Hazard Communication Program Research Articles

Air Quality and Employee Hygiene-related Behavior in a Post Anesthesia Care Unit in Thailand

Background:Airborne contaminants in Postanesthesia Care Units (PACUs) such as bacteria, fungi, and waste anesthetic gases pose serious, and sometimes fatal, risks to both patients and PACU workers. Numerous studies have linked long-term exposure to nitrous oxide and halogenated agents to, among other things, reproductive problems in PACU nurses and anesthesiologists. Microorganism contamination can result in a post-surgical complication, to which patients with diabetes and other respiratory diseases are especially vulnerable. Various researchers and governmental agencies have recommended hospitals take steps to reduce levels of airborne contaminants in PACUs. In particular, hazard communication programs are recommended to inform and train staff on relevant occupational health and safety procedures. Additionally, and perhaps more importantly, experts recommend hospitals install specialized ventilation systems to maintain low levels of airborne pollutants.Objective:This study has two main parts: (1) measurement of airborne contaminants in the PACU at Rajavithi Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand; and (2) assessment of PACU workers’ perceived level of importance regarding occupational health and safety protocols,viaself-reporting survey. The study also has two main objectives: (1) to determine whether, and to what extent, a new ventilation system helps reduce airborne contaminants in the PACU; and (2) to discover whether an informational campaign increases perceived importance of health and safety procedures among PACU workers (i.e. handwashing, changing shoes, wearing proper facemasks).Methods:Surveys and air quality measurements were collected two times – in July 2016 and April 2017 – before and after Rajavithi Hospital implemented a hazard communication program consisting of training, posters, brochures, and informational media. Survey participants included all 64 PACU workers – 61 nurses and 3 anesthetists. Air sampling measured levels of bacteria, fungi, nitrous oxide, and desflurane.Results:Initial levels of airborne microorganisms were very high (1307CFU/m3for bacteria and 70.4 CFU/m3for fungi) and on the high end of normal for nitrous oxide (21.86ppm). Following the informational campaign and installation of the ventilation system, levels of bacterial contamination fell to 182 CFU/m3, and fungi fell to 35.8 CFU/m3. Simultaneously, workers’ levels of perceived importance for health and safety procedures increased.Conclusion:Both aspects of the study were successful, however, concentration of airborne microorganisms still exceeded recommended limits at the end of the study. Hospital administration and staff are encouraged to continue training and informing workers while assessing ventilation system until contamination levels fall to within internationally acceptable ranges.

Radioactive materials and the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard

Many radioactive substances have chemical hazards that are regulated under the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard. Environmental health and safety professionals need to be aware which substances fall into this category. These substances need to be part of their organization’s hazard communication program.

Quality of Chemical Safety Information in Printing Industry.

Employees in printing industries can be exposed to multiple solvents in their work environment. The objectives of this study were to investigate the critical components of chemical solvents by analyzing the components of the solvents and collecting the Safety data sheets (SDSs), and to evaluate the hazard communication implementation status in printing industries. About 152 printing-related industries were recruited by area-stratified random sampling and included 23 plate-making, 102 printing and 27 printing-assistance companies in Taiwan. We analyzed company questionnaires (n = 152), SDSs (n = 180), and solvents (n = 20) collected from this sample of printing-related companies. Analytical results indicated that benzene and ethylbenzene, which were carcinogen and possibly carcinogen, were detectable in the cleaning solvents, and the detection rate were 54.5% (concentrations: <0.011-0.035 wt%) and 63.6% (concentrations: <0.011-6.22 wt%), respectively; however, neither compound was disclosed in the SDS for the solvents. Several other undisclosed components, including methanol, isopropanol and n-butanol, were also identified in the printing inks, fountain solutions and dilution solvents. We noted that, of the companies we surveyed, only 57.2% had a hazard communication program, 61.8% had SDSs on file and 59.9% provided employee safety and health training. We note that hazard communication programs were missing or ineffective in almost half of the 152 printing industries surveyed. Current safety information of solvents components in printing industries was inadequate, and many hazardous compounds were undisclosed in the SDSs of the solvents or the labels of the containers. The implementation of hazard communications in printing industries was still not enough for protecting the employees' safety and health.

