In 1983, the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA) created the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) to
provide protection to workers who deal with hazardous substances on the job.
The HCS is based on the idea that employees have both a need and a Right to
Know about the harmful substances used in the workplace. They also need to know
the possible effects of these materials on their health and safety.
This standard applies to all businesses
that produce and handle hazardous materials. Companies can supply the hazmat
information in three ways: Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), training, or
container labeling.
The OSHA requires that all containers
storing hazardous chemicals be labeled, marked or tagged with the product name,
the appropriate physical and health warning of the chemical, and the
manufacturer name and address. The HCS standard also calls for all labels are
legible and in English. These Right To Know (RTK) labels may also contain more
details like proper handling and the safety measures to take in case of a
spill. It can also contain information on the use, storing and disposing of
these harmful materials.
There are many types of Right To Know
labels that informs personnel of chemical hazards in their workplace. They
include:
● National Fire Protection Association
(NFPA) Diamond. Each label
contains information on the type and level of hazard of a chemical. This
diamond-shaped label features a color-coded system with four sections. Numbers
are used to signal the degree of emergency and are located in the upper three
colored sections: blue for health hazard, red for fire hazard, and yellow for
reactivity hazard.
The bottom section contains information
on water reactivity, biohazards, radioactivity, and other special hazards. Each
emergency hazard is measured on a numerical scale of 0 to 4, with 0 being a no
hazard, to 4, which an extreme hazard.
The NFPA diamond is best used for
alerting workers to the chemical’s degree of hazard. It also aids in
identifying storage needs and emergency equipment. It is used mainly by
emergency response personnel and for emergency planning. This label is not an
ideal indicator of occupational hazards or preventive information.
● Hazardous Materials Labeling System
(HMLS). This type of
label has the same function as that of the NFPA diamond. It also uses colors to
indicate the type and level of hazard of a particular chemical. But instead of
a diamond shape, they are laid out in a vertical row.
This label is used on individual
containers of hazardous material, such as bottles, barrels, buckets, cans and
tubs, to ensure all types of storage in the workplace are labeled.
● Department of Transportation (DOT) Hazard
Labeling System. This label also
utilizes a color-coded diamond shape design, but it contains a symbol and
wording that describes the major hazard of the material. These dangers include
gases, explosives, flammable liquids, oxidizers, poisons, corrosives and
radioactive materials. Most of these chemicals are rated by the DOT, and are
used for transportation of hazardous materials.
● ANSI Z129.1 Label.
This type of label was developed by the Chemical Manufacturers
Association (CMA) and the American Conference on Chemical Labeling. It was later
included as a standard by the America National Standards Institute (ANSI).
This warning label contains the identity
of the chemical, a signal word such as DANGER or WARNING, the main hazard of
the substance, and statements of precautions to avoid the hazard.
● Uniform Laboratory Hazard Signage (ULHS)
System. This type of
label identifies the location where hazardous substances are stored or used
using pictograph symbols.
About the Author : Maria MarnelliG. Medina is a writer who loves to read, draw and paint about anything under the sun. These days she is writing about anything related to Signs and Safety. You can find more of her stuff here.
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