Main Navigation

Home » Programs

Hazardous Chemical Protection Communication

Contents

Purpose

In order to comply with the Georgia Public Employees Hazardous Chemical Protection and Right To Know Act of 1988 as amended, and Georgia Department of Labor Chapter 300-3-19 Public Employee Hazardous Chemical Protection and Right To Know Rules, this written Hazardous Chemical Protection Communication Plan is established for The University System of Georgia.

[ Contents ]

Definitions

  1. "Member unit" means any of the thirty-four colleges and universities governed by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia.
  2. "Right To Know Coordinator" (706) means an individual who is assigned the responsibilities associated with that title in the written member unit Hazardous Chemical Protection Communication (Right To Know) Plan, and who is assigned the responsibilities of hazardous chemical protection communication coordinator in the Chapter 300-3-19 Rules.
  3. "University System Right To Know Coordinator" means the individual who is assigned the responsibilities associated with that title as described below.
  4. "Work area" means a room inside a building or structure, an outside area, or other defined space in a workplace where hazardous chemicals are produced, stored, or used and where employees are present in the course of their employment.
  5. "Workplace" means an establishment or business of an employer at one geographic location at which work is performed by a state employee and which contains one or more work areas. In the case of an independent contractor or subcontractor, the workplace shall be defined as all work areas wholly owned or controlled by such independent contractor or subcontractor.

[ Contents ]

Policy

All member units of The University System of Georgia are included within this plan. Each member unit shall have an individual designated as the Right To Know Coordinator for that unit. Member units with multiple workplaces may have several Assistant Coordinators if desired, but only one person shall be the Right To Know Coordinator. This plan shall serve as a guide for each member unit's Right To Know plan. Coordination of the Right To Know plans of the member units of the University System of Georgia with this plan is the responsibility of the University System Right To Know Coordinator.

[ Contents ]

University System Right To Know Coordinator Responsibilities

The University System Right To Know Coordinator shall:

  1. act as liaison between The University System and the Safety Engineering Section of the Georgia Department of Labor on hazardous chemicals issues;
  2. resolve questions regarding applicability of the Chapter 300-3- 19 rules to individual workplaces and work areas of the University System;
  3. make arrangements for and/or provide training to all member unit Right To Know Coordinators, informing each member unit Right To Know Coordinator of the requirement that a written workplace-specific hazard communication program must be developed for each workplace in the member unit. This workplace-specific program will include a list of hazardous chemicals used, stored, or manufactured in that particular workplace, and will be available to all employees in the workplace;
  4. disseminate updated information so that all member unit Right To Know Coordinators of The University System will have access to Material Safety Data Sheets for hazardous chemicals used in their workplace;
  5. inform each member unit Right To Know Coordinator of the requirement that employees be made aware of and be trained in the uses and hazards associated with chemicals in their workplace;
  6. inform each member unit Right To Know Coordinator that employee training on and notification of the use of hazardous chemicals in the workplace are to be documented in each employee's personnel file;
  7. communicate the requirement that each member unit Right To Know Coordinator must determine that employees are provided with personal protective equipment appropriate to each work environment, and receive adequate training in the use and maintenance of this equipment;
  8. accumulate chemical inventory information University-System- wide and assemble The University System Hazardous Chemical List in January and July of each year;
  9. inform member unit Right To Know Coordinators of the need to annually review the hazardous chemical labeling practices of work areas which use secondary storage containers.

[ Contents ]

Procurement of Hazardous Chemicals

Any person procuring a hazardous chemical MUST forward copy of the purchase order to the member unit Right To Know Coordinator, or otherwise communicate in writing that the procurement did occur. The member unit Right To Know Coordinator may establish some other method of obtaining that information.

It is the responsibility of the person approving its purchase to determine whether a chemical or product used is a hazardous chemical under the law.

[ Contents ]

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS's)

A central file of MSDS's maintained at the office of the University System Right To Know Coordinator is available to member unit Right To Know Coordinators by computer modem twenty-four hours each day. Right To Know Coordinators are encouraged to train key staff members in accessing this file and set up a program to permit urgently needed access to the file in the absence of the Right To Know Coordinator.

The University System Right To Know Coordinator shall review incoming MSDS's for new and significant health and safety information, and will see that such new information is passed on to the member unit Right To Know Coordinator not later than 30 days after receipt.

Department heads and supervisors throughout the University System, in keeping with their obligation to ensure a safe work environment, are responsible for maintaining ready accessibility of MSDS's for employees in their work areas for review during each work shift.

