Hazard Communication

Healthcare Workers
 Session Objectives
You will be able to:
• Understand chemical hazards
• Interpret hazard information on labels
• Access and understand the information on
the MSDS
• Take adequate safety precautions
• Respond effectively to emergencies

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 What You Need to Know
• Hazard Communication Program
• Hazard Communication Standard
• Physical and health hazards of chemicals
• Where to find vital safety and health
information
• Required personal protective equipment
• Emergency response

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 Encounters with Chemicals
We encounter chemicals almost every day
• Filling your vehicle with gasoline
• Cleaning the house
• Applying pesticides or insecticides
• Using solvents or acids at work
Many chemicals can cause injury or illness

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 Encounters with Chemicals
(cont.)
• 30 million workers
exposed or potentially
exposed to 650,000
chemicals annually
• 20,000 incidents of
exposure result in
lost workdays annually

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 Hazard Communication:
Laws and Regulations
We must provide you with:
• A written hazard communication program
• A list of hazardous chemicals
• MSDSs
• Training

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 Hazard Communication:
Laws and Regulations (cont.)
You must be able to:
• Read labels and
MSDSs
• Follow instructions and
warnings

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 Hazard Communication:
Laws and Regulations (cont.)
You must be also be
able to:
• Identify hazards before
starting a job
• Participate in training

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 Types of Chemicals You
May Encounter at Work
Chemicals may be used:
• To clean and disinfect
• To sterilize
• To treat certain diseases
• For research and testing in the lab
Hazardous chemicals might also be contained
in waste materials

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 Physical Hazards of
Chemicals
• Flammable
• Explosive
• Reactive

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 Health Hazards of
Chemicals
• Short-term effects
include headache,
dizziness, skin irritation
• Long-term effects may
be liver or lung
damage or even
cancer
Some examples of health
hazards are:
• Corrosive
• Toxic

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 How Chemicals
Enter Your Body
• Skin absorption and
eye contact
• Inhalation
• Swallowing (eating
contaminated food)
• Penetration (cut,
puncture, or injection)

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 How Chemicals Affect Your
Body
• Dosage
• Acute effects
• Chronic effects

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 Chemical Hazards
• Do you understand the
information that has
been presented so far?

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 Check the Label for Safety
and Health Information
• Chemical identity
• Manufacturer contact information
• Physical/health hazards
• Special handling
• PPE recommendations
• First aid, fire response, and spill cleanup

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 What Else Is on the Label?
The product label also
shows:
• The name of the
chemical
• The manufacturer
• Miscellaneous safety
information
• Hazard warnings
• List of hazardous
ingredients

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 NFPA Labeling Systems
• Blue = Health hazard
• Red = Flammability
• Yellow = Instability
• White = Other hazards
• Numbers: 0 (No
Hazard) to 4 (Extreme
Hazard)

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 Material Safety Data Sheets
Read the MSDS before
working with a chemical.
The MSDS:
• Provides a written
description of a
hazardous chemical
• Describes the risks,
precautions, and
remedies to exposure
• Must be readily
available to you

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 MSDS (cont.)
• Chemical and
manufacturer identity
• Hazardous ingredients
• Physical and chemical
properties
• Fire, explosion, and
reactivity

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 MSDS (cont.)
Health hazards:
• Routes of entry
• Exposure levels
(PEL or TLV)
• Symptoms of exposure
• First-aid and
emergency information

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 MSDS (cont.)
• PPE
• Safe handling and storage
• Spills and leaks
• Compliance issues

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 MSDS and Labels
• Do you understand the
information about
MSDSs and labels?

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 Personal Protective
Equipment
Commonly required PPE
includes:
• Safety goggles
• Face shields
• Gloves
• Other skin protection
• Respiratory protection

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 Emergency
First-Aid Procedures
• Eyes: Flush with water
for 15 minutes
• Skin: Wash with soap
and water, remove
contaminated clothing
• Inhalation: Move to
fresh air
• Swallowing: Get
emergency medical
assistance

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 Emergency Response to
Chemical Spills or Leaks
• Notify a supervisor or
the emergency
response team
• Alert others in the area
• Evacuate
• Stay away until told it’s
safe to return

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 Key Points to Remember
• Identify chemical hazards
• Read labels and MSDSs
• Follow warnings and instructions, or ask
your supervisor if in doubt
• Use the correct PPE
• Practice sensible, safe work habits
• Learn emergency procedures

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