Extracted text (via pymupdf)
13990 characters
MARICOPA COUNTY INTERNAL POLICY Policy Title: HAZARD COMMUNICATION PROGRAM Policy Number: A2231 Current Adoption Date: MM-DD-2023 Current Implementation Date: MM-DD-2023 Approved by: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Board Agenda Number: C-75-13-022-6-01 Original Adoption Date: 05-2001 I. PURPOSE To define the requirements and responsibilities for informing and training Employees and Volunteers about workplace Hazardous Chemicals in accordance with Federal and State regulations. The purpose of this County-wide policy is to provide a foundation of Hazardous Chemical training, Labeling, documentation, and other regulatory aspects that meets the need of Maricopa County Departments with minimal Hazardous Chemical handling and to assist other Maricopa County Departments in developing programs specific to their operations. II. APPLICATION This Policy applies to all Maricopa County appointed departments as well as the Flood Control District of Maricopa County, the Maricopa County Library District, and the Maricopa County Stadium District (Special Districts). The Board of Supervisors is authorized to jointly adopt policies applying to the Special Districts under the Intergovernmental Agreement, C-06-18-393-6-00, approved on April 11, 2018. This policy also applies to Employees and Volunteers of County elected offices unless the elected official has implemented a similar policy specific to his or her office. III. DEFINITIONS A. Chemical: Any element, compound, or mixture of elements and/or compounds. B. Container: Any bag, barrel, box, can, cylinder, drum, reaction vessel, storage tank, or the like that contains a Hazardous Chemical. For purposes of this section, pipes or piping systems, and engines, fuel tanks, or other operating systems in a vehicle, are not considered to be Containers. C. Department/Special Districts (Department): A division of the County including Special Districts. Special Districts are the Flood Control District of Maricopa County, Maricopa County Library District, and the Maricopa County Stadium District. D. Emergency Action Plan (EAP): A process developed by a Department/Special District, or a subdivision thereof, to facilitate and organize County Employee and Volunteer actions during workplace emergencies. E. Employee: A person who is paid a wage, salary, or stipend from public monies in accordance with official entries on County payroll. This includes all County classified, unclassified, temporary, part time, and contract Employees. F. Exposure or Exposed: When an Employee or Volunteer is subjected, in the course of employment, to a Chemical that is a Physical Hazard or Health Hazard, and includes potential (e.g., accidental, or possible) Exposure. This includes, in terms of Health Hazards, any route of entry (e.g., inhalation, ingestion, skin contact or absorption). G. GHS: Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals. Policy Title: HAZARD COMMUNICATION PROGRAM Policy Number: A2231 Current Adoption Date: MM-DD-2023 Page 2 of 6 H. Hazardous Chemical: Any Chemical that is a Physical Hazard or Health Hazard. I. Hazardous Chemical Inventory List: A list of Chemical products used in a specific work environment. J. Hazard Communication Program (Program): The system by which the County informs and trains Employees and Volunteers on Hazardous Chemicals. K. Hazard Warning: Any words, pictures, symbols, or combination thereof, appearing on a Label or other appropriate form of notice which convey specific Physical Hazard(s) and Health Hazard(s), including target organ effects, of the Chemical(s) in the Container(s). L. HCS: Hazard Communication Standard. M. Health Hazard: A Chemical that is classified as posing one of the following hazardous effects: acute toxicity (any route of Exposure); skin corrosion or irritation; serious eye damage or eye irritation; respiratory or skin sensitization; germ cell mutagenicity; carcinogenicity; reproductive toxicity; specific target organ toxicity (single or repeated Exposure); or aspiration hazard. N. Label: Any written, printed, or graphic material displayed on or affixed to Containers of hazardous substances. O. MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet): Written or printed material generated under the original HCS of 1983 that was changed to SDS in the 2012 GHS amendments. P. Non-Routine Tasks: Tasks that involve the use of Chemicals or procedures with Chemicals that are not a typical part of an Employee’s work requirements or of a Volunteer’s service. Tasks