Hazard Communication

Revised January
2024
Introduction
The purpose of this training is to familiarize
you with the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration’s (OSHA) Hazard
Communication standard: 29 CFR 1910.1200
and
The Alaska Occupational Safety and Health
Program (AKOSH) standard: 8 AAC 61.1110
(adds the requirement to include physical agents)

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Overview
• What is Hazard Communication?
• What are the program requirements?
• Hazards of non-routine work
• Training requirements
• Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
• Physical Agent Data Sheets (PADS)
• Labeling
• Types of hazards
• Routes of exposure/entry
• Protective measures
• Inventory requirements
• Next steps
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Hazard Communication
• OSHA Hazard Communication Standard 29 CFR 1910.1200
– “Right to Know” went into effect in November 1985.
Often referred to as “Hazcom.”
• OSHA updated the Hazcom standard in 2012 to be more in
line with global systems. This update provides a common
and coherent approach to classifying chemicals and
communicating hazard information on labels and safety
data sheets.
• The purpose of the Hazcom standard is to ensure that
information concerning hazards associated with the
workplace is communicated to employees.
• You, as an employee, have the right to understand the
hazards in your work area and the potential effects of
these hazards upon your health and safety.
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Hazard Communication (cont.)
It may seem easy enough to expect chemicals and
physical hazards to be in labs, shops, and maintenance
areas. However, hazards can also be found in offices,
classrooms, and other work areas.
These may include:
Copier/printer toners
Dry erase cleaners
Cleaning chemicals, sprays
Vibration
Extreme temperatures
Noise

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Hazard Communication (cont.)
• Hazardous materials (chemical products) and physical
agents (radiation, lasers, vibration, etc.) can be found
anywhere. It has been estimated that over a half million
chemical products are used by business and industry
every year. Some of these hazards pose little danger to
you, while others may be deadly.
• Modern manufacturing would not be possible without
chemicals and processes. However, like machinery or
electrical equipment, you must know how to use
chemicals safely.
• The first step in working safely is to recognize those
materials and processes that may be hazardous to your
health or physical safety.

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Program Requirements
The OSHA Hazcom standard contains several key areas of
compliance:
• Written Program - A written program must be developed which ties
together all of the elements below.
• Safety Data Sheets – Written or printed material containing detailed
information of each hazardous material listed on the Materials
Inventory.
• Labeling – Information that is affixed to, printed on, or attached to
the immediate container of a hazardous chemical, or to the outside
packaging.
• Training - All employees must be trained to identify and work safely
with hazardous materials.
• Materials Inventory - A list of the hazardous materials and other
physical hazards present in your work area.

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Written Hazcom Plan
A written Hazard Communication Plan addresses
the following information:
• Information regarding non-routine hazards
• Employee training information
• Safety Data Sheets
• Labels and other forms of warning
• Hazard communication in multi-employer
work areas

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Workplace-Specific Hazcom Plan
• To facilitate compliance, departments
must also complete and maintain a
“Workplace-Specific Hazard
Communication Plan”

• Contact the Campus Safety Officer for

assistance with drafting a plan if your
department does not have one.

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Hazards of Non-Routine Tasks
Periodically, employees may be required to perform
hazardous tasks that are non-routine.
Prior to starting work on such projects
• Affected employees must be given information by their
supervisor on the hazards to which they may be exposed
while performing such tasks.
This information will include:
– Specific hazard information
– Measures the department has taken to reduce the risk of
these hazards, such as providing ventilation, ensuring the
presence of another employee, providing a respiratory
protection program, and establishing emergency procedures
– Required personal protective equipment
DO NOT PROCEED until you have been provided this
information!

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Employee Training Requirements
• Employee training is an integral part of the Hazcom
program and must be provided:
– At the time of initial assignment (within 10 days of
hire)
– Whenever a new hazard is introduced into the
workplace, and
– When employees may be exposed to workplace
hazards created by another employer at the worksite
(i.e., a contractor)

• Hazcom GHS training

– Provides a general overview of the OSHA Hazard
Communication Standard

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Employee Training
Requirements (cont.)
Hazcom Site-specific training
– In addition to this general overview training
you are to receive site-specific training from
your supervisor.
– This training will include specific hazards in
your work area, contents of unlabeled pipes,
and methods to reduce hazards (engineering
controls, administrative controls, product
substitution, and personal protective
equipment, etc.).

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Safety Data Sheets
• The term “Material Safety Data Sheet” (MSDS) was
replaced with “Safety Data Sheet” (SDS) in June
2015.

