Labels, SDS's, Symbols, Hazards and Training
Safety Data Sheets
A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) provides detailed information about a specific hazardous material. Although labels are a good way to provide information about hazardous chemicals, sometimes you need more information about the chemical, but it may not be possible to provide all the information on a label. An SDS must be maintained in the facility for use by personnel while the material is in the facility, and will be retained for a period of 30 years after the use of the material is discontinued. It is the employer's responsibility to translate the information contained on the SDS into an understandable format. Before an employee begins working at a facility, an employer must convey information about the hazards associated with any of the materials in that facility. The SDS must always be immediately available to all affected employees for their review; however, the information can be stored electronically.
Environmental Monitoring
A component in keeping an environment free from a buildup of hazardous chemicals that could lead to an unsafe working environment.
Generic SDS
A single generic SDS can be created and used for different combinations of hazardous chemicals, as long as the various mixtures of the chemicals are exactly the same. All the conditions and elements required by OSHA for any SDS apply to a generic format as well.
Written HAZCOM Program
A written program must be established in all workplaces where employees are exposed to hazardous chemicals. It should include a list of all hazardous chemicals that are present in the workplace and where employees can get copies of written information about safe chemical handling procedures. A written program indicates the person in the facility that is responsible for the various aspects of the program. The written program must also describe requirements and information about labels, SDSs, and employee training. Written programs are not required in laboratories and those workplaces where employees are dealing with sealed containers.
Routes of Exposure
Absorption, ingestion, inhalation, injection
Skull and Crossbones
Acute Toxicity (fatal or toxic)
Acute Effects
Acute effects indicate that symptoms have occurred rapidly as compared to chronic effects, which means symptoms have manifested themselves over a period of time. The former are of short duration and/or the result of short-term exposures. Some examples of acute effects are those that follow: Burns Lacerations Puncture wounds For instance, if you accidentally spill a strong acid on your hand and the acid begins to burn your skin, this is an accident (an acute effect) as opposed to an illness effect.
PPE
Always use gloves, aprons, masks, or other PPE whenever called for on a label or SDS. If you are ever in doubt about which PPE to use, check with your employer before proceeding with the assigned task.
Engineering Controls
An orderly and well-designed workplace can minimize exposure to hazardous chemicals. Some engineering controls, like exhaust systems and wetting systems used to control dust, are good examples of hazard control.
Safe Work Practices
Assure that you are using chemicals safely and correctly
Hazard: Health Hazards / Toxics - color / storage
Blue. When necessary, secure poison area or separate from other chemical storage.
SDS Firefighting Measures
Both suitable and unsuitable fire extinguishers Specific hazards arising from the chemical Special protective equipment and precautions for firefighters
Chronic Health Hazards
Chronic effects develop as a result of long-term exposures. Some manifestation examples of chronic effects follow: Silicosis Dermatitis Lung cancer (from occupational exposure to carcinogens) Asbestos is a good example of a chronic health hazard. Those people who are exposed to asbestos may take several years to develop serious lung diseases.
Environmental Hazard
Contents are toxic to aquatic life
Ingestion
Do not eat or smoke immediately after handling any hazardous material. When working with hazardous materials, wear appropriate PPE, and then always wash your hands with soap and water before eating, drinking, or smoking.
Availability
Every employer must train every affected employee in the information derived from the SDS for each hazardous material in the facility before exposing the employee to the hazard. An employee should ideally only need to consult an SDS on an infrequent or emergency basis.
Exploding Bomb
Explosives Self-Reactives Organic Peroxides
SDS Composition Information
For substances, the chemical name, the common name, and any synonyms, and any additives that contribute to the hazard of the substance For mixtures, the names of the ingredients and the concentration of each unless trade secrets are involved
Gas Cylinder
Gases under pressure
Hazard: General Storage - color / storage
Gray. Orange. Green. General Storage can be stored on higher shelves. Store according to the nature of the chemical
SDS Date of Preparation or Last Revision
In addition, there are non-mandatory sections that list ecological information, disposal considerations, and transportation information
Symbols (Pictograms) on Labels
In an effort to make the workplace safer through better communication of hazards, OSHA has adopted the Global Harmonization Standard for hazardous materials. This international standard will help ensure that all substances, no matter where they are manufactured, are labeled in a way that is highly visible and easy to understand. The blue, yellow, green, and other colored labels you are accustomed to seeing are being replaced. All labels on hazardous materials will contain one of nine symbols or pictograms. These symbols will be displayed as a black graphic on a white background inside a red diamond shaped border.
Inhalation
Inhalation is the most common route of exposure into the body. It normally occurs when you inhale fumes, vapors from solvents, hazardous gasses, or dust. It is the employer's responsibility to be aware of such hazards in the workplace and to protect employees from inhalation hazards.
Chemical Manufacturer and SDS
It is obligatory that chemical manufacturers include all the hazard information on SDSs and distribute it to their customers/clients at the time of the first shipment of the hazardous chemicals or materials.
Hazard Communication Program
It is required that all chemical manufacturers, importers, and distributors convey complete information about a chemical and its hazards in the form of labels and SDSs. It is also mandatory that employers conduct hazard communication training programs in order to provide complete information to their employees through SDSs, labels, and training sessions. Employers are responsible for informing and training their employees about the hazards that exist in their workplaces.