that are infrequently done. Q. Physical Hazard: A Chemical that is classified as posing one of the following hazardous effects: explosive; flammable (gases, aerosols, liquids, or solids); oxidizer (liquid, solid or gas); self-reactive pyrophoric (liquid or solid); self- heating: organic peroxide; corrosive to metal; gas under pressure; or in contact with water emits flammable gas. R. Volunteer: A person who, of their own free will, provides services to the County without receiving a wage, salary, stipend, or other County benefit. S. SDS (Safety Data Sheet): Written or printed material concerning a Hazardous Chemical that follows the GHS 16-section format. IV. POLICY A. Departments who use or store Hazardous Chemicals in their operations should create a Hazard Communication Program specific to their operations. These Programs must be at least as stringent as this County Policy and may not be less stringent in any area. B. Departments that do not create a specific Hazard Communication Program are covered by this policy. C. This policy or an equivalent Departmental Program will be made available to affected Employees and Volunteers. D. Hazardous Chemical Inventory List 1. Each affected facility or work area shall maintain an updated Hazardous Chemicals Inventory List that includes each Chemical used. 2. The Hazardous Chemical Inventory List shall include (at least) the Chemical name and the name of the manufacturer or distributor. Policy Title: HAZARD COMMUNICATION PROGRAM Policy Number: A2231 Current Adoption Date: MM-DD-2023 Page 3 of 6 E. Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) 1. Each affected facility or work area shall maintain an updated SDS for each Chemical used. F. Labeling of Containers 1. All Containers of Chemicals shall have legible, GHS compliant Labels. A template can be found on the Risk Management MyMC Resource Library. 2. A GHS compliant Label is not required if an Employee or Volunteer creates a secondary Container that is always in their control and is spent before the end of the work shift (unless otherwise required by the Department). 3. Labeling for all pesticides shall comply with the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), and Environmental Protection Agency requirements. G. Employee and Volunteer Training 1. Employees and Volunteers who work with or around Hazardous Chemicals shall be provided training in the form of (1) general hazard communication training (including GHS requirements) and (2) specific workplace training with the Chemicals used. 2. Only Employees and Volunteers who have successfully completed training may participate in operations involving Hazardous Chemicals. 3. The general hazard communication training shall be provided prior to an Employee or Volunteer’s initial assignment to a work area where Hazardous Chemicals are present and prior to assignments involving new Exposure situations. 4. Laboratory Employees and Volunteers shall also be familiar and trained in the provisions of their Chemical hygiene plan. 5. Specific workplace training will cover the hazards and Chemicals used in the respective work areas. When new Physical Hazards or Chemical Hazards are introduced in the work area, Employee(s) or Volunteer(s) will be given the appropriate additional training. 6. Specific workplace training shall be documented on a training form or in a training database. 7. The general hazard communication training shall include the following information, as appropriate: a. The contents and details of any applicable Hazard Communication Policy or Program. b. The physical, health, simple asphyxiation, combustible dust, and pyrophoric gas hazards, as well as hazards not otherwise classified of the Chemicals in the work area. c. Methods and observations that may be used to detect the presence or release of a Hazardous Chemical. d. The measures Employees and Volunteers can take to protect themselves from these hazards, including specific procedures the County has implemented to protect Employees and Volunteers from Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals, such as appropriate work practices, emergency procedures, and personal protective equipment to be used. Policy Title: HAZARD COMMUNICATION PROGRAM Policy Number: A2231 Current Adoption Date: MM-DD-2023 Page 4 of 6 e. How Employees and Volunteers can obtain and use the appropriate hazard information such as GHS compliant Container or workplace Labels and the location and availability of known reference material on the hazards, including SDS received from the Chemical supplier. H. Contractor Work 1. When it is necessary for an outside contractor to perform work at the County, it shall be the responsibility of the Department hiring the contractor to identify any Chemicals to which the contractor may be Exposed. 