Hazard Communication Program “Right-to-Know” Plan

Purpose

This is formulated to help promote safety in the work-place at EMU and to ensure that information regarding hazardous materials or chemicals is communicated to employees. The goal is to prevent any chemically related occupational illness and injuries. The components of this program are as follows:

Applicability

All Physical Plant Department employees

Reference

OSHA, CFR 1910.1200, EMU Chemical Hygiene Plan

Hazardous Chemical Inventory List

All Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) are maintained on MSDSonline and can be accessed through a link on the My EMU Home page. A list of hazardous chemicals used by each department will be available on MSDSonline.

All hazardous chemicals in the Physical Plant are purchased materials (non are formulated in the Physical Plant) hazard determination shall be made by the chemical manufacturer as indicated on the MSDS’s.

Material Safety Data Sheets

When chemicals are ordered, each supervisor is responsible to see that the MSDS information is given to the manager of MSDSonline so it can be added. The product cannot be used until it has been listed on MSDSonline.

A complete file of MSDS’s for all hazardous chemicals to which employees, faculty, and students of the EMU may be exposed will be available on MSDSonline and may be accessed at any time on a computer. If a computer is not available you can obtain the information by having an MSDS faxed to you 24 hours/day – 7 days/week: contact MSDSonline by calling 1-888-362-7416

Labels

All labels of hazardous chemicals should be labeled by the manufacturer. This label should contain the chemical identity, appropriate hazard warnings and name and address of chemical manufacturer or responsible party. When chemicals are delivered each Physical Plant supervisor will ensure that the product received is labeled properly.

When chemicals are transferred from the manufacturer’s containers to secondary containers the supervisor of each Physical Plant department will ensure that the containers are labeled with the identity of the chemicals and appropriate hazard warnings. Manufacturer’s labels can be accessed and printed through MSDSonline. Annually the entire labeling procedure will be reviewed by the supervisors.

Employee Training and Information

On the first day of employment the supervisor should conduct a training session with the employee. This should include chemicals present in their work operations, a review of Material Safety Data Sheets and how to read their various sections, and locations of the MSDS information, dangers and health effects of hazardous chemicals, labeling of chemicals, use of the chemicals, personal protection gear, steps to lessen exposure to chemicals and safety and emergency procedures. The employee should sign and date a training record to verify this.

Annually an in-service will be held for all Physical Plant employees. The hazard communications program at EMU Physical Plant will be explained.

Program Review

MSDS’s will be reviewed annually by each Physical Plant department supervisors. They will provide product information to the MSDSonline manager so the product can be added to the EMU list of MSDS’s. The Physical Plant director and supervisors will review.

Revised: 07/20/09