PSFC Chemical Hygiene Plan (cont.)

12. Signs and Labels, Material Safety Data Sheets

    1. Signs Emergency Notification Sign

       The Institute Committee on Safety requires that each laboratory/shop post a current Emergency Notification Sign on or near its entrance(s).

       The MIT Emergency Response Group and the Cambridge Fire Department need current information. Late night fires and other emergencies may be dealt with more effectively and safely if the occupants can be contacted quickly and appropriate hazard warning signs have been posted.

       List the following information on this sign:

       • Building-Room number(s).
       • Department
       • Supervisor's name
       • The names of the persons (including supervisors) who should be contacted in an emergency and whose home telephone numbers are in either of the MIT directories.

         Listing of home telephone numbers is optional.

         MIT office telephone extensions and room numbers are helpful.

       • Date posted or revised (at least annually).

       Ready-to-mount signs are available from the MIT EH&S Team, see Figure L-1.

       Radioactive or biohazardous substances used in laboratories also require special signs (call RPP, 3-2180 or BAP, 3-1740). Hood certification labels are discussed in section III. J. and Appendix E.

       Smoking is prohibited in all MIT Buildings (except where designated). No Smoking signs should be posted in areas where flammable liquids or gases are used or stored if deemed necessary by the supervisor.

       Eye protection is required whenever using or transferring chemicals. Safety glasses for visitors are also provided. Signs indicating the location of fire blankets, safety showers, fire extinguisher, and other safety devices are also required.

    2. Chemical Container Labeling

       All containers must be labeled as to their contents. Manufacturer labels on chemical containers shall not be removed or defaced. Chemicals received from outside vendors or from Lab Supply stockrooms will have labels indicating the chemical identity and common name, if applicable, with other physical and chemical data. Toxicity warning signs or symbols should be prominently visible on the labels.

       Frequently, small quantities of chemicals are dispensed from the original shipping container to a smaller container. If such chemicals are dispensed into a secondary container for the sole, immediate use of the person dispensing the chemical, and will be consumed over the period of a single work shift, the container does not have to be labeled. However, ANY CONTAINER WHICH MAY BE USED BY MORE THAN ONE PERSON, OR WHICH WILL CONTAIN THE CHEMICAL FOR MORE THAN ONE WORK SHIFT, REGARDLESS OF WHO USES THE CONTAINER, MUST BE LABELED. Label information must include the chemical name, primary hazard(s), person responsible, and date.

       Pre-printed, commercially available labels shall be used for secondary ethyl alcohol, 1,1,1,-trichloroethane, and acetone containers, including 500 ml squeeze bottles and stainless steel pans used for parts cleaning. Supervisors may contact the Chemical Hygiene Officer (CHO) for information on ordering these labels.

       Pre-printed labels shall also be used for other solvent chemicals including Freon TF. The label has blank spaces where specific chemical information is to be filled in. Supervisors may contact the CHO for information on ordering these labels and if help is needed filling them out.

       Infrequently, chemical mixtures or special chemicals may be prepared in the laboratory. Containers of these chemicals must be marked with the chemical name(s), primary hazard(s), person responsible for the preparation, and dated. Labeling must be provided for chemicals synthesized in the laboratory or prepared by other processes such as distillation or extraction. Labels for this purpose are available from the VWR, 56-070 and 18-105, x3-1881.

    3. Hazardous Waste Container Labeling

       The supervisor shall ensure that all containers of chemical waste are labeled with the full chemical name, dated, equipped with a red hazardous waste disposal tag (available from the MIT Environmental Management Program, 2-3477), and removed from the satellite waste area in the laboratory within 3 days. Further instruction for the identification and handling of hazardous waste are given in section III.N.

    4. Material Safety Data Sheets

       Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS's) are provided for each chemical by its supplier. A reasonably complete file of MSDS for chemicals, substances, or materials used at MIT is kept by the MIT EH&S Team.. These are accessible to any laboratory employee, student, staff or visiting professional by calling x3-4736. An additional file of chemicals used at the PSFC is maintained by Matt Fulton, Safety Coordinator (x3-8917)

       Section 8-11 of the Institute Safety Manual is adapted to provide guidance on using the information presented on the MSDS's.

