic version or as hardcopies. A computer with internet connection is particularly useful to quickly access the latest SDS. Webpages like Sigma-Aldrich or Fisher Scientific are convenient and reliable sources for finding SDS. If no internet access is available, SDS of the most hazardous, largest volume, and most frequently used materials should either be stored on a computer accessible to everybody working in the lab, or as hardcopies in a binder. Besides electronic access it is highly recommended to have hardcopies of highly toxic and corrosive chemicals available in the laboratory so they can be taken to the hospital if an exposure occurs. Content of a Safety Data SheetIn compliance with the new Hazard Communication Standard, SDS are divided into 16 sections and are required to provide the following information: What two tools are used to identify chemical hazards?If you can't find existing information on a chemical you're evaluating, we recommend two chemical hazard assessment methods:. Quick Chemical Assessment Tool (QCAT) We developed the QCAT as a simpler, less expensive alternative to conducting a more comprehensive chemical assessment. ... . GreenScreen® for Safer Chemicals.. What are the 2 types of chemical hazards?A chemical hazard refers to the risks that surround using a chemical. In the workplace, we find two types of chemical hazards: health hazards and physicochemical hazards.
What are the main tools for chemical hazard communication?Chemical Hazard Communication.. Certificate of Fitness (C-14). Safety Data Sheets (SDSs). Chemical Waste Satellite Accumulation Area Safety & Com(...). What are the two ways of identifying hazards?Hazards can be identified through one or more of the following activities:. routine hazard and housekeeping inspections and audit activities.. study of information provided by manufacturers and suppliers of equipment and substances.. investigation of incidents and accidents.. |