Employee Impact and Attitude Analysis for GHS Implementation in Taiwan

The employee impact and attitude analysis for GHS implementation in Taiwan was investigated in this study. An impact assessment on the new regulations or changes in regulations for government, potential costs, benefits, and the global trade in chemicals to industries and hazard communication program for workers was studied by the methods of the questionnaire design and Delphi expert method. A survey was conducted using questionnaires and taking 200 experts from government's expert database and 500 selected respondents from case company. Results from present study revealed that the barrier associated with GHS implementation is existed; it is feasible to overcome. Both experts and employees think that business entities are insufficient to test and classify chemicals on their own, and the technical guidance from the government is needed. Data analyzed by the logistic regression revealed that more hours an employee spends on education and trainings of new GHS systems; the employee thinks implementation of GHS will improve hazard awareness for transporters. The weak labeling ability affects deployment of the new GHS system.

The creation of ergonomic data sheets for hazard communication of work-related musculoskeletal disorders.

Information on human health hazards caused by chemical exposure has traditionally been supplied through Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS). This report describes development of an analogous Ergonomic Data Sheet (EDS) to address hazards of work-related musculo-skeletal disorders (WRMSD) from use of hand tools. The EDS includes sections on risk factors for WRMSD, design aspects of the tool that decrease risks, precautionary measures, and objective testing of the tool compared to other comparable tools. The EDS can be used within an Ergonomic Communication Program similar to a Hazard Communication Program.

The OSHA Hazard Communication Standards impact on cables

Since regulators have begun to consider acetophenone as toxic or hazardous, manufacturers and users of products containing this chemical must review its impact on their compliance programs, particularly the Hazard Communication Standard. Electrical wire and cable containing acetophenone can no longer be considered an "Article" exempt from the Hazard Communication Standard. Therefore, manufacturers of electrical wire and cable must now issue material safety data sheets (MSDSs) for any wire and cable product containing acetophenone in order to comply which federal regulations. Electrical distributors, who are subject to OSHA requirements, must add the MSDSs for these products into their existing Hazard Communication Program or institute such a program. The electrical distributors must also provide copies of the Manufacturer's MSDSs to the end user as required under the law. Industrial and commercial users of these wire and cable produces must add the MSDSs for these products into their Hazard Communication Programs at each facility. They must also provide the MSDSs with scrap or obsolete wire and cable sent to metal reclaimers.

Hazard Communication—Key to Work Safety

Hazard communication, learning about and protecting yourself from the hazardous chemicals you work with, is the core of a dependable safety program. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's hazard communication regulation (OSHA 1910.1220), known as HAZ COM, includes requirements to protect workers who use chemicals at work. The article lists the steps in building a hazard communication program.

Dental Office Compliance Evaluation for the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard and Hazard Communication Program

On-site inspections of private dental offices in Maryland were conducted to assess compliance with the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard and Hazard Communication program, enforced by Maryland Occupational Safety and Health.

Pharmacy implications of the revised OSHA Hazard Communication Standard

Provisions of the recently revised federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Hazard Communication Standard that are important to pharmacy practice in organized health-care settings are described. OSHA announced on February 15, 1989, that the revision of August 24, 1987, was effective immediately; the provisions apparently pre-empt individual states' hazardous-substances regulations. According to the standard, manufacturers must determine whether chemicals they produce are hazardous; a pharmacy compounding drug mixtures may be a manufacturer. Chemicals determined by the manufacturers to be hazards must be labeled as hazards; for drugs that are already labeled according to FDA requirements, such labeling is not needed. The rule exempts drugs in a retail establishment that are packaged for sale to consumers, but it does not address workers' use of such non-prescription products in patient care. Tablets are exempt. Employers must maintain a written hazard communication program. Manufacturers and distributors are required to provide material safety data sheets on all hazardous chemicals, and employers must keep copies of these data sheets available. Documents to assist employers in complying with the regulations are available from OSHA. Judicial challenges to the regulation continue. ASHP is monitoring developments and applications to assist pharmacy departments in interpreting and complying with the regulations.

Quality Control in an Employer's Hazard Communication Program

Quality Control in an Employer's Hazard Communication Program

Federal Hazard Communication Program

Federal Hazard Communication Program

Safe Chemical Use in Water Production

This article discusses the safe use of chemicals in the water industry and outlines the hazard communication program developed by the City of Norfolk, Virginia. The main elements of the program are chemical identification, risk assessment, material safety data sheet (MSDS) collection, implementation of control policies, container labeling, and employee training.