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HomeMy WebLinkAbout700-14r 'r 9FNi POLICY & PROCEDURE Subject: Index: Human Resources & Risk HAZARD COMMUNICATION PROGRAM Management Number: 70&14 Effective Date: Supersedes: Page: Staff Contact: Approved 7/11/2018 05/25/86 1 of 7 Ellen Bradley-Mak 1.0 PURPOSE: To establish policies and procedures to effectively and safely implement and maintain a Hazard Communication Program. 2.0 ORGANIZATIONS AFFECTED: All departments/divisions. 3.0 REFERENCES: WAC 296-901 GHS Revision 3 4.0 POLICY: It is the policy of the City of Renton to establish and maintain a Hazard Communication Program so that safe practices and procedures are followed when employees must work with or store hazardous materials. These procedures include, but are not limited to, the following: 4.1 To inform and train employees on the hazards of chemicals with which they may come into contact during normal working conditions or in foreseeable emergencies; 4.2 To provide training on how to safely work in the presence of hazardous chemicals and to maintain a list of the hazardous chemicals and Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) for the hazardous materials; 4.3 To provide training on and adherence to correct container labeling procedures; and 4.4 To operate all provisions of the program in accordance with the law and administrative guidelines. 700-14 Hazard Communication Program p. 2 5.0 DEFINITIONS: 5.1 Chemical: Any substance or mixture of substances defined as a chemical element or their compounds. 5.2 Consumer Product: Any hazardous substance that is used in the workplace for the purpose intended by the chemical manufacturer and for which the duration and frequency of exposure is not greater than the range of exposures that could reasonably be experienced by consumers. 5.3 Container: Any bag, barrel, bottle, box, can, cylinder, drum, reaction vessel, storage tank or the like that contains a hazardous chemical. 5.4 Hazardous Chemical: Any chemical which is classified as a physical hazard or a health hazard, a simple asphyxiate, combustible dust, pyrophoric gas, or hazard not otherwise classified. Consumer products and food for personal consumption are exempt from this classification per WAC 296-901-14004. 5.5 Hazardous Non-Routine Task: A task infrequently performed which requires hazardous chemicals not in regular use in the work area. 5.6 Health Hazard: A chemical that is classified as posing one of the following hazardous effects: acute toxicity, skin corrosion or irritation, serious eye damage or irritation, respiratory or skin sensitization, germ cell mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, reproductive toxicity, specific target organ toxicity, or aspiration hazard. 5.7 Label: Any written, printed or graphic material displayed on or affixed to a container of hazardous chemicals. 5.8 Physical Hazard: A chemical that is classified as posing one of the following hazards: explosive, flammable, oxidizer, self-reactive, pyrophoric, self-heating, organic peroxide, corrosive to metal, gas under pressure, or when in contact with water emits flammable gas. 5.9 Safety Data Sheet (SDS): Paper or electronic material information concerning a hazardous chemical that is prepared in accordance with WAC 296-901-14014. 5.10 Work Area: A room or defined space in a workplace where hazardous chemicals are produced or used and where employees are present. 700-14 Hazard Communication Program p.3 6.0 PROCEDURES: 6.1 HAZARD COMMUNICATION PROGRAM MANAGER The Human Resources and Risk Management (HRRM) Department Administrator shall designate the Hazard Communication Program (HCP) manager. The HCP manager shall have overall responsibility for organization, administration and maintenance of the Hazard Communication Program and may delegate specific assignments to ensure effective operation of the program. 6.2 HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL LIST AND SDSs 6.2.1 A master list of hazardous chemicals in use in all City work areas and the Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) for all such chemicals will be updated and maintained electronically and/or in paper-copy by the Human Resources and Risk Management (HRRM) department. 6.2.2 Each work area will have access to the Hazard Communication Program Policy, a list of hazardous chemicals for their department, and electronic and/or paper-copy corresponding SDSs. Electronic SDSs are permitted, and preferred, as long as there are no barriers to immediate employee access per WAC 296-901-14014. 6.3 INFORMATION AND TRAINING 6.3.1 The department administrator, director or designee is responsible for providing information and training, with support from the HRRM department upon request, on the Hazard Communication Program to current employees and to new employees prior to beginning work. Managers and supervisors will provide effective information and training to employees per WAC 296-901-14016 to include: 6.3.1.1 The general requirements of the Hazard Communication Program. 6.3.1.2 Identification of operations in work areas where hazardous chemicals are present and methods of observation and detection of chemical presence or release. 6.3.1.3 How to locate and access the Hazard Communication Program Policy, lists of hazardous chemicals in the work area and electronic and/or paper-copy SDSs. 6.3.1.4 How to read labels and review SDSs to obtain appropriate hazard information. 700-14 Hazard Communication Program p.4 6.3.1.5 Physical and health effects of the hazardous chemicals. 6.3.1.6 How to lessen or prevent exposure to these hazardous chemicals through use of control/work practices, emergency procedures and personal protective equipment (PPE). 6.3.1.7 Safety/emergency procedures to follow if employees are exposed to these chemicals. 6.3.2 After training, each employee will sign a form to verify that training was offered, attended and understood. A copy of any training forms and/or certificates should be forwarded to the HRRM department for record retention. 6.3.3 If an employee is required to perform hazardous non-routine tasks, the employee will be given information about hazardous chemicals in which he/she may be exposed during the activity by the supervisor prior to starting the work. 6.3.4 The Safety Officer or designated representative will periodically inspect work areas and training documentation to ensure continued compliance with Hazard Communication Program regulations. 