HazCom

Hazard Communication (HazCom)

“I have asthma which is triggered by exposure to certain chemicals and allergens in the environment. I noticed that whenever I am cleaning using a certain product, my asthma gets worse. How do I know what chemicals I am being exposed to at work? Where do I go to find out?”

To protect yourself from exposure to hazardous materials in the workplace, read the following information on integrated pest management, asbestos exposure, and hazardous materials communication.

Enduring Understanding:

Federal and state law requires that all district employees be informed of the various hazardous materials they can be exposed to in the workplace and how to protect themselves from unhealthful and unnecessary exposure to those materials.

Essential Questions:

1.What hazardous materials trainings are required by the State of Texas?
2.What is IPM?
3.How do I know if I am safe from asbestos exposure in school?
4.How do I know what chemicals might I be exposed to at school?

What hazardous materials trainings are required by the State of Texas?

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)—An effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest management that relies on a combination of common sense practices.

Asbestos Containing Materials—The Asbestos in Schools Rule (AHERA) was developed to identify, assess and manage the asbestos containing building materials in schools.

HazCom—The Texas Hazard Communication Act (THCA) outlines procedures for protecting school personnel from chemical hazards.

What is IPM?

Evolution of IPM

1991 legislative action
1995 implementation deadline
2001 Structural Pest Control Board (SPCB) philosophy

Regulatory Requirements include the following:

	An IPM policy in place, based upon: Strategies of best practices Pest identification and monitoring Non-chemical control using the least toxic chemical possible
	An IPM Coordinator (Martin Anding) No license required Must complete approved training within 12 months of appointment
	Training and licensing of personnel Must keep copy of licenses and training certificates on file Must use a commercial applicator Annual continuing education units are required 2 credit hours in the "General" category 1 credit hour per license category SPCB licensed as required by regulation Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) Outdoor application only Test and license required

http://www.thebestcontrol.com/bugstop/control_cockroaches.htm

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How do I know if I am safe from asbestos exposure in school?

http://cfpub.epa.gov/schools/

Asbestos

A naturally-occurring mineral fiber
Added to a variety of building products to strengthen them and to provide heat insulation and fire resistance
Has fibers that can be released into the air and inhaled into the lungs
These fibers embedded in lung tissue over time may cause serious lung diseases including: asbestosis, lung cancer, or mesothelioma

Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA)

Became law in 1986
Requires public and private non-profit primary and secondary schools to inspect their buildings for asbestos-containing building materials (ACM)
Considered to be ACM if asbestos content is greater than or equal to 1% by volume
Schools must
- Perform an original inspection and periodic re-inspections every 3 years for asbestos containing material
- Develop, maintain, and update an asbestos management plan and keep a copy at the school
- Provide yearly notification to parent, teacher, and employee organizations regarding the availability of the school's asbestos management plan and any asbestos abatement actions taken or planned in the school
- Designate a contact person to ensure the responsibilities of the local education agency are properly implemented
- Perform periodic surveillance of known or suspected asbestos-containing building material
- Provide custodial staff with asbestos awareness training

An Asbestos Management Plan

Is required to provide documentation of the recommended asbestos response actions, the location of asbestos within the school, and any action taken to repair or remove the material.
Must include:
- The name and address of each school building and whether the building ahs asbestos-containing building material, and what type of ACM
- Date of the original school inspection
- The plan for re-inspections
- A blueprint that clearly identifies the location of ACM that remains in the school
- A description of any response action or preventive measures taken to reduce asbestos exposure
- A copy of the analysis of any building material, and the name and address of any laboratory that sampled the material
- The name, address, and telephone number of the "designated person" to ensure the duties of the local education agency (LEA) are carried out
- A description of steps taken to inform workers, teachers, and students or their legal guardians about inspections, re-inspections, response actions, and periodic surveillance

