[STUDY] Hazard Communication Compliance and Waste Management

Hazard Communication (HazCom)

• chemicals are used in every workplace

  • Health hazard

  • Physical hazard

• OSHA created Hazard communication standard (HazCom)

HazCom responsibilities (MIDEE)

Manufacturers

• Create chemicals

Importers

• Receives chemicals

Distributors

• Distributes to others/ employers

Employers

• Use chemicals

Employees

• Exposed to chemicals

• Inhalation, skin contact

• Foreseable emergency — Failure or rupture, release of chemicals in workplace

• Written hazcom program

• Ensure label, trained, and SDS

Manufacturers & importers = provides SDS

The rest = Make sure SDS is passed down

Manufacturer and importers

• Must classify hazards of chemicals

  • Provide data

  • Review data

  • Classify if hazardous

Must label

• Affixed, printed on, attached to container or outside packaging

Must provide SDS

Hazardous chemical

• Health or physical hazard

Health hazard

• Acute toxicity (any route of exposure — skin, eyes, etc)

Physical hazard

• explosive, flammable, self heating, corrosive, water reactive

hazards not otherwise classified (HNOC)

• may produce adverse effects but doesn’t meet criteria for health or physical hazard

Label elements

• Product identifier

  • Chemical name — match sds

• Pictogram

  • Black symbol, white background, red diamond border

• Signal word (Danger or warning)

• Hazard statement

  • Degree of hazard

• Precautionary statements

• Name,address, phone

• Source (manufacturer info)

Safety data sheet (SDSs)

Each chemical must have SDS

Missing

• employers request from distributor

• Document request

• dont use chemicals until SDS

SDS sections

16 standardized sections

• Identification

• Hazard Identification

• Exposure control and PPE

• Toxicololgical info

• Ecological, disposal, transportation

written hazcom program

Learn standard (Hazcom coordinator and identify staff)

Written hazcom program

• Policy statement

• Labels

• SDS

• employee training

Hazardous chemical inventory

• Update when new chemicals arrive

Labels

SDS management

Employee training

Solid waste

• Garbage, sludge, discarded materials

Can be

• Semi solid

• Liquid

• Gas

Most waste in healthcare

• nonhazardous solid waste

Hazardous waste characteristics

Biological, physical, chemical, infectious waste

• Managed by EPA — list F, K, P or U

  • Ignitable (I)

    • D001

    • Alcohol, silver nitrate

  • Corrosive (C)

    • D002

    • Acetic acid, sodium hydroxide

  • Reactive (R)

    • D003

    • Lithium sulfur batteries

  • Toxic (E)

    • D008 lead

    • D009 mercury

    • D011 silver

Who in charge of what

OSHA — Regulated medical waste

EPA and ECRA — Hazardous waste

Listed hazardous waste

F list

• Manufacturing waste

U list

• Hazardous commercial chemicals

K list

• Industry waste

P list

• Acute hazardous chemicals

Universal waste

• batteries

• pesticide

• Mercury containing

• aerosol cans

X ray developer

Nonhazardous if

Silver below regulatory limit

• dont mix with fixer or dispose into septic

X ray film

• Undeveloped = hazardous waste

• Store in airtight container

Developed

• Recycled or dispose of as nonhazardous

Disinfectants & sterilants

• Chlorine

• Quaternary ammonium compounds

• Phenolics

• Iodophors

• Glutaraldehyde

• Hydrogen peroxide

• Formaldehyde