6.4 LABELING 6.4.1 The administrator, director or designee in each department will verify that hazardous chemical primary containers are labeled, tagged, or marked with: product identifier, signal word, hazard statement(s), pictogram(s), precautionary statement(s), and the name, address and telephone number of the chemical manufacturer, importer or other responsible party. 6.4.2 The administrator, director or designee in each department will verify that hazardous chemical secondary containers are labeled, tagged, or marked with either of the following groups of information: 6.4.2.1 Product Identifier [either the chemical or common name]; 6.4.2.2 Signal Word [gives level of severity such as "warning" (less severe) and "danger" (more severe)]; 6.4.2.3 Hazard Statement(s) [relevant health and physical hazards of the chemicals to include health effects information, such as organs most likely to be affected]; 700-14 Hazard Communication Program P. 5 6.4.2.4 Pictograms(s) [a symbol plus other graphic elements (border, pattern, color, etc) to convey a specific hazard of the chemical]; or, 6.4.2.5 A combination of the above to provide at least general information regarding the hazards of the chemicals that, in conjunction with other information immediately available to employees (such as the electronic and paper-copy SDS system), will provide specific information about the physical and health hazards of the chemical material per WAC 296-901-14012. 6.4.3 Alternate labeling methods such as signs, placards, process sheets, batch tickets, operating procedures and other such written materials are permitted in lieu of affixing labels to individual stationary process containers as long as the alternate method identifies the applicable containers and conveys the required label information per WAC 296- 901-14012. 6.4.4 Portable containers into which hazardous chemicals are transferred, and which are intended only for the immediate use of the employee who performs the transfer, are not required to be labeled per WAC 296-901- 14012. Any unused chemical portions must be transferred back into the original labeled container, disposed of properly or labeled per WAC-901- 14012. 6.4.5 The administrator, director or designee in each section will continually review the labeling system and update for compliance as required. 6.5 SAFETY DATA SHEETS (SDS's) 6.5.1 The administrator, director or designee in each department will make sure Safety Data Sheets (SDS's) are readily available electronically and/or in paper-copy to all employees in each work area during each shift. 6.5.2 All purchase orders for new, potentially hazardous chemicals should include a request that an SDS for the product accompany the shipment. 6.5.3 Whenever a new chemical is introduced into a work area, an SDS should accompany the shipment and a copy of the SDS should be sent to the Human Resources & Risk Management (HRRM) department who will update the SDS electronic and written master list to ensure the revised list of hazardous chemicals is accessible in each work area. 700-14 Hazard Communication Program p.6 6.5.4 Whenever a new chemical is introduced into a work area and an SDS does not accompany the shipment, the administrator, director or designee is responsible for notifying the HRRM department. The HRRM department should secure the SDS as soon as practical, providing the work area access to the SDS as well as a revised list of hazardous chemicals for the work area. 6.5.5 The administrator, director or designee in each section will review incoming SDS's for new and significant health/safety information. He/she will ensure that any new information is passed on to employees. 6.5.6 Missing or damaged SDS's should be reported to the HRRM department so that replacements can be secured. 6.6 PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) AND SAFETY PROCEDURES 6.6.1 Assisted by the HCP manager whenever practical, the administrator, director or designee, together with work area supervisors, are responsible for identifying and instituting steps to eliminate, lessen, or control exposure to hazardous chemicals and for establishing procedures for the safe use of hazardous chemicals. 6.6.2 The administrator, director or designee in each department is responsible for ensuring that necessary personal protective equipment PPE), as specified in the appropriate SDS and in accordance with PPE Policy #700-12, is provided free-of-charge, is easily available to employees, and that such PPE is kept in safe and good condition per WAC 206-800-16045. 6.7 RELEASED OR SPILLED MATERIAL AND WASTE DISPOSAL If a hazardous chemical is released or spilled, the appropriate SDS must be consulted to assure correct clean-up procedures are followed. Disposal of hazardous chemicals must be accomplished in accordance with the directions supplied in the SDS. The Regional Fire Authority should be notified for large- scale spills. 6.8 CONTRACTORS 6.8.1 It is the responsibility of the administrator, director or designee in charge of coordinating a contracted city project to provide the contractor with the following information: 6.8.1.1 Hazardous chemicals to which they may be exposed while on 700-14 Hazard Communication Program P. 7 the job site. 6.8.1.2 Precautions their employees may take to lessen the possibility of exposure by use of appropriate protective measures. 6.8.1.3 City safety rules. 6.8.2 The administrator, director or designee in charge of coordinating a contracted City project will also contact each contractor before work is started to gather and disseminate any information concerning chemical hazards that the contractor is bringing to a workplace where City employees will be present. 6.9 RESPONSIBILITIES OF EMPLOYEES Employees are responsible for: 6.9.1 Fully understanding information and training provided on the Hazard Communication Program. 6.9.2 Carefully reviewing SDSs for hazardous chemicals in use in the work area. 6.9.3 Following all safety precautions including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). 6.9.4 Reporting immediately to the section supervisor unsafe practices or conditions observed in the work area. 6.9.5 Reporting immediately to the section supervisor the presence or release of hazardous substances in the work area. 6.9.6 Reporting immediately to the section supervisor missing or damaged SDSs and primary or secondary labels. 6.9.7 Whenever appropriate, suggesting ways to improve safe practices and conditions for the elimination, reduction and/or control of hazardous chemicals.