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Safety Data Sheets (cont.)
• Written or printed material concerning a hazardous
chemical that references and identifies specific
characteristics, hazards, and other requirements related
to the use of the product

• SDS are available for ALL of the hazardous materials

present in your work areas

• Each department, lab or shop MUST maintain an SDS for

each hazardous chemical product listed on their inventory

• May be maintained in any form (hard copy, e-copy, etc.)

but must be readily accessible to all employees, during
each shift, whenever they are in their work area

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Safety Data Sheet Information
• The Hazcom standard requires chemical manufacturers,
distributors, or importers to provide Safety Data Sheets
(SDS) to communicate the hazards of hazardous
chemical products.

• Unlike the previous Material Safety Data Sheet format,

the new law requires SDS to be in a standard 16 section
format, and include the section numbers, the headings,
and associated information under the headings.

• The following slides list those sections and the general

content contained in each section…..

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SDS Section Information
Section 1 - Identification includes product identifier; manufacturer
or distributor name, address, phone number; emergency phone
number; recommended use; and any restrictions on use.
Section 2 - Hazard(s) Identification includes all hazards regarding
the chemical; and lists required label elements.
Section 3 - Composition/Information on Ingredients includes
information on chemical ingredients, including trade secret
claims.
Section 4 - First-Aid Measures includes important symptoms, acute
effects, delayed affects, and required treatment.
Section 5 - Fire-Fighting Measures lists suitable extinguishing
techniques and equipment; and hazardous chemical hazards
that may be produced during a fire.
Section 6 - Accidental Release Measures lists emergency
procedures, protective equipment, and proper methods of
containment and cleanup.
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SDS Section Information (cont.)
Section 7 - Handling and Storage lists precautions for safe
handling and storage, including incompatibilities.
Section 8 - Exposure Controls/Personal Protection lists
OSHA’s Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs), Threshold
Limit Values (TLVs), appropriate engineering controls,
and personal protective equipment (PPE).
Section 9 - Physical and Chemical Properties lists the
chemical’s characteristics.
Section 10 - Stability and Reactivity lists chemical stability
and possibility of hazardous reactions.
Section 11 - Toxicological Information includes routes of
exposure, related symptoms, acute and chronic effects,
and numerical measures of toxicity.

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SDS Section Information (cont.)
Section 12 - Ecological Information include effects of
chemical if released into the environment, and
describes the chemical’s environmental fate.
Section 13 - Disposal Considerations list proper
procedures for disposal.
Section 14 - Transport Information provides shipping
information
Section 15 - Regulatory Information provides
information on regulations affecting the chemical.
Section 16 - Other information includes the date of
preparation or last revision.

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Obtaining SDS for your materials
• EHSRM recommends using our SDS
management system “MSDS Online®” for
obtaining the most up-to date SDS available
• The MSDS Online® program can be accessed
through the same web-based “Environmental
Health and Safety Assistant (EHS Assist)
program you’ll use to manage your chemical
inventory
• Information on how to access to these
programs can be found on the EHSRM
website: http://www.uaf.edu/safety/
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What you need to know about your
SDS
• Ask your supervisor or manager where the SDS are
located in your work area or contact EHSRM for
assistance. SDS must always be available!
• Take time to read the SDS which contain important
information about the hazardous materials present in your
workplace.
• Understand the safe use and handling, storage, transport,
and disposal requirements
• Know the exposure and spill provisions of your materials
• Remember, knowing where your SDS are located and how
to use them is your responsibility. It is part of your job.

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Physical agents
Alaska Administrative Code 8 AAC 61.110
Additional Hazard Communication Standards
• Requires employers to also maintain a Physical Agent Data Sheet
(PADS) for each physical agent in the workplace that exceeds
established thresholds
• Physical agents may include the following:
❖ Heat and Cold Stress
❖ Ionizing Radiation
❖ Lasers
❖ Radio Frequency
❖ Microwave and Ultraviolet Radiation
❖ Noise
❖ Hand-Arm (segmental) Vibration

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Physical agents (cont.)
• EHSRM can help you determine if these agents
exist in your workplace and whether
occupational exposure thresholds may be
exceeded

• If these hazards exist in your workplace,

employees must be trained on the applicable
PADS

• Departments can access PADS directly from the

AKOSH website at:
http://labor.alaska.gov/lss/pads/pads.htm

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Labeling
• Container labels provide employees with immediate information
regarding the physical and health hazards of the specific hazardous
material within the container
• Chemical manufacturers, importers, and distributors must ensure
that hazardous material containers leaving their workplaces are
properly labeled
• Labels MUST contain the following information:
– The Product Identifier
– Signal Word
– Hazard Statement(s)
– Pictogram(s)
– Precautionary Statement(s)
– Name, Address, and Telephone Number of Chemical Manufacturer,
Importer, or other Responsible Party

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Key Label Terms
– The Product Identifier: A name or number used for a hazardous
chemical on a label or SDS. It provides a unique means by which the
user can identify the chemical.

