Hazard Communication

If you work with chemicals, you are one of 35 million workers exposed to one or more of the 650,000 chemicals in over 3.5 million companies across the country. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recognized a growing need to protect workers like you in 1983 when it issued a rule called “Hazard Communication,” or just “HazCom.” You may have also heard the rule called “Rightto-Know.” That is because it is your right to know about the chemical hazards you work with and how you can protect yourself from injury and illness.

The rule will ensure you get trained on the following:
- Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs), the source for information on chemicals in your work area.
- The job site’s written program regarding hazard communication.
- Chemical labeling, the way to use labels to determine hazards of chemicals in use on the site.

Because chemicals can appear in many places on a job site, be aware of the following potentially hazardous chemicals that are commonly found and used on construction sites. Read their labels when you use them:

Chemicals commonly used in construction

Aluminum
Dynamite
Oxygen
Asphalt
Epoxy
Resin
Paint
Asbestos
Fiberglass
Pesticides
Battery fluids
Formaldehyde
Refrigerants
Benzene
Freon
Sealers
Bleach
Galvanized metal
Shellacs
Cadmium Gasoline & Diesel Fuel
Solders
Carbon dioxide
Glues
Solvents
Carbon monoxide
Grinding wheels Steel (when welded/cut)
Caulk
Iron
Sulfuric acid
Cement, Portland & PVC Pipe
Isopropyl alcohol
Turpentine
Chlorine
Janitorial supplies
Varnishes
Cleaning agents
Lead Wood dust
Detergents
LP Gas
Wood preservatives

This information is provided by: Assurance Agency  http://www.assuranceagency.com