Chapter 23 - Chemical and Waste Management

signal word

two words used on the sds 'warning' for less severe hazard categories; and 'danger' for more severe hazard categories

toxic waste

waste that can have a toxic effect to humans

infectious waste

waste that is capable of transmitting an infectious disease

hazardous waste

waste that poses a risk to humans or to the environment

health hazard

a chemical for which acute or chronic health effects may occur in exposed employee

physical hazard

a chemical that is a combustible liquid, compressed gas, explosive material or is flammable reactive or water reactive

chemical inventory

a list of every product used in the office that contains chemicals

precautionary statement

a phrase that describes recommended measures to be taken to minimize or prevent adverse effects resulting from exposure to a hazardous chemical, or improper storage or handling of a hazardous chemical

globally harmonized system of classification and labeling of chemicals (GHS)

an international approach to hazard communication

chemical

any substance or mixture of substances

toxic chemicals

chemicals that can have a fatal or toxic effect to humans

safety data sheet

formerly known as the MSDS; form that provides printed info regarding the hazards of materials that contain chemicals

pictograms

graphic elements used on a hazard label, used to identify the specific hazard class and category

acute exposure

high levels of exposure over a short period

hazardous waste classifications

ignitable; corrosive; reactive; toxic; listed by EPA

regulated waste

infectious waste that requires special handling, neutralization, and disposal

contaminated waste

items such as gloves and patient napkins that may contain the potentially infectious body fluids of patients

flammables

readily capable of catching fire

hazard communication standard (HCS)

recently revised OSHA standard regarding employees right to know about hazardous chemical in the workplace

chronic exposure

repeated exposures, generally to lower levels, over a long time

oxidizers

substances that react or cause a chemical to react w/ oxygen

product identifier

the name or number used for a hazardous chemical on a label or in the SDS

hazard class

the nature of the physical or health hazards, flammible solid, carcinogen, oral acute toxicity

label elements

the pictogram, hazard statement, signal word, and precautionary statement for each hazard class and category

ingestion, through the skin, and inhalation

three primary methods of chemical exposure

hazard classification

to identify the properties of a chemical to determine the degree of hazard