msds-pol.htm

PLYMOUTH STATE UNIVERSITY
Hazard Communication Program

PSU is firmly committed to providing all of its employees with a safe and healthy environment. PSU requires that our employees be provided with information about hazardous chemicals on the work site, through our hazard communication program. This program consists of container labeling, the use and availability of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) and employee information/training

The Supervisor of Environment Services has been assigned the overall responsibility for coordinating the hazard communication program for PSU. The written hazard communication program will be available, upon request, to employees, their designated representatives, other contractors on PSU job sites, and NH Dept. of Labor.

Physical Plant's Safety Office, with the assistance of Supervisors, will compile a list of all hazardous chemicals that employees may use on the job, by reviewing container labels , products, and Material Safety Data Sheets. The list will be updated as necessary. This list will be kept in the following locations:

In Safety Office at Facilities Services
Supervisor's Office
At designated location
See attached list of Hazardous Chemicals

Labeling

It is the policy of PSU to ensure that each container of hazardous chemical is properly labeled. The labels will list:

the contents of the container,
appropriate hazard warning
the name and address of the manufacturer, importer or other responsible party.

All labels on products will be scrutinized to ensure that they comply with PSU's standards. If they do not, PSU will affix its own label to the container. All secondary containers will be labeled with either an extra copy of the manufacturer's label, or with a sign or generic label that lists the container's contents and appropriate hazard warning.

Copies of Material Safety Data Sheets for all hazardous chemicals to which employees may be exposed are kept in the Safety Office, Supervisor's Office, as well as in work areas. They will be readily accessible to employees in the work area during each work shift. Supervisors as assigned will be responsible for obtaining, maintaining, and updating the file of Material Safety Data Sheets.

Employee Training

All employees, including supervisors are to attend training sessions on hazardous chemicals used in and around all worksites. Each new employee will be trained prior to exposure to hazardous chemicals. The training session will cover the following:

An Overview of the hazard communication requirements.
A review of the chemicals present in their workplace operations.
The location and availability of our written hazard communication program, the list of hazard chemicals, and Material Safety Data Sheets.
Methods and observation techniques that may be used to detect the presence or release of hazardous chemicals in the work area.
The physicals hazards of the chemicals in the work area.
The health hazards of the chemicals in the work area, including signs and symptoms of exposure and any medical condition known to be aggravated by exposure to the chemical.
How to lessen or prevent exposure to hazardous workplace chemicals by using good work practices, personal protective equipment, etc.
Emergency procedures to follow if employees are exposed to hazardous chemicals.
An explanation of our hazard communication program, including how to read labels and Material Safety Data Sheets to obtain appropriate hazard information.
When a new type of product is introduced into a work area or the chemical composition of a product changes, they will be reviewed and necessary changes made. From time to time, refresher training sessions will be held for all employees on the job site as well as at the office.

NON-ROUTINE TASKS

From time to time, employees are required to perform non-routine tasks. Prior to starting work on such projects, each affected employee will be informed about hazards to which they may be exposed and appropriate protective safety measures taken.

INFORMING OTHER EMPLOYERS

To insure that the employees of other contractors have access to information on the hazardous chemicals at a jobsite, it is the responsibility of the Supervisor of Environmental Services, acting with each Project Manager, to provide the other contractors the following information:

The jobsite location of MSDSs.
The name and location of the hazardous chemicals to which their employees may be exposed and any appropriate protective measures required to minimize their exposure; and
An explanation of the labeling system use by Plymouth State University at the jobsite.
Each contractor bringing chemicals onto a jobsite must provide Plymouth State University with the appropriate hazard information on those substances to which our own employees may be exposed.

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