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Today’s workplace uses thousands of chemicals, many of which are hazardous. The resources in this section will help guide you in the safe and legal identification, storage, transport, and use of these chemicals, and in making sure that your employees right to know how to be safe around such substances is provided, as required by law.
How do I calculate tonnage for substances under REACH? Each registrant has to calculate the yearly tonnage for the registration dossier. The yearly tonnage is calculated as the volume per manufacturer/importer per calendar year, unless stated otherwise. For phase-in substances that have been imported or manufactured for at the least 3 consecutive years, quantities are […]
If no one in your supply chain purchases materials from EU suppliers or exports to the EU, there is no REACH impact on your business–yet. But, don’t think other countries or U.S. states won’t adopt copycat legislation as has been done with other laws. China is already developing China REACH. Be prepared. Roles Under REACH […]
1. Water-reactive, pyrophoric, self-reactive—such as lithium aluminum hydride, butyl lithium, potassium cyanide, and sodium azide. Does not include acidic water-reactive chemicals. Store in secure, sealed secondary container in a dry location, e.g., a dry box or desiccator. Isolate from other groups. Separate from aqueous solutions and protect from water. In refrigerator: Double-contain in bins or […]
Here is an overview of some important aspects of REACH that may affect YOU. What is REACH? Fundamentally, REACH shifts the burden-responsibility and costs-to the private sector, your business, to demonstrate that the chemicals you produce, use, and place on the market in large quantities are safe for humans and the environment. This is referred […]
Note that the rule is not regarded by EPA as more stringent than existing regulations. This means that states authorized to run the federal RCRA program are not required to adopt the rule. In fact, while some states have adopted it since promulgation, others have expressed their opposition to it, and the rule may not […]
Many times it’s because workers in areas with many chemicals are tempted to store chemicals alphabetically by common name to make them easy to find—but this is very dangerous practice. Here are a few tips for safe chemical storage: Always store minimum quantities, as specified by OSHA. Purchase chemicals in smallest quantities needed. Inventory chemicals […]
If you need to determine if a specific carbon nanotube is on the TSCA confidential inventory, you can submit a Bona Fide Intent to Manufacture or Import. The required contents of bona fide intents are listed at 40 CFR 720.25 and are intended to substantiate that a company genuinely intends to manufacture the substance and […]
OSHA likes the idea too–as long as employees have immediate access. “Immediate access” means that, in emergencies, the MSDS should be available during the workshift when it was requested. In nonemergencies, it should be available by the next workshift at the latest. Your electronic MSDS system should be: Reliable. Electronic systems must provide reliable access […]
Respirator cartridges and canisters don’t last forever, and replacing them at the appropriate time is an essential element of protecting employees from respiratory hazards. Paragraph (d)(3)(iii)(B)(2) of OSHA’s respiratory protection standard (29 CFR 1910.134) says that if your employees use air-purifying respirators, you must develop a cartridge/canister change schedule. The useful service life of a […]
When assessing the potential for respiratory hazard exposure in the workplace, OSHA says the key issues are when, what, and how much. Paragraph (d)(1)(iii) of the Respiratory Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134) requires you to identify and evaluate the respiratory hazards in your workplace. Specifically it says: “The employer shall identify and evaluate the respiratory […]