– Signal Word: indicates the relative level of severity of hazard and alert
the reader to a potential hazard on the label. Example: "Danger" is
used for the more severe hazards, and “Warning" is used for the less
severe hazards.

– Hazard Statement(s): a statement assigned to a hazard class and

category that describes the nature of the hazard(s) of a chemical,
including, where appropriate, the degree of hazard

– Pictogram: are symbols and other graphic elements which convey

specific information about the hazards of a chemical. Eight pictograms
are designated under this standard for application to a hazard category

– Precautionary Statement: describes recommended measures that

should be taken to minimize or prevent adverse effects resulting from
exposure to a hazardous chemical, or improper storage or handling

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Labeling = immediate awareness
An important part of the hazard communication labeling process is helping employees
better understand the risks of using hazardous materials….BEFORE someone gets hurt!
• First, the label SIGNAL WORD gives an immediate indication on the severity of
chemical hazard
• Second, the label Hazard Statement provides an immediate indication of the
actual hazards
• Third, the Precautionary Statement provides timely recommendations to help
prevent adverse exposure or improper use.

The Signal Word "DANGER" could mean life-threatening:

• Highly flammable vapor…… (Hazard Statement)
• Use of explosion-proof equipment required and do not breathe vapors……
(Precautionary Statement)

Would that influence you on how to use that product?

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Labeling: GHS Pictograms

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Required Labeling Information

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Labeling Reminders
• UAF employees must ensure that workplace labels are
legible and prominently displayed on the container, or
readily available in the work area throughout each work
shift
• Labels serve only as an immediate warning. See the
Safety Data Sheet for detailed information.
• Do not remove or deface existing labels on incoming
containers of hazardous chemicals, unless the container
is immediately marked with the required information
• NOTE: Laboratory workers who ship hazardous materials
are required to affix compliant labels to the containers
as well as supply a SDS to the receiving party, and must
be trained to ship these materials. Contact EHSRM at
474-6771 for assistance.

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Labeling Exceptions
Labeling is not required on portable containers into which
hazardous chemicals are transferred from labeled containers, and
which are intended only for the immediate use of the employee
who performs the transfer
Best Practice: Label transfer containers in the event they are
misplaced or not immediately used

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Workplace Labeling Options
While shipped containers require certain information
previously discussed, there are other options for
labeling in the workplace
– Chemical containers in the workplace may contain
the original manufacturer, importer or distributor
label, or….
– Other labeling systems can be used that convey a
product identifier and words, pictures, symbols, etc.,
that provide general information regarding the
chemical hazards*
* When alternate labels are used, other written
information, such as SDS, must also be present in the
workplace which provide “specific” physical and
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Special Labeling Options for Lab
Chemicals
• Some containers at UAF pre-date the new Hazcom
standard, and do not have pictograms or hazard
statements on the label
• You can re-label the container with a compliant
label, available through MSDS Online, your
Chemical Hygiene Officer, or EHSRM
• Some containers are too small to accommodate a
label with all of the required information
• If you use such chemicals, it is YOUR responsibility
to read the latest SDS for that chemical to obtain
hazard information prior to using the chemical

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 Workplace Labeling Options
Acceptable forms of labeling include:

• Primary labels provided by the manufacturers, distributors, or

suppliers*
• Hazardous Material Information System (HMIS)
• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
• Department of Transportation (DOT)
• Mallinckrodt Baker
• Fisher
Example Label:

Ask EHSRM for assistance with procuring new, or replacing worn

labels for your department’s chemical containers

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Materials Inventory
• Your supervisor should ensure that a current
inventory list of all known hazardous chemicals
present in your workplace
• Departments are required to use the EHS
Assist Program to create and maintain their
hazardous materials inventory
• Access to the EHS Assist Program can be found
on the EHSRM website:
http://www.uaf.edu/safety

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 Health Hazards
You must understand how to detect the
presence or release of hazardous
chemicals in their work area
Additionally, you must understand how to
protect yourself from hazardous chemical
exposures
• Your supervisor must instruct you on
the health and physical hazards of
chemicals used in your work area
• Health hazard information can be found
in Sections 2 and 11 on the product’s
SDS
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Health Hazards
A chemical that can have acute or chronic
health effects is a health hazard
• The following is a brief description of types of
chemicals with major health hazards and their
appropriate pictogram. These hazards include:

– Sensitizers
– Toxic substances
– Irritants
– Carcinogens
– Corrosive agents which damage lungs, skin, eyes, or
mucus membranes

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Health Hazards (cont.)
Sensitizers - cause an allergic skin or lung
reaction

Acutely Toxic Materials - cause an adverse

effect, even at a very low dose

Primary Irritants - cause intense redness or

swelling of the skin or eyes on contact, but
with no permanent tissue damage

Organ-Specific Hazards - may cause damage

to specific organ systems, such as the blood,
liver, lungs, or reproductive system

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Health Hazards (cont.)
Corrosives - cause tissue damage and burns on
contact with the skin and eyes

Carcinogens and Teratogens - may cause cancer

or birth defects, respectively

REMEMBER – These and other specific health

hazards are listed on the Safety Data Sheet!