EPA Asbestos Line
800-471-7127

Visit the
EPA Asbestos in Schools website
for more information

Training

Maintenance and custodial staff must receive 2 hours of awareness training
Any workers conducting activities that will result in the disturbance to ACM must
- receive an additional 14 hours of training
- have a state license
Inspectors must
- receive 24 hours of training
- have a state license
Management planners must
- receive 40 hours of training
- have a state license
Contractors and supervisors must
- receive 40 hours of training
- have a state license

Operations & Maintenance Program elements include

Written work practices
Air monitoring program
Notification requirements
Identification procedures for remaining ACM
Provision for waste disposal
Accurate record keeping

Asbestosis

Chest xray of asbestosis

http://www.netmedicine.com/xray/img_xr/cxr23.jpg

Medical surveillance includes:

A physical to determine present condition of employee
Past exposure and suitability for the use of negative pressure respirator
Annual check-ups
Pulmonary function test
Chest x-rays as prescribed
Records are kept for 30 years

Notification Requirements

Annual notification to employees and occupants
Additional notification of:
- periodic surveillance every 6 months
- re-inspection every 3 years
- response actions

Record-keeping requirements

Must keep records of everything, including but not limited to:
- Work orders
- Employee records
- Training
- Medical
- Waste disposal

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) established the HazCom Standard (the "Right to Know" law) to protect the health and safety of employees.

Covers all chemicals used in the workplace
Requires proper documentation of all chemicals
Employers must communicate those hazards
Employers must protect employees

The Texas Hazard Communication Act (THCA)

Applies to public employees, including school personnel
Outlines procedures for protecting employees from chemical hazards to include
- Hazard evaluation and chemical inventory
- Warning labels on containers
- Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs)
- Annual employee training

Examples of chemical products used in schools

Lubricants, such as WD-40
Fuels, such as gasoline
Cleaners
Office supplies

Custodian pointing at warning label

Read warning labels carefully!

Hazardous Materials Classifications

http://www.dehs.umn.edu/graphics/hwd/nfpa.gif

Employers must document chemicals in the workplace by

Compiling a list of chemicals and keeping the list in a central location
Evaluating chemical hazards
Maintaining a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for each chemical used
Logging new chemicals as they are introduced into the workplace

Chemicals are considered hazardous when they present a:

Physical hazard
- Combustible liquids
- Explosive or flammable liquids
- Compressed gas and oxidizers
Health hazard
- Create acute or chronic health effects

Hazardous chemicals can enter the body by

Inhalation
Absorption
Ingestion
Injection

A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is

required for each hazardous chemical product
provided by chemical manufacturers and importers
contains all the critical information you need about how to use, transport, and store chemicals in order to protect yourself, as well as what to do in case of emergencies and overexposure

Information on an MSDS includes:

Chemical's name(s)
Manufacturer information
List of the chemical's ingredients
Permissible Exposure Limits (PEL) or Threshold Limit Value (TLV)
What conditions or other substances will cause the chemical to catch fire, explode, melt, or turn into dangerous gases
How it usually looks and smells
How to put out a fire involving the chemical
What to do if it spills or leaks
How to prevent dangerous exposure
Health hazards such as skin irritant or cancer-causing
Symptoms of overexposure and what to do if you are overexposed
When the MSDS was prepared

Check-up Questions:

(Choose one) IPM is an acronym for:
a. Integrated Pest Management
b. Internal Pest Maintenance
c. Integrated Pest Monitoring
(Choose one) An Asbestos Management Plan should include:
a. School name & address
b. Date of inspection
c. Planned dates for re-inspections
d. All of the above
(True/False) OSHA's HazCom Right to Know law states that employers are required to protect the health and safety of employees.
(True/False) The Texas Hazard Communication Act (THCA) requires employers to prevent the use of WD-40 in schools.
(True/False) An MSDS should be made available, upon request, to any employee for any and all chemicals on the campus.

Have questions about Hazard Communication?
Your CFISD contact person is:
Martin Anding (martin.anding@cfisd.net)