What is Hazard Communication?

Chemicals pose a wide range of health hazards (such as irritation, sensitization, and carcinogenicity) and physical hazards (such as flammability, corrosion, and reactivity). OSHAs Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) is designed to ensure that information about these hazards and associated protective measures is disseminated. This is accomplished by requiring chemical manufacturers and importers to evaluate the hazards of the chemicals they produce or import, and to provide information about them through labels on shipped containers and more detailed information sheets called material safety data sheets (MSDSs). All employers with hazardous chemicals in their workplaces must prepare and implement a written hazard communication program, and must ensure that all containers are labeled, employees are provided access to MSDSs, and an effective training program is conducted for all potentially exposed employees. The HCS provides people the right-to-know the hazards and identities of the chemicals they are exposed to in the workplace. When employees have this information, they may effectively participate in their employers protective programs and take steps to protect themselves. In addition, the standard gives employers the information they need to design and implement an effective protective program for employees potentially exposed to hazardous chemicals. Together these actions will result in a reduction of chemical source illnesses and injuries in American workplaces. Frequently Asked Questions: Hazard Communication (HAZCOM). OSHA. Provides answers to frequently asked questions, and references applicable interpretation and compliance letters. Hazard Communication Standard. OSHA Fact Sheet 93-26, (1993, January). Provides a summary of the HCS standard which applies to all workers exposed to hazardous chemicals in all industrial sectors. Hazard Communication Guidelines for Compliance. OSHA Publication 3111, (2000). Also available as a 112 KB PDF, 33 pages. Aids employers in understanding the Hazard Communication Standard and in implementing a hazard communication program. Chemical Hazard Communication. OSHA Publication 3084, (1998). Also available as a 248 KBPDF, 31 pages. Answers several basic questions about chemical hazard communication. Report of the Hazard Communication Workgroup to the National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health (NACOSH). OSHA, (1996, September 12). Contains comments and recommendations concerning hazard communication.

Safety is a key concern in any scientific enterprise, but particularly so in the chemistry lab. There are many potential hazards when working with chemicals, but all of them can be avoided with the appropriate precautions. Safety in the lab is everyone's responsibility. It requires the proper safety attire and equipment, knowledge of the chemicals you are working with, and proper lab procedures and techniques.

Safety Attire and Equipment

When working with chemicals, chemical safety goggles, gloves, and a lab coat should be the first pieces of equipment on your list. Advanced experiments sometimes require special equipment, such as a fume

hood. Experiments that require the use of specialty safety equipment may require that you work in the lab of a teacher or mentor. It is important to know that all gloves are not created equal, and that gloves made of different materials might or might not provide a resistant barrier to certain chemicals. For example, latex and nitrile gloves are commonly available at grocery stores for safe food handling, but latex gloves are not resistant to acetone, which is a common chemical solvent found in nail polish remover. Each glove manufacturer provides a glove compatibility chart that you should use to check with the chemicals you will use for your experiment. The Department of Occupational and Environmental Safety at Case Western Reserve provides a good resource to learn about Choosing Chemical Resistant Gloves with links to glove manufacturers. The American Chemical Society has excellent safety information in the following pamphlets (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader). We highly recommend reading them before starting your chemistry experiment:

Hazards of the Chemicals You Will Use

You also need to know the potential hazards of the chemicals you will use, and plan accordingly. Since every chemical has its own set of properties, it might seem impossible to anticipate all of the potential hazards. For example, some chemicals require special disposal procedures, and cannot be dumped down the drain. The first safety procedure when working with a chemical is to ALWAYS read the label! Fortunately, chemical hazards can be grouped into four different areas: 1. 2. 3. 4. Flammability - for chemicals that readily burn Corrosivity - for chemicals (like strong acids and bases) that destroy tissue by chemical action Toxicity - for chemicals that are poisonous Reactivity - for chemicals that undergo spontaneous chemical reactions, or readily react with other chemicals

As a responsible scientist, you should understand these four properties for every chemical that you use in the lab and in your experiment. You can find essential safety information on the label of the container of any chemical, and also on the Materials Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for the chemical, available from the supplier. The MSDS provides basic information on a material or chemical product. The MSDS describes the properties and potential hazards of the material, how to use it safely, how to dispose of it safely when you are done, and what to do in an emergency. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) provides a guide to understanding the MSDS, and also a sample MSDS: CCOHS, 2007. Understanding a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS). CCOHS, 2007. MSDS Sample Record, Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS).

Proper Laboratory Technique

Before starting any experiment, you should understand the entire procedure that you will be following. You need to make sure that you have the proper equipment, and that you know how to use it. When you are trying an unfamiliar procedure for the first time, it is a good idea to practice at least one "dry run" without chemicals. That way, you can make sure you have all the materials you will need at hand, and that your workflow will proceed smoothly. You will greatly reduce the risk of an accident by carefully planning ahead. Using proper laboratory techniques will increase your level of safety in the lab. Here are some tutorials on proper laboratory techniques: