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Health & Safety
Hazard Communication Program
Training Objectives for Orientation to the
Hazard Communication Program
Employees who do not work with hazardous chemicals must read the
following
orientation to the Hazard Communication Program that follows. At the end of this
orientation are instructions about required documentation of this
orientation. Employees who do work with hazardous chemicals will have the orientation presented to them along with
their training in hazardous chemical safety.
The training objectives for the orientation to the Hazard
Communication Program are:
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Employees will know that Federal and State regulations and State Laws
require Harford Community College to establish, implement and maintain a written Hazard
Communication Program;
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Employees will understand that the purpose of the Hazard Communication
Program is to establish safe workplace habits regarding chemical use and storage, and accomplishes
this by allowing employees to access and understand information about the chemicals in the work place
and by providing training;
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Employees will understand that participation in the training or
orientation is mandatory and shall be documented and that the level of training received is job-
specific;
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Employees will know where to access the written Hazard Communication
Program, the campus and building Chemical Information Lists, and the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS);
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Employees will understand that an exchange of information shall occur
between outside contractors and Harford Community College if either party will be exposed to chemical
hazards as a result of the contracted work;
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Employees will understand that they are required and able as a result of
proper training to follow the procedures established by the Hazard Communication Program,
which includes informing the safety officer if they bring a hazardous chemical onto campus;
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Employees will know how to be alert to the presence of a chemical spill
and understand procedures that are in place to handle the emergency.
Introduction to the Hazard Communication Program
This orientation will serve as training in the Hazard Communication
Program to all full- and part-time employees of Harford Community College. Training will be documented by
completing the form entitled “Verification of Orientation to the Hazard Communication Program Form,”
found at the end of this orientation.
This document will serve as a self-guided orientation for all employees
who do not work in areas where hazardous chemicals are used or stored. The employee is encouraged to
consult the supervisor or safety officer to have any portion of this program explained in more detail or if
there are any questions.
The information in this document will be presented in a classroom setting
with handouts for all employees who do work with hazardous chemicals; it shall be supplemented with more
specific training concerning handling the chemicals in the work area safely.
College Practices in Hazard Communication
It is the intent of Harford Community College to maintain a safe and
healthy environment for students, visitors, employees and the surrounding community. All full- and part-time
faculty, staff, student employees and contractor employees who may come in contact with hazardous
chemicals in the workplace receive information concerning the particular dangers that the chemicals
pose. Those employees who work with hazardous chemicals will be trained in methods by which they may deal
with these chemicals in a safe manner. To meet these goals, and in accordance with the applicable Federal
and State of Maryland regulations and State laws, Harford Community College has established a
Hazard Communication Program.
Employee Rights Under the Hazard Communication Standard
The Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200), the Maryland Access
to Information about Hazardous and Toxic Substances Law, and COMAR 09.12.33,
grant the employees of Harford Community College certain rights.
These rights include:
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the right to have the physical and health hazards of the workplace
evaluated by the employer;
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the right to be informed of the hazardous chemicals to which the
employee could be exposed, either during the normal course of work or in the event of a foreseeable
emergency;
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the right to be informed of those hazards or hazardous chemicals when
the employee is initially assigned into the work area or whenever new physical or health hazards are
introduced;
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the right to be informed as to procedures that are available to protect
the employee from these hazards, to include personal protective equipment such as eye protection,
appropriate work practices such as housekeeping, and engineering controls such as laboratory hoods;
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the right to have a written hazard communication program.
Hazard Communication Program
The written Hazard Communication Program explains how Harford Community
College will address and meet the requirements mandated by Federal and State of Maryland regulations and
State laws regarding access to information about hazardous and toxic substances. It includes provisions
for compiling and submitting a list of hazardous chemicals, the availability to the employee of this
chemical list and the MSDS for chemicals in the workplace, container labeling, employee training
programs, and informing employees of hazards of non-routine tasks and of the hazards associated with unlabeled
pipes. The following questions and answers describe the practices established in the program.
Where can employees find out which hazardous chemicals are present at
Harford Community College?
A hazardous chemical inventory, called a Chemical Information List (CIL),
is a list of the hazardous chemicals present at Harford Community College. It lists the chemical by
its common name and chemical name, indicates the building or room where the chemical is stored or used,
and provides the dates the chemical was added to the list and removed from inventory. There is a
campus master list of all the hazardous chemicals here at the College; it is contained within the
written Hazard Communication Program and filed with the safety officer. Harford Community College is required
to send an updated, alphabetized list to Maryland Department of the Environment every two
years and to maintain each CIL for forty years.
Each building also maintains a list of the chemicals used and stored in
that particular building; it is called the Building Chemical Information List and is filed in the building
representative’s office. Each time a new hazardous chemical is brought onto campus, its name and
location of use must be added to the campus master list within thirty days. The employee who orders and
receives the chemical, or who purchases it and brings it onto campus, is responsible for completing a
form called Additions/Deletions to CIL Form, which ensures the addition of the chemical name to the CIL. A
copy of this completed form is filed with the Building Chemical Information List for one calendar month
so that all employees have the opportunity to be apprised of new chemicals in their work area. There is a
designated employee in each building that uses or stores hazardous chemicals who is responsible for
updating the Building CIL. If an employee brings a chemical onto campus, to include commonly used items
such as bug spray or cleaners, an MSDS must be obtained for the product. Consult the safety officer who will
obtain the MSDS for the building and campus files.
How can employees understand the hazards of the chemicals to which they
are exposed?
