Hazard Communication

The purpose of the Ralph J. Meyer Co. Written Hazard Communication Program is to inform our employees of the OSHA regulation which requires employees be informed of hazards from chemicals that they may encounter in the workplace, and appropriate protective measures that they can take.

The objective of the Hazard Communication Program is:

• To safeguard our employees’ health by providing a management guide for safe compliance.
• To provide our employees and customers with necessary information concerning health and physical hazards of the chemical materials that may be in use in the workplace.

This program will address five basic issues:

• Labels and Other Forms of Warning
• Material Safety Data Sheets
• Employee Information and Training
• List of Hazardous Chemicals
• Hazards of Non-Routine Tasks

LABELS AND OTHER FORMS OF WARNING

The Ralph J. Meyer Co. assures that all containers which contain hazardous chemicals will have labels that include the following information: Identity of the hazardous chemical present, appropriate warnings, and name, address and phone number of the manufacturer.

MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEETS

Material Safety Data Sheets are kept on file for all products that are used by the Ralph J. Meyer Co. These material safety data sheets are kept in the shop, office and major job sites. Any material safety data sheet that we do not have will be obtained as soon as possible.

EMPLOYEE INFORMATION AND TRAINING

All employees of the Ralph J. Meyer Co. will be trained in hazard communication as outlined in CFR 1926.59 (h). The training will include, at a minimum, the following:

• Requirements of this section.
• Operations where hazardous chemicals are present.
• Location of written plans, lists, and MSDS.
• Methods and observances that may be used to detect the presence of a hazardous chemical.
• Physical and health hazards of chemicals in the work place.
• Measures employees can take to protect themselves from exposure to hazardous chemicals.
• Explanation of labels and material safety data sheets.

LIST OF HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS

A list of hazardous chemicals is compiled and kept in the shop and office. This list is in accordance with the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know regulation.

HAZARDS OF NON-ROUTINE TASKS

Before a non-routine task is undertaken, the employees involved will be told of the hazardous chemicals specific to that task.

All plans, lists and MSDS are available to all employees. They are located in the shop and office. Any questions or concerns should be directed to David Meyer, and the issue will be addressed immediately.

HOW TO INTERPRET MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEETS

The MSDS for each hazardous product in your workplace explains how to use, handle and store the product in a safe manner. Because there is no standardization of MSDS, each may look different. However, most contain nine basic sections.

Section I – Chemical Identification

This section helps you to identify the chemical by listing its name, any trade names and the manufacturer’s name and address. There is also usually an emergency number listed.

Section II – Hazardous Product Ingredients

This section identifies the ingredients in the product that can harm you. It also lists the concentration levels of the chemical to which you can be safely exposed. This is known as the permissible exposure level, PEL, or threshold limit value TLV.

Section III – Physical Data

The chemical’s appearance, odor and other physical characteristics are described in this section. These characteristics and limits help to identify what personal protective equipment needs to be used to work with the chemical.

Section IV – Fire and Explosion Data

Listed here is the temperature at which the chemical ignites. If the chemical is flammable, it ignites below 100 degrees F. If it is combustible, it ignites at 100 degrees F., and above. This section also lists items that will put out the fire safely and any special fire fighting procedures.

Section V – Health Hazards

This section lists symptoms of overexposure such as headache, dizziness, skin rash or burn. It also details first aid and emergency procedures. This section may also tell you what conditions may be aggravated by exposure to the chemical and identify chronic health effects, if any.

Section VI - Reactivity Data

This section tells you what the chemical may react with, or what conditions may cause a dangerous situation. Incompatibility lists the materials such as water or other chemicals that cause the product to burn, explode or release dangerous gasses. Instability lists the environmental conditions such as heat or direct sunlight that can cause a dangerous reaction.

Section VII – Spill or Leak Procedures

This section tells you what to use to clean up a spill or leak. Before cleaning up a spill, you may need to wear personal protective equipment. This section may also contain guidelines on how to dispose of the chemical safely.

Section VIII – Special Protection Information

Listed in this section is any personal protective equipment you’ll need to work safely with the product. If protective equipment is needed, this section may list specific types that are recommended.

Section IX – Special Precautions

This section will describe any special precautions you need to be aware of, or other information not contained elsewhere in the MSDS.

REMEMBER THAT MSDS SHOULD BE READ AND UNDERSTOOD BEFORE WORKING WITH A HAZARDOUS PRODUCT. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL AN ACCIDENT OCCURS BEFORE CHECKING FOR FIRST-AID PROCEDURES OR FIRE FIGHTING TECHNIQUES.