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University of Oregon Hazard
Communication Program INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this program is to improve the level of information provided to employees regarding the chemicals that they may encounter during the course and scope of their work. Additionally, this written program will help ensure the University is in compliance with Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Adminstration (OR-OSHA) rules 29CRF 1910.1200.
SCOPE
This program will apply to all non-laboratory University of Oregon (UO) employees and is available to all University employees. Laboratory employees will be provided information and training as specified in this program, except for the location and availability of the written Hazard Communication Program.
Consumer products, used in the fashion that a consumer would use the product, are not covered by this program.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Department – Departments will be responsible for carrying out the Hazard Communication Program in accordance with this written document. Departments are also responsible for any financial expenses associated with the implementation of this program.
Employees – Employees will be responsible for complying with procedures established by their supervisors to minimize potential chemical exposure and to inform their supervisor if they encounter any problems with the program or have a chemical exposure.
Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) – EHS is responsible for administering and managing the Hazard Communication Program, assisting departments in implementing the program, maintaining the master list of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), training supervisors on the Hazard Communication Program and consulting with departments on program compliance.
Supervisors – Supervisors will be responsible for ensuring that employees are trained and MSDS’s are handled, in accordance with this program, for container labeling and working with non-capital construction contractors to ensure program compliance. DEFINITIONS
“Article” – means a manufactured item which has end use function dependent in whole or in part of, upon its shape or design during end use and does not release or otherwise result in exposure to a hazardous chemical under normal conditions of use. “Chemical” -- means any element, chemical compound or mixture of elements and compounds.
“Hazardous chemical” – means any chemical which is a physical hazard or a health hazard.
“Health hazard” – means a chemical for which there is statistically significant evidence based on at least one study conducted in accordance with established scientific principles, that acute or chronic health effects may occur to exposed employees.
“Immediate use” – means the hazardous chemical will be under the control of and used only by the person who transfers it from a labeled container and only within the work shift in which it is transferred.
“Material Data Safety Sheet” (MSDS) – means written or printed material concerning a hazardous chemical which is prepared by the chemical manufacturer.
“Physical hazard” – means a chemical for which there is scientifically valid evidence that it is a combustible liquid, a compressed gas, explosive, flammable, an organic peroxide, an oxidizer, pyrophoric, unstable (reactive) or water-reactive.
CHEMICAL INVENTORY
A list of the hazardous chemicals known to be present at the University will be maintain by EHS. Departments and supervisors will be responsible for notifying EHS of new products, primarily though the submittal of the MSDS for the new product.
LABELS
Each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace will be labeled, tagged or marked with the identity of the hazardous chemical and the appropriate hazard warning. Incoming chemical container labels will not be defaced or removed. Departments may choose to use their own label system, or may use the Hazardous Materials Inventory System or the National Fire Protection Agency labels and numbering system. Labels will be in English.
Secondary containers, or those portable containers into which hazardous chemicals are transferred to from labeled containers, and which will be for the immediate use of the employee who performs the transfer, do not require labels. MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEETS
The UO will rely on the manufacturer evaluation of their chemical products. Departments and supervisors will be responsible for obtaining MSDS’s from their chemical supplier at the time of purchase. MSDS’s must then be forwarded to EHS for entry into the master database and the assignment of a control number into the master database andthessignment of a control number. The MSDS will then be returned to the original purchaser.
MSDS’s are maintained at EHS and are available for any employee to review . For emergencies, after hours and on weekends, MSDS’s may be obtained by contacting the Department of Public Safety dispatcher at 346-5444, or via EHS’s webpage at http://oehs.uoregon.edu. MSDS’s relevant to each department may also be maintained within that department.
If the MSDS is not obtained at the time of purchase, the department or EHS will request them from the manufacturer. However, the product cannot be used until the MSDS is on site.
EMPLOYEE INFORMATION AND TRAINING
Employees will be provided with information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard is introduced into their work area. That information and training will include the requirements of this section, any operations in their work area where hazardous chemicals are present and the location and availability of the written Hazard Communication Program (including the MSDS and list of hazardous chemicals location). Additional areas of training will include the following:
♦ Methods and observations that may be used to detect the presence or release of a hazardous chemical.
♦ Physical and health hazards of the chemicals in the work area.
♦ Measures employees can take to protect themselves from these hazards, including specific procedures the department has implemented to protect employees from exposure, including work practices, emergency procedures and personal protective equipment.
♦ The details of the Hazard Communication Program including an explanation of the labeling system, the MSDS’s and how to obtain and use appropriate hazard information.
CONTRACTORS
Pre-construction conferences provide a convenient forum for exchange of information about hazardous chemicals. The contractor will be asked to inform the University of any hazardous chemicals planned to be used as part of the project and the contractor will be informed by the University of any of the University’s hazardous chemicals they may come into contact with during the construction process.
Non-construction contractors will be requested by the hiring department to supply the MSDS’s for chemicals that could result in University employee exposure. Supervisors will inform employees of that information. NON-ROUTINE TASKS
Some University employees are periodically required to perform hazardous non-routine tasks. The supervisor is responsible for identifying and informing employees of the hazardous substances that may be involved prior to the performance of the work. Employees will be given the following information:
♦ The specific chemical hazard.
♦ Any protective safety measures the employee can take, such as wearing gloves or protective clothing.
♦ Procedures for decreasing the hazard, such as proper ventilation, respiratory protection, or requiring the presence of other employees.
♦ Any established emergency procedures.
PLAN REVISIONS
This program will be reviewed and updated as necessary to reflect new or modified tasks, procedures, exposures or rule changes.
Documentation:
Original Plan Preparation Date: May, 1986 Last Revision Number: 10 Last Review Date: May 12, 2008 Computer File Name: G:\envrhlth\document\HazComProgram04.doc Authorization: Kay Coots, EHS Director Contact: Kay Coots, REHS, CSP Environmental Health and Safety Director Phone: (541) 346-5421 E-Mail: kcoots@uoregon.edu  |
| Updated by JY on June 24, 2008 Please send Comments to the webmaster. |