IDENTIFYING HAZARDOUS MATERIALS Objectives: Lesson 3

Control Measures

such as appropriate engineering controls, work practices, or personal protective equipment (PPE) that is needed to safely handle the material, are included in this category.

First Aid Procedures

that are to be used on a person who is exposed to the product must be listed for the various routes of exposure and noted on the SDS.

Detecting the Presence of a Hazard

the five phases of a hazardous material's "life"—production, transportation, storage, use, and disposal. At each phase, the possibility exists either for controlled, careful use or for shortsighted mismanagement.

Health Hazards

The health hazards of the hazardous substance must be given, including the signs and symptoms of exposure (such as a rash or burning of the eyes and throat) and any medical conditions which are generally recognized as being aggravated by exposure to the material.

Hazardous Materials Production and Storage

The likelihood of the accidental release of a toxic substance from a fixed site such as a factory can be prevented or minimized by regular local inspections of facilities to ensure compliance with hazardous materials storage and handling regulations. Should a release occur, the cloud would contain areas of greater and lesser concentration.

Manufacturer Information

The name, address, and telephone number of the chemical manufacturer or responsible party who prepared the SDS and can provide additional information on the hazardous chemicals and appropriate emergency procedures to be followed, if necessary, must be listed on the form.

The Identity of the Substance

A SDS provides important information on a substance's composition, potential hazards, and specific first aid procedures required in the event of an emergency.

Example of Routes of Entry

For example, our sample SDS indicates that the routes of exposure for hydrofluoric acid include eye contact, skin contact, inhalation, and ingestion.

Health Hazards Symptoms

For example, people with respiratory problems should avoid the inhalation of solvent vapors from paint since these vapors may bring on breathing difficulties.

Reading and Interpreting a Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

Hazard Communication Standard created by OSHA requires that employers who use hazardous substances must make SDSs available for employee use and reference, and must provide appropriate warning labels on containers of hazardous substances within the facility.

The Identity of the Substance

If the material is a single hazardous substance, its chemical and any common names that it is known by must be given. If the material is a mixture, which has been tested as a whole to determine its hazards, the chemical and common name(s) of the ingredients, which contribute to these known hazards, will be listed.

Carcinogens

If the material is listed in the National Toxicology Program (NTP) Annual Report on Carcinogens or has been found to be a potential carcinogen by OSHA or the International Agency for Research on Cancer, this information must be noted on the SDS.

The Identity of the Substance

If the product is a mixture and has not been tested as a whole, the hazardous ingredients which comprise 1% or greater of the mixture must be given. If the hazardous ingredient is a carcinogen, those contents which comprise greater than 0.1% must be listed.

Routes of Entry

Potential routes of entry into the body for a hazardous substance must be noted on its SDS.

Hazardous Materials Production and Storage

Service stations store gasoline and diesel fuel in underground tanks Hospitals store radioactive materials, flammable materials, and other hazardous substances Manufacturers, processors, distributors, and recycling plants for chemical industries store a variety of chemicals on site

Permissible Exposure Limits

The OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL), Threshold Limit Value (TLV), and any other exposure limit recommended by the manufacturer, distributor, or employer preparing the SDS must be given if such values are available.

Threshold Limit Value

The TLV is the recommended level set by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). TLVs are advisory guidelines that are revised each year as more information becomes available for different chemicals. TLVs are airborne concentrations of hazardous substances and their values vary from one substance to another.

Physical Hazards

The physical hazards of the material must be noted on the SDS, including the potential for fire, explosions, or reactions, and the conditions under which they may occur. The recommended extinguishing media (water, foam, dry chemical, carbon dioxide, graphite, etc.) for fires can be found here—this information is of great value to community emergency responders.

Date of Preparation

This lets you know exactly how current an SDS is. Some SDS forms may be updated once or twice a year, while others, such as those for steel, do not require frequent updating. A call to the manufacturer or supplier can determine if you have the most recent update of the SDS form that is available.

Safe Handling

including appropriate hygienic practices, protective measures during repair and maintenance of contaminated equipment, and procedures for spills and leaks of the material.

Physical and Chemical Characteristics

may provide information on how the product will act under a variety of temperatures and conditions. You may learn from this category of information if the material has an odor (and at what level the odor becomes noticeable), the color of the material, and other items about the material's behavior.