Hazard Communication (for Healthcare)

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HAZARD COMMUNICATION What is Hazard Communication?

You have the right to be informed Hazard Communication Standard or HCS is also known as “the right to know” act.

What do we need to know? Since we are exposed daily to different types of chemicals in our line of work as healthcare professionals, we need to know what possible injuries or illnesses can result from their use. Our Hazard Communication Program or HazCom aims to communicate these hazards clearly and effectively to keep us safe.

Reading Labels Knowing how to read labels ensure that you are aware of the chemicals in your immediate surrounding and potential hazard from exposure to them.

Understanding Safety Data Sheets Knowing how to use Safety Data Sheets and being familiar with its parts will help you find critical information when you need them.

Before we start, let’s establish our baselines.

HAZARD COMMUNICATION Reading Labels

Labels in our workplace We see labels every day, from the food we consume, the products we use at home and for ourselves, and more so in our workplace.

Labels are for our safety. They are so common that we do not pay much attention to them or realize their intended purpose--to inform us of what chemical is in a container and warn us of any potential hazard.

Let's Practice

Sodium hypochlorite is used in laboratories, hospitals dental clinics, water treatment, medical equipment manufacturing, etc. because of its disinfection and neutralizing properties. What are the dangers of using the solution shown above?

Ammonia is a chemical widely used by pharmaceuticals. It is also used as a neutralizer, disinfectant, and as source of nitrogen. What should you do if you or your colleague inhaled ammonia?

Alcohol is a common chemical used as a disinfectant/sanitizer, anesthetic, preservative, and solvent; thus it can be found in different health and medical-related environments. How can we store alcohol safely?

HAZARD COMMUNICATION Understanding Safety Data Sheets

SDS made easy In the past, safety data sheets are lengthy and too hard to understand. Thanks to the revisions in OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard, information is now easier to find using the new 16-section format.

OSHA and GHS alignment In 2012, OSHA revised the Hazard Communication Standard to align with the Globally Harmonized Standard (GHS) developed by the United Nations.

16-Section Format As a result of this alignment, the SDS (formerly known as MSDS) was improved into a 16-section format that is easier to understand by people without technical knowledge of chemicals. Let's take a look at each section.

Section 1: Identification This section contains the name of the chemical, its recommended uses, and emergency contact information of the supplier.

Section 2: Hazard(s) Identification This section lists down all the hazards of the chemical and associated warning information. Some important information that you can find in Section 2 are the following: Hazard classification Signal words, hazard statements, and pictograms. Precautionary statement

Section 3: Composition/ Ingredient Information All ingredients contained in the product can be found in this section including impurities and additives. This part of the SDS is especially helpful when you need information on the individual substances in a chemical mixture.

Section 4: First Aid Measures This section gives us information about the symptoms and effects of a chemical that can helps us determine if someone needs immediate medical care or any special treatment. Most importantly, first aid instructions can be found in this section.

Section 5: Fire Fighting For flammable or combustible chemicals, you can find information on suitable and unsuitable extinguishing equipment, as well as protective equipment of precautions for firefighters. It also gives information on hazards that can arise e.g. harmful gases that are produced when the chemical is burned.

Section 6: Accidental Release Measure What do we do when the chemical leaks or is spilled? This section outlines cleanup procedures, materials and methods needed to contain the chemical, emergency procedure, precaution advice and PPEs needed when accidental releases occur.

Section 7: Handling and Storage Some chemicals should be stored in well-ventilated places while others are sensitive to heat. This section gives instructions on how to store chemicals safely and precautions for safe handling.

Section 8: Exposure Controls/ Personal Protection This section lists down the PPEs, engineering controls and exposure limits recommendations to reduce exposure to the hazard.

Section 9: Chemical Properties All relevant chemical properties (i.e. vapor pressure, density, evaporation rate, pH) and physical properties (i.e. color, odor, state) are outlined in this section.

Section 10: Stability and Reactivity Does the chemical reaction with other substances become unstable at a certain temperature? This section answers those questions and gives information on any stabilizer that prevents it from being reactive.

Section 11: Toxicological Information How can a chemical affect our health? This section indicated the health effects of a chemical and the routes of exposure. It will have information on the symptoms, short-and long-term health effects.

Section 12: Ecological Information This section informs us of the effects of the chemical on the environment. It is not a mandatory section for the OSHA HazCom Standard.

Section 13: Disposal Consideration How can we safely dispose of the chemical after use? This section advises of the disposal method and appropriate containers for the storage of used chemicals.

Section 14: Transport Information Similar to the above sections, Section 13 is not mandatory and is more important for suppliers and manufacturers. It provides guidance on the safe transport and shipping of chemical substances.

Section 15: Regulatory Information You will find the relevant national, regional, or industry regulations that you need to comply with within this section.

Which sections should you check to know if a chemical can be safely disposed of in your wastewater systems without harming nearby bodies of water? Select ALL the correct answers.

Section 16: Other Information The last section tells us when the SDS is prepared plus all the revision details. Other useful information that does not fall under the previous sections can be found here.