Niagara Falls City School District

Right To Know

Prepared by Kevin CzajaOrleans Niagara BOCESkczaja@onboces.org

Hazard Communication Standard

OSHA created the Hazard Communication Standard to help ensure your safety when working with hazardous chemicals.

Hazard Communication involves the communication of hazards about chemicals to employees, also know as the “Right To Know”.

Hazard Communication Program

Each school building has a written HazCom Program. This program is located in the Main Office of each building.Employers will:• Provide training on

hazardous materials• Discuss labels • Provide MSDS

Use Chemicals Safely

• Know the chemicals you are working with• Know the hazards and how to

protect yourself• Store them properly• Use correct personal protective

equipment - PPE

Physical Hazards In

• Explosive• Compressed

Gases• Flammable• Combustible

Liquid

Chemicals May Be:

• Unstable• Oxidizer• Organic

Peroxide• Water-

reactive

Health Hazards

Chemicals can:• Cause cancer• Be Poisonous / Toxic• Damage skin, internal organs, or nervous system• Be corrosive – acids, alkalines• Cause allergic reactions after

repeated exposure

Chemicals MayEnter The Body

Through

• Inhalation• Absorption• Ingestion

Chemicals Affect the Body

• Chemicals that enter the body can affect your lungs, kidneys, and/or liver

• The effects can be acute or chronic

Read The Label

• Avoid mixing of chemicals unless directed

• Chemicals may react dangerously when mixed with other chemicals

Labels

• All containers must be labeled

• You should never have any unlabeled containers in your workplace!

Secondary Containers

• Must be appropriate for the chemical

• Be thoroughly rinsed as residue may cause a chemical reaction

• Never use food or beverage containers

Labeling of Secondary Containers

• Remove old label• New Label:

–Product name–Manufacturer's name–Hazards–PPE

Material SafetyData Sheet

• The MSDS is the primary source of information about hazardous chemicals used in your worksite

• Your employer must have an MSDS for every hazardous substance you use as part of your job

• The MSDS must be readily available in your workplace

Purpose of MSDS

• Communicate the hazards of the product to employees

• Potential health effects• Physical and chemical

characteristics • Protective measures

MSDS• Company

Information• Hazardous

Ingredients• Revision Date• Fire and

Explosion Data• Health Hazard

Data

• Reactivity Data

• Spill & Leak Procedures

• Special Protection Information

• Special Precautions

MSDS Chemical Inventory List

• Chemical inventories are updated annually

• MSDS and chemical inventory lists are kept in area where chemicals are found. Master copies are kept in the office of Supervisor / Assistant Supervisor of Operations and Maintenance

Chemical Storage

• Keep chemicals in a secured location

• Separate based on compatibility• Store flammable/acidic material

in approved flammable/acid storage cabinets

Chemical Exposure

Treat immediately• Eyes: Flush with water for 15

minutes• Skin: Wash with soap and

water• Inhalation: Move to fresh air• Swallowing: Get emergency medical assistance

The Bloodborne Pathogen Standard

• Required by OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1030

• Schools are required to develop and implement an Exposure Control Plan to:– protect employees who are at risk

for acquiring bloodborne diseases

– protect those employees whose activities may involve contact with infectious body fluids

What is a Bloodborne Pathogen?

Microorganisms that are carried in the blood that can cause disease in humans

Common Bloodborne Pathogen Diseases

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis C

HIV

Human Immunodeficiency Virus

(HIV)• HIV is the virus that leads to

AIDS

• HIV depletes the immune system

• HIV does not survive well outside

the body

• No threat on contracting HIV through casual contact

HIV is Spread Through

• Blood to blood exposure

• Transfusion of infected blood

• Sharing of needles

• Unprotected sexual intercourse

• Born of infected mother

Hepatitis C (HCV)

• Hepatitis C is the most common chronic bloodborne infection in the United States

• Symptoms include: jaundice, fatigue, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, intermittent nausea, vomiting

• May lead to chronic liver disease and death

Hepatitis B (HBV)

• Over 1 million people are infected

• Symptoms include: jaundice, fatigue, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, intermittent nausea, vomiting

• Vaccination available

• May lead to chronic liver disease, liver cancer, and death

• HBV can survive for at least one week in dried blood

• Symptoms can occur

1 - 9 months after exposure

Hepatitis B Vaccination

• Your school will offer the Hepatitis B Vaccination to the “At Risk Personnel” listed in the Exposure Control Plan

• Consent/Refusal Form for vaccination must be completed by “At Risk Personnel”

• Vaccine is provided at no cost to employees

Potentially Infectious Bodily Fluids

• Skin tissue, cell cultures

• Any other bodily fluid

• Blood• Saliva• Vomit• Urine• Semen or

vaginal secretions

Transmission Potential

• Contact with another person’s blood or bodily fluid that may contain blood

• Mucous membranes: eyes, mouth, nose

• Non-intact skin

• Contaminated sharps/needles

Your Exposure Potential

• Administering first aid

• Post-accident cleanup

• Janitorial or maintenance work

• Handling of any waste products

Universal Precautions

• Use of proper PPE

• Treat all blood and bodily fluids as if they are contaminated

• Proper cleanup and decontamination

• Disposal of all contaminated material in the proper manner

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Anything that is used to protect a person from exposure

• Latex or Nitrile gloves, goggles, CPR mouth barriers, aprons, respirators

PPE Rules to Remember• Always check PPE for defects or

tears before using

• If PPE becomes torn or defective remove and get new

• Remove PPE before leaving a contaminated area

• Do not reuse disposable equipment

Regulated Medical WasteMust Be

Place in BioHazard Containers

• Liquid or semi-liquid blood or Other Potentially Infectious Material (OPIM)

• Contaminated items that could release blood

• Contaminated sharps in sharps container

Decontamination

• Do an initial wipe up

• Use disinfectant as per manufacturer’s directions

• Dispose of all blood / body fluid waste / towels in biohazard red containers

• PPE should also be removed and disposed of in biohazard red containers

Hand Washing

• Wash hands immediately after removing PPE

• Use an antibacterial soap

• A hand sanitizer can be used but wash with soap and water as soon as possible

Exposure Incident Response

• Contact with skin: wash exposed areas with antibacterial soap and running water

• Contact with eyes or mucous membranes: flush affected area with running water for at least 15 minutes

• Contact with clothing: remove contaminated clothing, wash underlying skin

Exposure Incident Response

• Report all accidents involving blood or bodily fluids immediately to your supervisor and/or nurse

• A Post-Exposure medical evaluation will be offered to any employee involved in an exposure incident

Post-Exposure Evaluation

• A Consent/Declination Form for Post-Exposure Incident Medical Evaluation must be completed after all exposure incidents

• If Consent Form is signed, the employer will make arrangements for that employee to seek medical evaluation

Recordkeeping

Medical records include:• Hepatitis B vaccination status• Post-exposure evaluation and

follow-up resultsTraining records include:• Training dates• Contents of the training• Signature of trainer and trainee

Location of the Exposure Control Plan

• Nurse’s office of each building

• District’s Nurse Practitioner’s Office

• Office of Supervisor / Assistant Supervisor of Operations and Maintenance

Questions

• Building Nurse• Nurse Practitioner or• Kevin Czaja - Safety Risk Specialist

reachable through the office of Supervisor / Assistant Supervisor of Operations and Maintenance

Please feel free to ask any questions about the material covered by contacting your:

Prepared by Kevin CzajaOrleans Niagara BOCESkczaja@onboces.org