Understanding OSHA Right-To-Know Regulations

This standard is based on a simple concept - that employees have both a need and a right to know the hazards and the identities of the chemicals they are exposed to when working.  More than 30 million workers are potentially exposed to one or more chemical hazards. There are an estimated 650,000 existing hazardous chemical products, and hundreds of new ones are being introduced annually. This poses a serious problem for exposed workers and their employers.  Read more

OSHA "Right to Know" Hazardous Communications

1. Agency Requirements

   
   

   1. OSHA enforces Hazard Communication standards
   2. All containers must be labeled - especially when pouring in a secondary container
   3. MSDS's are required for all chemicals
2. Product Labels - should contain

   
   

   1. Precautionary statements
   2. Hazards/Cautions/Warnings
   3. Explanation of how to handle safely
   4. Medical treatment required
   5. How to store and dispose of product
3. Color coding on labels

   
   

   1. Blue - represents health hazards
   2. Red - represents flammability
   3. Yellow - represents reactivity (The higher the #, the more hazardous the material)
   4. Oxidizers - can make other materials more flammable
   5. Corrosive - eat away skin/weaken steel
   6. Carcinogenic - increases the risk of cancer
   7. W - dangerous if comes in contact with water
4. MSDS contents - not all will look the same

   
   

   1. Section 1 - Name of the produce, name and address of company, how to reach in case of emergency
   2. Section 2 - Lists hazardous ingredients
   3. Section 3 - Lists physical and chemical characteristics - color and odor under regular conditions
   4. Section 4 - Reactivity - Whether product is stable and what to avoid mixing with it
   5. Hazardous Data section - signs/symptoms of over exposure, how chemical can enter body, 1st aid steps listed
   6. Special protection section - lists special equipment/clothing necessary to use product
   7. Special precautions - lists safe handling and storage

   
   

5. Important Tips

   
   

   1. Read all labels
   2. Don't mix chemicals
   3. Thoroughly rinse buckets, etc, after using chemical
   4. Don't inhale
   5. Flush drains before and after dumping chemical

More...

Employee Training Under OSHA Right-To-Know

The federal "Hazard Communications Standard" or "OSHA Right-To-Know Law" as it is more commonly named. The objective of this law is to transmit information concerning the nature of chemical hazards that employees may be exposed to in their work environment and what measures they can take to protect themselves.

Worker Right-to-Know Program:

According to the OSHA right-to-know standard, employees must have access to the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) for the hazardous chemicals present in their workplace. These MSDSs must be readily available to the workers and accessible during each work shift. 

Safety Courses:

OSHA Right-To-Know Safety Training DVD Programs