       Figure L-1

       Emergency Notification Sign

       ROOM(S)________________________________________________ DEPT.__________________________SUPERVISOR______________ NOTICE IN AN EMERGENCY INVOLVING THIS ROOM HAVE THE PHYSICAL PLANT OPERATIONS CENTER, x3-4948 CONTACT THE PERSONS LISTED BELOW (Home phone numbers must be in the MIT directories if not listed below.)
       NAME	MIT OFFICE ROOM NO. EXTENSION	HOME PHONE NO. PAGER NO. OPTIONAL
       DATE POSTED OR UPDATED COMM. ON SAFETY EXT. 3-4736

       Accident Prevention Guide SECTION 8-11

       MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEETS (MSDS)

       Material Safety Data Sheets, (MSDS) are bulletins prepared by manufacturers to summarize the health and safety information about their products. An MSDS should be reviewed before beginning work with a chemical in order to determine proper use and safety precautions. Once a chemical is present in the lab, the MSDS should be available in the lab: either bookmarked on a computer in the lab or as a hardcopy. Personnel must have ready access for reference in the case of emergencies.

       Material Safety Data Sheets come in many formats and present the information in different ways. Regardless of the format, the information that is required by OSHA includes:

       Product Identity	Reactivity Hazards
       Hazardous Ingredients	Spill Clean-Up
       Physical/Chemical Properties	Protective Equipment
       Fire and Explosion Hazards	Special Precautions
       Health Hazard

       A User's Guide to Material Safety Data Sheets follows, and is also available from the MIT EH&S Team. Consult with the MIT EH&S Team and the Industrial Hygiene Program to apply this general information to your work situation.

       USER'S GUIDE TO MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEETS

       (adapted from the MIT Accident Prevention Guide, Section 8-11)

       Material Safety Data Sheets (abbreviated MSDS) are prepared by manufacturers to summarize the health and safety information about their products.

       TO OBTAIN MSDS's:

       • Ask your supervisor or obtain a copy from Matt Fulton (x3-8917), who maintains the PSFC's MSDS file.
       • Or, call the MIT EH&S Team (2-3477). They maintain MIT's central MSDS file.
       • Or, call the chemical manufacturer
       • For assistance with interpreting and applying this information to your experiment or work situation, consult with the Chemical Hygiene Officer, (Catherine Fiore or designated representative), Industrial Hygiene Program (3-2596) and/or the MIT EH&S Team(2-3477).
       • The internet is a good source of MSDS's. See the EH&S Team home page for links to the most helpful sites.
       • Lab chemical safety summaries have been written for a limited number of relatively common hazardous laboratory chemicals. These are particularly useful because they address laboratory use of chemicals. They are available from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute web site.

       IDENTITY

       • Trade name used on the label and inventory list
       • Manufacturer's name, address, and emergency telephone number
       • Preparation and revision dates

       HAZARDOUS INGREDIENTS

       • CHEMICAL and COMMON NAMES of all the hazardous components
       • MAXIMUM OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE LIMITS

         An occupational exposure limit may be a time-weighted average (TWA) exposure limit, or the average concentration not to be exceeded during an 8-hour work shift; a short term exposure limit (STEL), or average concentration not to be exceeded during a 15-minute period; or a ceiling (C) exposure limit, or concentration not to be exceeded at any time during the work shift.

         The MSDS must include the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Values (TLV's), as well as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limits (PEL's). The ACGIH is a professional organization which publishes the TLV's based on what is believed to be the best available information. These are recommended exposure limits. OSHA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Labor and the PEL's are legally enforceable exposure limits. The ACGIH TLV's and the OSHA PEL's are frequently, but not always the same.

         These are not proven safe levels of exposure, but levels to which it is believed nearly all workers may be exposed without harmful effects. Exposure limits have not been established for all workplace chemicals, so if an exposure limit is not listed, don't assume that a chemical is safe. Contact the Chemical Hygiene Officer or the Industrial Hygiene Program.

       • Percentage of the hazardous chemical ingredient in a mixture is optional. The percentage does not usually add up to 100% since only the hazardous ingredients have to be listed.

       PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS

       • VAPOR PRESSURE--a measure of a liquid's tendency to evaporate
       • VAPOR DENSITY--is a vapor or gas lighter or heavier than air
       • APPEARANCE and ODOR--the ability to detect chemical odors varies widely, therefore, depending upon your senses to detect or identify hazardous materials is NOT safe.

       The Industrial Hygiene Program and MIT EH&S Team consider these properties as well as how you work with a hazardous material to evaluate the risks, which vary greatly depending on how a material is used.

       FIRE AND EXPLOSION HAZARD DATA

       • FLASH POINT--the lowest temperature at which a liquid gives off enough vapors, which when mixed with air, can be easily ignited by a spark. The lower the flash point, the greater the risk of fire or explosion. Remember it's the vapors that burn, not the liquid.