The pictogram on the product label is your first

warning as to the hazardous nature of the
chemical!
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Physical Hazards
Any chemical that is classified as having
one of the following hazardous effects:

Combustible liquid

Compressed gas

Explosive

Flammable

Organic
peroxide
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Physical Hazards (cont.)
Oxidizer

Unstable (reactive)

Pyrophoric

Water reactive

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 Other Types of Hazards
• “Simple Asphyxiant” Hazards – a substance or mixture
that displaces oxygen in the ambient atmosphere, and
can lead to oxygen deprivation in those who are exposed
• “Combustible Dust” Hazards - dusts that may cause a
deflagration, other fires, or an explosion. Examples
include: metal, wood, coal, plastic, adhesives, sugar,
flour, etc.
• “Pyrophoric Gas” Hazards - a chemical in a gaseous state
that will ignite spontaneously in air at a temperature of
130 degrees F (54.4 degrees C) or less.
• Hazards not Otherwise Classified - an adverse physical or
health effect that does not meet the specified criteria for
the physical and health hazard classes already defined.

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 Routes of Exposure
• There are four ways a hazardous
chemical can contact or enter your body
and cause you harm

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Routes of Exposure (cont.)
Skin/Eye Contact and Absorption: Many chemicals can cause direct averse
effects at the point of contact with the skin or eyes. Additionally, some can
be absorbed into the body through the skin or eyes, causing harmful
effects elsewhere in the body. Exposures can occur from dusts, gases,
mists, and liquids.

Ingestion: Chemicals can be ingested through the mouth as a result of

hand-to-mouth contact, consuming contaminated food or drink, or
smoking cigarettes that have come into contact with a chemical or
unclean hands. Workplace chemicals can also be accidentally swallowed.

Inhalation (Breathing): Airborne chemicals, in the forms of gases, mists,

smoke, dust, and vapor, can be inhaled into the body through the mouth
and/or nose

Injection: Biological or chemical substances can be injected into the body

by accidentally puncturing the skin with a contaminated needle, tool, or
other sharp object
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 Protective Measures
Your department-specific Hazcom plan MUST include specific
protective measures implemented to protect employees
from hazards in the workplace. These include:
• Methods and Observations
You must understand the methods and observations that
may be used to detect the presence or release of a
hazardous chemical in the work area (such as personal
monitoring conducted by EHSRM, continuous monitoring
devices, visual appearance or odor of hazardous chemicals
when being released, etc.)
• Physical and Health Hazards
You must understand the physical, health, simple
asphyxiation, combustible dust and pyrophoric gas
hazards, as well as hazards not otherwise classified, of the
chemicals in the work area

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 Protective Measures
• Engineering Controls
Well designed work areas minimize exposure to materials which are
hazardous. Examples of engineering controls include exhaust systems
and wetting systems to control dust. Understand which controls are used
with chemical processes
• Work Practices
Safe work practices will insure that chemicals are used correctly and
safely. Review your chemical Job Hazard Analysis or Standard Operating
Procedure
• Product Substitution
Because many chemicals do similar jobs, it is important to select
chemicals that do a good job, while being less toxic.
• Personal Protective Equipment
Respirators, eye protection, gloves, aprons, and other protective
equipment and clothing are designed to protect you while you work - USE
THEM!
• Emergency Procedures
Specific emergency procedures established to protect employees. Review
your department Hazcom Plan for details

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 Next Steps
Knowing how to work safely with chemicals and
other physical agents is an important activity.
• Know the location of, and review your
department Hazcom Plan with your supervisor
• Know the location of your chemical and
physical hazards/agents inventory and SDS
files
• Understand what personal protective
equipment (PPE) you will need when dealing
with hazards
• Speak with your supervisor about additional
training required for non-routine chemical
tasks
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 Need Assistance?
• Safety Officers (developing work-specific plans)
Bethany Graves (Campus), 474-5476
Thadd Williamson (Facilities Services), 474-5949
Roger Ostrem (Power Plant), 474-6164

• Hazmat (inventories, Safety Data Sheets)

Kris Riley, 474-5617
Pete Reynoldson, 474-7889

• Industrial Hygienist (protective measures, monitoring)

Emily Reiter, 474-6771

EHSRM website: www.uaf.edu/safety

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