HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

Several guideline documents have been developed to assist in the proper management of hazardous materials:

• Management of Empty Chemical Containers

• Management of Flammable and Combustible Materials

• Management of Peroxide-Forming Chemicals

  • Peroxide-Forming Chemical Warning Label

• 3-part article from the Journal of Chemical Health & Safety - Management of Time-Sensitive Chemicals

Labeling
All chemical containers must be labeled with the Identity of the Chemical(s) therein and Appropriate Hazards Warnings, in words, pictures, symbols, or a combination thereof which provide all of the hazard information.  Labels on containers with mixtures of difference chemicals must indicate the constituents and approximate percentages of each.

A group of common hazard pictures is available for use in creating appropriate container signage.  The common hazard pictures are in a PowerPoint file.

To assist Emergency Responders, the entry door(s) to all rooms and laboratories at Marshall University that house hazardous materials must be labeled with the NFPA Hazardous Materials Diamond.  A template for the Hazardous Materials Diamond is available in Word and instructions are provided.

In addition to proper labeling, storage areas should be inspected monthly.  Departments generating and/or storing hazardous materials or hazardous wastes should utilize the Hazardous Materials and Hazardous Waste Self-Inspection Form, and submit completed forms to Safety and Health, or maintain in Department for three (3) years.

Entities Regulating Hazardous Waste:

EPA
The US Environmental Protection Agency regulates hazardous materials through the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).  RCRA protects the environment by mandating the safe management and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes.

The EPA breaks down hazardous materials into various lists.  Each lists represents a different type of hazard.  F and K lists are specific to industrial processes, while the others are more general in nature and apply to all generators.

This Excel spreadsheet lists each of the EPA Hazardous Materials Lists (D, F, K, P, U) and has an additional list of hazardous constituents.

OSHA
Responsible for protecting workers from unnecessary health hazards, OSHA has established Subpart Z in the General Industry Regulations, 29 CFR 1910.  Subpart Z outlines those Toxic and Hazardous Substances that must be properly managed to prevent illness in all employees.

Subpart Z includes over 30 specific chemicals and includes Bloodborne Pathogens, addressed in sections 1910.1000 through 1910.1052.  The  link above lists all of 29 CFR 1910.  Simply scroll down to the specific section for that information.

DOT
The US Department of Transportation regulates everything that is shipped on interstate highways.  The DOT maintains a Hazardous Materials List, which must be consulted when chemical wastes are offered for transport to a treatment facility. 

NOAA
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) maintains a searchable database of Hazardous Chemicals.  The site also includes a virtual mixture prediction tool.