Environmental Health and Safety

Emergency Preparedness Plan

Emergency Preparedness Plan (PDF).

Accident Reporting Form

Accident Reporting Form (PDF)

Policy Statement

In order to comply with the Georgia "Public Employee Hazardous Chemical Protection and Right to Know Act of 1988," the following written hazard communication program has been established for South Georgia College.

All work units of the facility that use hazardous chemicals/materials are included within this program. The written program will be available in Physical Plant Department for review by any interested employee. The duties of the right to know coordinator are the responsibility of the Director of Personnel.

The Environmental Health & Safety Department will review incoming material safety data sheets for new and significant
health and safety information. They will see that any new information is passed on to the affected employees. When a new hazardous substance is brought into the workplace, they will review the toxicity information to determine whether existing procedures and/or controls are adequate to provide protection for all employee exposed to the substance.

CONTAINER LABELING

Each Department will verify that all containers received for use will:

Be clearly labeled as to the contents;
Note the appropriate hazard warning;
List the name and address of the manufacturer.

The Instructor/Coordinator in each department will ensure that all secondary containers are labeled either with a copy of the original manufacturer's label or with the "central store" generic label which have blocks for identity and the hazard warning. For help with labeling, please see Environmental Health & Safety.

Suggestions for the "central store" generic label:

CHEMICAL AND/OR PRODUCT NAME (SAME AS ON MSDS)
WARNING (HAZARDOUS, CAUTION, DANGER, ETC.)
SUBSTANCE CLASSIFICATION (FLAMMABLE, CAUSTIC, OXIDIZER,CARCINOGEN, ETC.)
HAZARDOUS COMPONENTS
WARNING SIGNS OF OVEREXPOSURE (NAUSEA, HEADACHE, DIZZINESS, ETC.)
FIRST AID INFORMATION AND EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBER

Update: August 2, 1995 - Please Note: The legal requirements of the Georgia Right to Know Act require only the
following two items on any container that remains within the boundaries of the facility:

Name of material/chemical (as it appears on label and MSDS)
Appropriate hazard warning e.g. flammable, caustic, oxidizer, carcinogen, etc.

All the other items cited above for the Central Store generic label are recommended for informational purposes. They are not, however, legally required and lack of these items would not constitute reason for a citation.

If the container of hazardous material leaves the facility's boundaries (i.e. travels off-site in a pickup truck), it must contain the third item - the name and address of the manufacturer of supplier of the product.

The Environmental Health & Safety Department will review the company's labeling system periodically and update as
needed.

MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET (MSDS)

The Environmental Health & Safety Department will be responsible for obtaining and maintaing the material safety data
sheet (MSDS) system.

The Environmental Health & Safety Department is responsible for ensuring that MSDSs on new chemicals are available.

The Safety Inspector will review incoming MSDSs for new and significant health and safety information. He/She will see that employees are informed of any new information. It is also his/her responsibility to review the available information of any new substance to determine whether additional engineering controls and personal protective equipment will be needed to provide adequate protection to affected employees.

Copies of MSDSs for all hazardous chemicals to which employees may be exposed will be kept in Tanner Hall.

MSDSs will be available to all employees in their work areas for review during each shift. If MSDSs are not available or new chemicals do not have MSDSs, contact the Environmental Health & Safety Department immediately.

EMPLOYEE TRAINING AND INFORMATION

The Personnel Department is responsible for the employee-training program. The person in that position will ensure that
requirements of the training program are met.

Each employee will attend a health and safety orientation prior to beginning his or her initial assignment INVOLOVING
HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS. They will receive information and training on the following:

The requirements of the Right to Know Act. An explanation of the requirements of the standard and how the hazard communication program is implemented in that workplace;
Identification of specific work areas in the workplace where hazardous chemicals are handled and/or produced;
The location and an explanation of the agency's written hazard communication program, including the list of hazardous chemicals and the MSDSs. How employees can obtain and use the available hazard information;
Instructions on the labeling system used at the workplace, and how to read and interpret the information. How to respond to an unlabeled container delivered to or discovered in the workplace;
The purpose of a material safety data sheet (MSDS), and how to read and interpret the information;
The nature of hazards posed by chemicals in the workplace. Education as to the physical and health hazards of the chemicals and hazardous materials in the work area;
Methods of detecting an employee's exposure, such as air sampling, biological monitoring, visual detection, odor identification, warning properties of the hazardous chemicals used, and other standard industrial hygiene techniques;
The various control measures that employees should use to reduce exposure to the hazardous chemicals:
1. The proper use, care, storage, selection, and fitting of respirators, and the elements of a respirator program;
2. The use of protective equipment (face shields, gloves, aprons, foot coverings, etc.);
3. The use of exhaust ventilation equipment;
4. Work practices which minimize exposure to hazardous chemicals;
Special procedures to be followed in an emergency, such as spill response and first aid;
Proper storage of chemicals and separation of incompatible substances;
Training in hazards associated with improper mixing of chemicals located in the employee's work area and potential hazards associated with exposure to chemical reaction products;
The right of the employee's physician to receive hazardous chemical information;
Where additional information and training can be obtained;
Each employee will be required to participate in re-training annually.