[ Contents ]

Container Labeling

The person ordering a chemical or product containing a hazardous chemical should verify that all containers received for use will:

be clearly labeled as to the contents; display the appropriate hazard warnings; list the name and address of the manufacturer.

Secondary Containers The work shift supervisor in each section should ensure that all secondary containers are labeled with either an extra copy of the original manufacturer's label or with a label containing:

the identity of the contents,
AND
either an NFPA or HMIS hazard warning label, properly filled out.

If the secondary container is intended only for short-term storage (one week or less), it shall be labeled as a minimum with the name of the contents and date of filling. Vials and test tubes may have hazard labels affixed to the rack or container in which they are held, rather than on each vial or test tube, so long as every vial or test tube in the rack or container presents the same hazard.

Unlabeled Containers If an employee finds a container in the workplace, and it is unlabeled or carries a defaced label and is thought to contain a hazardous chemical, the employee should immediately notify a supervisor. If the supervisor is unable to identify the container, the supervisor should call the member unit Right To Know Coordinator for assistance.

[ Contents ]

Employee Training

Current Employees: Currently-employed persons must have received required Right To Know training no later than 30 June 1992.

New Employees: Prior to starting work, each new employee of The University System will attend a Right To Know training session which will present BASIC TRAINING. That BASIC TRAINING may normally be scheduled during New Employee Orientation, and may include a showing of the video program "Your Right To Know" (produced by Environmental Safety Services, University of Georgia), approved by the Department of Labor for such training. The videotape program provides an overview of the hazardous chemical protection laws, regulations, and policies in place in The University System, and a summary of employee rights in hazardous chemical protection.

Employees Handling Hazardous Chemicals: The immediate supervisor of any employee who will routinely be exposed to any hazardous chemical must ensure that before beginning work, each such employee receives additional CHEMICAL-SPECIFIC TRAINING on:

  • any such chemicals present in workplace operations;
  • physical and health effects of the chemicals;
  • methods and observation techniques used to determine the presence or release of the chemicals in the work area;
  • how to lessen or prevent exposure to these chemicals by proper work practices and use of personal protective equipment;
  • emergency procedures to be followed in the event of exposure;
  • procedures for safe disposal of waste chemicals.

Documentation of Training After participating in either BASIC TRAINING or CHEMICAL-SPECIFIC TRAINING, a written record of the training given must be made. Such records must be maintained for three years.

Training for Increased Hazard Prior to the introduction of any new chemical hazard or significant increase of an existing hazard in a work area, the immediate supervisor of affected employees must ensure that additional necessary CHEMICAL-SPECIFIC TRAINING is provided and recorded.

[ Contents ]

Supervisory Responsibilities

Supervisors are responsible for advising their employees of any operations occurring in their workplaces where hazardous materials are present.

Persons in charge of the various subunits of colleges and universities, or other persons designated in campus Right To Know plans, are responsible for ensuring that all hazardous chemicals remaining on University System property as a result of the departure of a faculty or staff member, or the vacating or reassignment of an assigned space, shall be managed in accordance with appropriate procedures.

[ Contents ]

Informing Contractors

Any contract with a member unit which may involve hazardous chemical exposure should require the contractor to:

  1. notify the workplace manager at the member unit worksite at least 30 days prior to the commencement of work of any hazardous chemicals which will be used or stored at the worksite by the contractor or its sub-contractors. (This 30- day requirement may be waived in the event of an emergency.) The workplace manager will then:
    1. disseminate this information to member unit employees whose workplace is at the worksite;
    2. obtain from the contractor MSDS's for those hazardous chemicals and maintain them readily available to University employees during the contractor's presence at the worksite;
  2. provide documentation to the workplace manager that its employees and its sub-contractors have been provided with information and training on hazardous chemicals being used by the contractor or its sub-contractors at the worksite.

[ Contents ]

Hazardous Chemical Lists

Each member unit Right To Know Coordinator shall supply to the University System Right To Know Coordinator in June and December of each year, a list, by name, of all hazardous chemicals or products present in the member unit's workplaces. This list shall include all chemicals labeled as flammable, explosive, combustible liquid, corrosive, reactive, oxidizer, toxic, water reactive, pyrophoric, or an organic peroxide.

APPENDIX 1 - HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS LIST

The University System Right-To-Know Coordinator shall assemble every January and July a list of those hazardous chemicals and products containing hazardous chemicals which are found at member units of The University System. Publication of this list is required as a part of this written Hazardous Chemical Protection Communication Program.

EHS Topics

Topics A - Z

EHS Library