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The inventory of hazardous
chemicals includes all of the chemicals you work with. However, it does not include consumer
products that are used in the workplace in the same way you would use them at
home. For example, the cleaners and
detergents you may find under the sinks in your break room would not have to
be in the inventory because your exposure to these chemicals would not likely
be any different than what you would get washing dishes or cleaning at
home. However using a spray adhesive
as part of your job in the Graphics Department or spray paint in the field
would likely result in exposure more often and for a longer period of time
than what you would receive occasionally working with the product at
home. You are using this chemical
specifically for your job. It falls under the HAZCOM standard and needs
to be on the inventory. Tobacco,
alcohol, drugs, and manufactured articles are not covered by HAZCOM.
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To keep the inventory
up-to-date, you need to inform your Environmental Health and Safety
Coordinator (EHSC) for your office of any new chemicals you have purchased
for office use. For field projects,
inform the site Health and Safety Officer (HSO). If you can get an MSDSs at the time of
purchase it would save the having to
call the vendor or manufacturer for one.
Finally, if contractors bring chemicals into the office or onto a
site, they should provide the EHSC or HSO with a copy of that MSDS. That way if we have any strange odors from
the contractor’s chemicals, we will know what we are dealing with.
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