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SECTION 14: Hazard Communication (Chemical Use)
The OSHA Hazard Communication Standard was designed to alert workers
about hazardous chemicals by giving them access to information on the
physical and health hazards of chemicals, safe handling precautions,
and emergency and first aid procedures. At Princeton, chemicals are
used
and stored for maintenance,
cleaning, and laboratory use.
Each department using or storing chemicals has a written Hazard Communication
Program and must have material safety data sheets (MSDSs) available
for each chemical present in non-laboratory areas. The Department
Safety Manager (usually the department manager) should be able to provide
access to this information upon request.
Given the number of chemicals used, and changing work within chemical
laboratories, it would be impractical to provide contractors with MSDSs
for all chemicals potentially in use within a given laboratory. Laboratory,
department and EHS personnel may be of assistance in determining what
precautions
University employees and Contractors should take when working in active laboratories
Work in Chemical Use or Storage Areas (top)
If the project requires contractors to work in areas where chemicals
are used  or stored, the Project Manager shall inform the contractor
of the following:
a. Precautions and safety procedures which must be followed in
the Contractor’s work area.
b. The method the contractor should use to obtain MSDSs for hazardous
chemicals present in the work area
c. The physical and health hazards of the chemicals present in
the contractor’s work area.
d. Procedures to follow in the event of an accidental exposure
or release of hazardous chemicals. This usually involves contacting Public
Safety at 911.
Chemical Use by a Contractor (top)
If the contractor will use or store hazardous chemicals in the work
area, the Project Manager should inform the contractor of the following:
a. The contractor must take all necessary precautions to protect
University employees, students and visitors from exposure to the chemicals.
b. The contractor must maintain MSDSs on site for all hazardous chemicals
or materials used or stored at the job site. Copies of MSDSs should
be provided to the Project Manager and copied to the
department where work is being conducted and to EHS prior to the start of work.
c. The contractor is responsible for cleaning up any chemical spills
they create or cause. Contractors must alert Public Safety at 911 immediately
upon discovering a spill.
d. The contractors must take precautions to ensure hazardous chemicals
or materials are disposed of in accordance with federal and state regulations.
No hazardous wastes may be left on campus without approval by EHS.
Work Near Fume Hood Exhaust (top)
If the work will be conducted on the roof of a building where chemical
fume hood exhausts are located, the Project Manager shall:
a. Coordinate access with appropriate
Grounds and Buildings Maintenance personnel, Department Safety
Managers and EHS as necessary to ensure that fume hoods within
or adjacent
to the work area are shut down, that no experiments are in progress that
would generate toxic or hazardous airborne contaminants, and that all chemicals
used or stored within the fume hood are sealed
OR
b. Apprise the contractor in writing
of the potential hazards so that they may take necessary precautions
to protect their employees while conducting work on, or in proximity
to, active
fume hood exhausts.
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