AUGUST 2, 1995 UPDATE BY GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Please note that the training items listed above (including the annual re-training requirement) apply only for those individuals who actually handle hazardous chemicals.

For employees who have no exposure to hazardous chemicals, the only training requirement is that they be
informed of all employees rights under the 1988 Act as they are listed on the Right to Know poster. Once informed
of these rights and the name and location of the facility coordinator (in case they have question in the future), the
facility has fulfilled all statutory requirements for this Act for those employees.

After attending the training class, each employee will sign a form to verify that they attended the training, received written materials, and understood the policies of South Georgia College on hazard communication.

Prior to a new hazardous chemical being introduced into any section or department of this workplace, each employee of that section or department who will potentially be exposed will be given information and training on its hazards. In addition, if any employee is transferred into a new area where exposures to hazardous chemicals can occur, that employee will receive any necessary additional training prior to beginning that assignment.

LIST OF HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS

The individual responsible for implementing this section is the Environmental Health & Safety Department.

The following is a list of all known hazardous chemicals used by employees of South Georgia College and Sodexho Marriott. Further information on each noted chemical can be obtained by reviewing material safety data sheets (MSDSs) located in Tanner Hall. This list will be updated at least twice a year, in January and July as required. The list of hazardous chemicals can cite products by trade name.

HAZARDOUS NON-ROUTINE TASKS

Periodically, employees are required to perform hazardous non-routine tasks. Prior to starting work on such projects, each employee will be given information by the Employee's Supervisor about hazardous chemicals to which they may be exposed during such activity.

This information will include:

Specific chemical hazards;
Protective-safety measures the employee can take;
Measures the agency or workplace have taken to lessen the hazards, including ventilation, respirators, presence of another employee, and emergency procedures.

The following is a list of hazardous non-routine tasks that employees may be asked to perform:

Tasks	Hazardous Chemical

List all hazardous non-routine tasks here. Examples of such tasks include draining and cleaning of tanks, entering electrical vaults or sewers for repair jobs, patching or repairing asbestos containing materials, etc.

Note: If your facility does not perform any of these tasks and/or they are contracted out to an outside contractor, simply place a statement documenting that practice in this part of your program. You will be acknowledging that you have addressed the issue.

INFORMING CONTRACTORS

Please note: This section was designed to ensure that both contractors and the contracting facility are fully aware of all
chemical hazards present in the work area in which the contracted work is to be done. It applies only to the contracted work area and allows for a two-way exchange of information - the facility is apprised of all hazardous chemicals the contractor is bringing on-site and the contractor is apprised of any chemicals of concern that may be present in the area in which his/her employees will be working.

It is the responsibility of the Physical Plant Department to provide contractors (with employees) with the following
information:

Hazardous chemicals to which they may be exposed while on the job site;
Precautions the employees may take to lessen the possibility of exposure by usage of appropriate protective measures.
The Physical Plant Department will be responsible for contacting each contractor before work is started to gather and disseminate any information concerning chemical hazards that the contractor is bringing to this workplace.
Note: There are a number of acceptable ways to accomplish this requirement. For many agencies, this responsibility is delegated to the unit who procures the contractor's services. Standard language is often built into bid packages requiring all bidding contractors to submit proof of compliance with right to know requirements as well as other applicable OSHA requirements.
Agency safety rules.
Availability and location of MSDSs for all hazardous chemicals to which contractors' employees may be exposed.
For more information and/or assistance with interpretation of program requirements, please call the Safety Engineering Division of the Georgia Department of Labor at 404.656.2966.

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Environmental Health and Safety

Emergency Preparedness Plan

Accident Reporting Form

Policy Statement

Fume Hood

MSDS Database

Safety Training - Lockout/Tagout