Summary
Labels are the most convenient source of information about chemicals and their hazard potential. All hazardous-chemical containers must be labeled. Labels must include specific, detailed information about their containers' contents. Labels include one or more standardized symbols to help you quickly identify the contents of a container. Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) provide more information than a label. SDSs must always be immediately available to all affected employees for review. There are two main types of hazards, physical and health, present in a workplace where hazardous chemicals or materials are present. Fire and explosion are the most common physical hazards. Health hazards may be acute or sudden, such as burns or lacerations, or chronic, such as silicosis or dermatitis caused by long-term exposure to a chemical hazard. Health hazards can affect a body through absorption, inhalation, ingestion, or injection. Safe work practices, product substitution, engineering controls, training and communication, environmental monitoring, personal monitoring, and personal protective equipment are all measures by which you can control physical and health hazards associated with chemicals in a workplace. A written hazard-communication program must be established in all workplaces where employees are exposed to hazardous chemicals.
Flame over circle
Labels oxidizing chemicals
Personal Monitoring
Monitor yourself and coworkers for symptoms (such as dizziness, eye or throat irritation, skin rashes) that would indicate that you or your coworkers have been exposed to a hazardous material or chemical. If these or other symptoms appear, report them to your supervisor immediately.
SDS First Aid
Necessary first aid measures are described. They are organized according to the different routes of exposure (skin contact, ingestion, etc.) The most important symptoms and affects, both acute and delayed How to determine whether or not immediate medical attention is necessary
Hazard: Flammables - color / storage
Red. Store in flammable cabinet or flammable storage area. Separate flammable solids from other hazard classes.
Controlling Physical and Health Hazards
Safe work practices Product substitution Engineering controls Training and communication Environmental monitoring Personal monitoring Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Corrosion Symbol
Skin Corrosion/Burns Eye Damage Corrosive to Metals
Skin Adsorption
Some chemicals enter into the body by absorption through the skin. Always use personal protective equipment or clothing in order to protect your body from skin contact with hazardous material. If you are exposed, wash the exposed area thoroughly.
Health Hazard Symbols
The following symbols are used to identify various kinds of health hazards: The skull and crossbones symbol represents a poisonous material. The corrosion symbol is used to identify materials that cause burns and eye damage. The radiating fan symbol is used to represent radioactive materials.
SDS Hazard Identification
The hazard classification, signal word, hazard statement, symbol, and precautionary statements
SDS Identity
The name of the substance as used on the label and other identifiers The recommended use of the chemical and restrictions on its use The name, address, and phone number of the manufacturer, and an emergency phone number
What must GHS Labels include
The product identifier used on the Safety Data Sheet A signal word, either Danger or Warning A hazard statement of the exact nature of the hazard, Fatal if Swallowed, or Causes Skin Irritation, for example The pictogram for the class of hazard for the product Precautionary statements The manufacturer's name, address, and contact information Labels must appear on each container. Labels must be legible and must be written in English, although other languages can be used if required.
Hazards
There are frequently two types of hazards (physical and health) present in a workplace where hazardous chemicals or materials are present. Physical hazards are one of two major definitions of hazards covered by OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard. These hazards are responsible for hundreds of deaths and injuries each year in the United States. Accidents involving physical hazards are usually the consequence of a lack of training or neglect concerning the flammability of chemicals. Fire and explosion are the most common physical hazards.
Product Substituion
There are many chemicals that perform similar jobs. One of the many responsibilities an employer has is to attempt to find a chemical that is less toxic but able to accomplish the same job.
Training and Communication
Training and communication play an essential role in every field of life. It is vital to know how to work safely with hazardous chemicals.
Training
Training must be provided to all employees exposed to hazardous chemicals. It must include information on how to handle chemicals safely, how to read and understand labels, SDSs, and other warning information, and what PPE is required before handling or using the hazardous material. It is required, and critical, that employees be trained before working with materials that represent a hazard.
Health Hazard Symbol
Used for substances that can cause cancer, genetic mutations or are toxic to organs of the body. This symbol is also used to indicate a respiratory hazard
Exclamation Mark
Used on materials that cause skin and eye irritation, respiratory irritation, are acutely toxic or have narcotic effects. Also indicates the presence of a hazard to the ozone layer
Hazard: Contact Hazard - color / storage
White. Stored in chemical - resistant catch trays or corrosives cabinet. Store acids away from bases.
Hazard: Reactives / Oxidizers - color / storage
Yellow. Store corrosives in this group in chemical resistant secondary containers of in corrosion proof cabinets. Stored away from organic material and flammables or other incompatible materials.
SDS Physical and Chemical Properties
appearance, odor, pH, flash point, melting and freezing points, auto ignition temperature, viscosity, and other factors
Flame Symbol
indicates the presence of a flammable substance, pyrophoric, self-heating and self-reactive materials and organic peroxides
SDS Accidental Release Measures
personal precautions, protective equipment, emergency procedures, containment, and clean-up
SDS Reactivity and Stability
possibility of hazardous reactions, and conditions to avoid such as shock, vibration or exposure to incompatible materials
SDS Handling and Storage
precautions for safe handling and conditions for safe storage
SDS Toxicological Information
the health effects including likely routs of exposure (inhalation, skin and eye contact), symptoms, immediate and long term effects of exposure, acute and chronic effects, numerical value of toxicity, and whether or not the chemical has been listed as a carcinogen.
SDS Exposure Controls
the permissible exposure limit, (PEL), engineering controls, and individual protection measure such as personal protective equipment