2. The procedure for informing the contractor will include the following: a. Making the Hazardous Chemical Inventory List of any designated work area where contract work is being performed available to the contractor and advising the contractor of the Labeling system. b. Making the SDS of the identified Hazardous Chemicals in a designated work area available to the contractor. c. Making the contractor aware of the appropriate protective measures taken by Employees or Volunteers in a designated work area. 3. It is also the responsibility of the persons responsible for oversight of the contractor to determine if the contractor will be using any Hazardous Chemicals and if so, to take appropriate actions to ensure the protection of County Employees and Volunteers. I. Hazards of Non-Routine Tasks 1. Prior to starting work on hazardous Non-Routine Tasks, every affected Employee and Volunteer will be given information by their supervisors or another qualified person about the Hazardous Chemicals to which they may be Exposed. 2. Such information will include, but not be limited to, specific hazards associated with the Chemicals, protective measures (e.g., personal protective equipment, work practices, engineering controls) and emergency procedures. V. RESPONSIBILITIES A. Risk Management Department / Risk Control and Loss Prevention Division 1. Perform hazard evaluations of tasks, identified by supervision, that involve Hazardous Chemicals, to include hazard recognition and control methods to enhance Employee and Volunteer health and safety 2. Provide guidance and technical assistance on Chemical purchasing, Labeling, use and storage, emergency response, or other matters pertaining to hazard communication. B. Department Supervision/Management 1. Comply with all Federal and State regulations governing HCS. 2. Maintain an accurate inventory of stored Chemicals, along with a GHS compliant and readily accessible SDS for every Chemical in the work area. 3. Verify that Labels on Containers of Chemicals are legible and GHS compliant. Policy Title: HAZARD COMMUNICATION PROGRAM Policy Number: A2231 Current Adoption Date: MM-DD-2023 Page 5 of 6 4. Verify Employees and Volunteers have attended classroom hazard communication training and have received training that is GHS compliant. 5. Train Employees and Volunteers on the specific Hazardous Chemical(s) present in their work area. 6. Verify Employees and Volunteers know their rights to a safe and healthful workplace. 7. Verify that Employees and Volunteers are informed of any Department Emergency Action Plans and the specific emergency response action that may be necessary whenever a spill, leak, or other release of a hazardous substance or unknown material occurs. 8. Request assistance from the Risk Management Department / Risk Control and Loss Prevention Division when needed. 9. Store all Chemicals in accordance with fire protection requirements, OSHA regulations, and the manufacturer’s recommendations. C. Employees and Volunteers 1. Be alert to the potential hazards of all substances in the workplace. 2. Do not handle hazardous materials without proper training. 3. Consult the SDS, Labels, and other information sources for the specifics about Chemicals prior to handling the Chemicals. 4. Follow all guidance on Labels and Hazard Warnings. 5. Verify that any secondary Containers used are Labeled appropriately in compliance with GHS requirements. D. Contractor Employers 1. Comply with an implemented Hazard Communication Program. VI. REFERENCES A. Code of Federal regulations 29, 1910.1200 B. United Nations, ST/SG/AC.10/30/Rev.1, Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) Policy Title: HAZARD COMMUNICATION PROGRAM Policy Number: A2231 Current Adoption Date: MM-DD-2023 Page 6 of 6 Revision History Version Revision Date Description of Revision 1 05-2001 Initial version (C-75-13-022-6-00). 2 3-27-2013 Update of policy to conform to current standards and regulations and remove procedural requirements. Renamed from “Policy and Procedures for Maricopa County Comprehensive Hazard Communication Plan.” 3 9-20-2017 Reviewed by Risk Management. Content is current, no changes to policy. 4 MM-DD-2023 Minor changes to content. Add Application section, remove Authority section, update format and terminology for clarity. (C-75-13-022-6-01).