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Health and Safety News

Volume 8, Issue 26

July 3 , 2007

Question of the Week

How Can I Determine Which Specific Hazardous Chemicals Require Listing?

Q. It is my understanding the OSHA has no list for hazardous chemicals that a company should include on its list as part of OSHA’s hazard program. It only lists characteristics of materials that are hazardous. Is there any “shortcut” for determining what should be listed, such as Hazardous Materials Identification System (HMIS) ratings?

A. I believe you are referring to the OSHA hazard communication program, or “HazCom” at 29 CFR 1910.1200. The HazCom Standard regulates manufacturers and employers with “hazardous chemicals” in the workplace. You are correct that OSHA does not define the term by providing a list of specific substances. Rather, OSHA defines the term to include any chemical that poses a “physical” or “health hazard” [see 29 CFR 1910.1200(c)]. Each of those two terms is defined by providing a set of criteria. Any chemical that meets one or more of those criteria is a hazardous chemical.

Typically it is not the responsibility of the employer to determine whether a chemical is a “hazardous chemical” under the HazCom Standard. This responsibility falls to the manufacturer [see 29 CFR 1910.1200(d)]. The manufacturer would be responsible for communicating this to the employers, typically by providing copies of material safety data sheets (MSDSs). If you are interested in the criteria and procedures for hazard determination, OSHA does provide mandatory guidance at 29 CFR 1910.1200, Appendices A and B.

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OSHA News, Rules, and Interpretations

06/29/2007—OSHA Offers Advice for Working in Summer Heat
Every summer, thousands of Americans are hospitalized for heat-related illnesses. Many of these cases are employees who work outdoors where heat stress is potentially dangerous. Now that summer has begun, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is reminding all employers and employees nationwide about its safety and health resources, especially those offering best practices for working in hot weather. Read more...

06/28/2007—U.S. Department of Labor's OSHA and Holder Construction Co. Team Up to Promote Construction Safety
Providing enhanced safety for employees at the DuPont CH1 construction project, located in Elk Grove Village, is the goal of a new partnership between the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Holder Construction Co. Read more...

06/25/2007—U.S. Labor Department's OSHA Cites Williamsport, Pa. Company for Safety and Health Violations
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Williamsport Steel Container Co. Inc. of Williamsport, Pa., for alleged safety and health violations and is proposing $43,000 in penalties. The company, which has 38 employees, manufactures steel drums used for the storage of flammable, combustible and corrosive liquids or hazardous waste. Read more...

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CSB News

06/27/2007—CSB Finds Unspent Aircraft Oxygen Generators Contributed to Rapid Spread of Fire at EQ Facility in Apex, N.C. in 2006, Safety Advisory and Urgent Recommendation Issued
The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) has announced it is issuing a Safety Advisory concerning the dangers of transporting and handling unspent aircraft chemical oxygen generators. The action follows a CSB investigative finding that the devices most likely contributed to the rapid spread of a fire at the EQ Industrial Services (EQ) hazardous waste facility in Apex, NC on the night of October 5, 2006. The fire resulted in the evacuation of thousands of residents of Apex, located about 16 miles southwest of Raleigh, and destroyed the EQ facility's hazardous waste building. Read more...

06/14/2007—CSB Issues Safety Bulletin on Dangers of a Major Chlorine Release During Railcar Unloading; Agency Calls on U.S. Department of Transportation to Expand Regulatory Coverage to Require Emergency Shutdown Systems
The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) has released a safety bulletin warning that some chlorine railcar transfer systems lack effective detection and emergency shutdown devices, leaving the public vulnerable to potential large-scale toxic releases. Read more...

06/12/2007—CSB Issues Case Study on Fatal Partridge-Raleigh Oilfield Explosion in Mississippi; Recommends OSHA Program to Inspect Oil and Gas Production Facilities
In a case study report released on a fatal explosion and fire last year at a Smith County oilfield, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) found that unsafe work practices were the cause of the accident and recommended increased Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspections of the region's oil and gas production facilities. Read more...

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