       REACTIVITY DATA

       • Reactivity, in this context, is the tendency for a material to chemically change or breakdown and to become more dangerous. Precautions include:
       • CONDITIONS TO AVOID--such as light or heat
       • MATERIALS TO AVOID--for example: sodium and water will react vigorously to generate hydrogen, creating a fire hazard

       HEALTH HAZARD DATA

       • If you need health hazard information that is not on an MSDS, contact the Chemical Hygiene Officer, Industrial Hygiene Program (3-2596) or the MIT EH&S Occupational Health Screening program (3-5360).
       • ROUTES OF ENTRY--How a hazardous material can enter your body: Inhalation, Skin Absorption, and Ingestion
       • SHORT-TERM HEALTH EFFECTS (ACUTE)--symptoms may be felt immediately after the first brief contact, like: burns, watery eyes, sore throat
       • LONG-TERM HEALTH EFFECTS (CHRONIC)--symptoms may be felt after repeated contact with the same hazardous material over a long period of time

         - References that list a chemical as a carcinogen or potential carcinogen

         - Signs and Symptoms of Exposure

         - Medical Conditions Generally Aggravated by Exposure

         - Emergency and First-aid Procedures

       **If you are concerned about a chemical exposure you may have had, report to the MIT Medical Department and bring the MSDS with you, if possible.

       PRECAUTIONS FOR SAFE HANDLING AND USE

       • SPILL AND LEAK PROCEDURES--Spill and waste handling procedures are described in the SOP's. The MIT EH&S Team (2-3477) can also advise you on specific procedures and provide protective equipment. According to PSFC policy, the individual who creates a spill is responsible for the clean-up, and the supervisor is responsible for ensuring that the clean-up is completed by that individual.
       • Waste Disposal--At MIT, call 2-3477 for a hazardous waste pick-up or fill out an online request form

       CONTROL MEASURES

       • The Industrial Hygiene Program can answer specific questions regarding ventilation and personal protective equipment for normal working conditions and emergencies. Suitable control measures are based on how a material is used.

    M. Monitoring and Employee Assessment

    1. MIT EH&S (IHP) will perform exposure monitoring as required by paragraph (d) of 29CFR 1910.1450. Other qualified consulting service providers may be employed but results must be sent to EMS.
    2. Employee exposure monitoring requirements under 29 CFR 1910.1450 are as follows:
       1. This regulation requires that an initial determination of employee exposure to air contaminants be made whenever:

          1). There is reason to believe that exposure levels for a substance routinely exceed the OSHA permissible exposure limit for that substance. OSHA has a list of permissible exposure limits (PEL's) for a variety of air contaminants under 29 CFR 1910.1000.

          2). There is reason to believe that exposure levels for a substance routinely exceed the OSHA action level for that substance. Action levels, triggering certain regulatory requirements, have been established for a number of very toxic substances which are regulated under substance specific standards. Substance specific standards may include exposure monitoring, medical surveillance, personal protective equipment, and work practice requirements.

       2. OSHA regulations require that periodic monitoring of employee exposure to air contaminants be performed whenever initial exposure determination indicates exposure levels in excess of applicable permissible exposure limits or action levels. If an action level is exceeded, monitoring shall be scheduled in accordance with the requirements of the substance specific standard.
       3. If an action level is exceeded and remedial actions have been taken, exposure monitoring may be terminated if acceptable results are achieved in accordance with the monitoring schedule as specified in the substance specific standard.
       4. Within 15 working days of receiving exposure monitoring results, the CHO shall ensure that affected employees are informed of the monitoring results. The CHO shall ensure that the supervisor receives a copy of the results and that the supervisor shall post the results in the work area. Alternately, the supervisor may choose to provide a written copy of the results to the affected employee(s).
    3. It is the MIT policy that anyone who considers themselves to be at risk of exposure to hazardous levels of air contaminants may initiate an initial exposure determination.
       1. Requests for monitoring can be made to the MIT EH&S Team, The Chemical Hygiene Officer (CHO), or the supervisor.
       2. The CHO must be notified of the monitoring requests.
       3. Exposure monitoring may be requested at any time.
    4. It will be the responsibility of the Chemical Hygiene Officer to insure that periodic monitoring requirements are satisfied when necessary.
    5. MIT EH&S will maintain employee exposure monitoring records and records of medical consultations.
       1. The employer (MIT) shall establish and maintain for each employee an accurate record of any measurements taken to monitor employee exposures and any medical consultation and examinations including tests or written opinions required under 29 CFR 1910.1450. Medical records are kept within theMedical Department and exposure monitoring records are kept by IHP.
       2. The employer (MIT) shall assure that such records are kept, transferred, and made available in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.20.
    6. Records from monitoring done by other qualified services will be maintained by MIT EH&S.