Manufacturers and distributors of hazardous chemicals prepare Material
Safety Data Sheets (MSDS); the sheets provide the user with specific information about the chemical. The MSDS includes the specific hazards of the chemical, the proper way to work with the chemical, storage
requirements, spill and fire response, and other important information. Employees who work with
chemicals on campus are required to be familiar with the hazards of the chemicals they use so as to minimize
accidents and ensure a safe work environment for the entire campus community. In order to
accomplish this,
employees who work with hazardous chemicals will receive specific training in understanding the
hazards of the chemicals with which they work. They will be shown how to read and understand the
information provided in the MSDS so that they will be able to minimize the level and amount of chemical hazard
exposure they and the campus community experience.
Where can employees find the MSDSs?
Each employee has the right to access the MSDS before working with the
chemical and has the right to a written copy of the MSDS within five working days. The MSDSs are located
in each area that uses hazardous chemicals and also at the Safety Office. If an employee is not
shown an MSDS for a chemical in the workplace within 24 hours of request, the employee may refuse to work
with the chemical until the MSDS is provided.
Will all employees receive training in understanding and using the hazard
information?
Appropriate training to help understand and use the hazard information
found in the MSDS as well as methods and observations that may be used to detect the presence or release of hazardous chemicals will be given to all employees who work with hazardous chemicals. Employees
will receive training upon being hired, when a new hazard is introduced into the workplace, and when
assigned to a new area that has hazardous chemicals. The training will include understanding how chemicals
can be dangerous, how to safely work with and store the chemicals in their work area, how to read
and interpret the labels on the chemical containers, how to handle spills and minimize chemical exposure,
and how to comply with the requirements of the Hazard Communication Program. The training will be
documented. Additional training shall be provided by the supervisor or safety officer if a new hazard is
introduced to the workplace, if new methods or protocols are developed, if unsafe work practices are being
observed, or in the event of an incident.
How do we communicate information on chemical hazards with contractors?
Non-college employees who have a contract to work at Harford Community
College are required to exchange information with the College if they are working in an area that uses or
stores hazardous chemicals or if they will be bringing hazardous chemicals to the Harford Community College
work site. Contracted employees are permitted to view the Chemical Information List and the MSDS
for the chemicals in the work area, and shall be informed of the availability of viewing the Hazard
Communication Program. The hiring supervisor is required to inform the Purchasing Office if the exchange of
information will be needed for the particular circumstance. If the employee requisitioning the contract
is unsure if the information exchange is needed, the safety officer should be consulted.
The form entitled “Contracted Employee Workplace Training Verification Form” provides for the necessary exchange
of information.
What if employees are assigned a non-routine task that requires them to
work with a new hazardous chemical?
Employees who perform hazardous, non-routine tasks will be given
information about the hazardous chemicals to which they may be exposed during the non-routine task. The supervisor shall provide the training and information and shall document the additional training by
using the form entitled “Verification of Non-Routine Task Training Form.” The information shall
include:
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the protective/safety measures the employee can take, to include
personal protective equipment;
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the measures Harford Community College has taken to lessen the hazards,
to include appropriate ventilation, the use of a “buddy system,” and the availability of training
for special protective equipment;
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the emergency procedures that have been developed for the particular
task.
What special training will employees who work in areas that do not use or
store hazardous chemicals receive?
All employees shall be informed, through this document, of the existence
of Harford Community College’s Hazard Communication Program and their rights under the program. Employees
who will help implement the program shall receive job-specific training; Human Resources, Purchasing,
and supervisors are examples of employees who will assist in the program implementation and maintenance.
Additionally, all employees shall understand the procedures established involving chemical spills.
- Detecting a chemical spill
A sign of a chemical spill or release can be the presence of noxious or
unusual odors or by the presence of physical symptoms by an employee. Any unusual burning sensation in the
eyes or nose and mouth, or feelings of dizziness, headaches or disorientation could be signs of a
chemical release. Other signs may include be several employees in an area experiencing similar physical
symptoms or the sudden onset of physical symptoms. Additionally, an employee could visually encounter a
spill of a liquid or solid in an area where chemicals are used or stored.
- Handling a chemical spill
If an employee finds a spill, the employee must ensure that the area
remains traffic free so that other employees, students, or visitors are not injured. Maintain a safe distance
from a chemical spill while ensuring that the area is secure. Obtain help in securing the area and in
contacting the supervisor for that area. If the supervisor is unavailable, the safety officer and/or
Security should be contacted immediately at ext. 272. The safety officer will be required to report any
spills to the Harford County Emergency Response Team within 24 hours, or will contact the Team
immediately if help is required in containing the spill.
When in doubt as to the safety of employees and students due to a chemical
spill, activate the fire alarm to evacuate the building.
If a chemical spill is suspected but not located, contact the supervisor
for the area, the safety officer, or Security; move to a well-ventilated area. In the event of an
actual or suspected chemical exposure, seek medical attention if physical symptoms warrant it.
Employee Responsibilities Under the Hazard Communication Program
The employees of Harford Community College have the responsibility of
following all of the guidelines of the Hazard Communication Program, handling the hazardous chemicals safely
as outlined on the MSDS, using the appropriate personal protective equipment, and observing safe work
practices. Each employee will be required to receive and document training on the College’s Hazard
Communication Program.
Location of Forms and Access to the Written Hazard Communication Program
The
Verification of Orientation in the Hazard Communication Program form required by
HCC's Hazard Communication Program
is available on the G drive (click here) and from the
safety officer. The written Hazard Communication Program is also available on the G drive and is on file at the following locations:
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the Safety Office (Plant Services),
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Human Resource Office (Chesapeake), and
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each building representative’s office
You should print a copy of the verification
document, fill in the blanks, obtain appropriate signatures and make sure
the completed form is sent to the Health and Safety office in Plant
Services.
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